Hussar is Sandown possible

Irish Hussar is set to represent Nicky Henderson and Mick Fitzgerald in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown on Boxing Day.

The trainer-jockey combination had their principle hope Trabolgan ruled out of the Christmas feature two weeks ago with a tendon problem, but they have found an able deputy in the lightly-raced nine-year-old.

Fitzgerald, who had been expected to partner Francois Doumen’s L’Ami, told At The Races: “I can’t say it is nailed on but at the moment he runs and if he runs I will ride him.

“One of the great things about riding for Nicky Henderson is that he has a plethora of good horses and Irish Hussar certainly fits that bill.”

Irish Hussar only has 13 starts to his name and raced just once last term after being pulled up behind Best Mate in the 2004 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“He is a very good horse and we have always held him in the highest regard at Seven Barrows and he proved that last year with a fantastic run in the William Hill Handicap Chase at the Festival.

“He had not ran for a long time but still ran a fantastic race to finish third giving Kelami, who is L’Ami’s brother, a stone and 5lbs.

“When you look at the handicap ratings he has a bit to find as he is rated 153. Kicking King is in the 170s and Kingscliff is in the late 160s, so he has a bit to find with them.

“He is a horse who we think is very capable, though, so you never know.

“I think Sandown is a track that will probably suit him OK whereas I would be a little worried about the stiff uphill finish for Kicking King.”

Irish Hussar, who beat this year’s Gold Cup runner-up Take The Stand by nine lengths in a novice chase at Leicester in 2003, is a general 40-1 chance for the King George.