Lightning could be set for new year strike

Alan King is considering a return to Cheltenham on New Year’s Day for Fork Lightning after the nine-year-old’s pleasing third in the Mears Group Chase at the track last Friday.

The grey had been absent since landing the William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase at the Festival in 2004, but ran a blinder on his first start for 633 days to finish third to Royal Auclair.