Harald looks for Sky Bet crown

Connections of ante-post favourite King Harald are hopeful of a big run from the eight-year-old in the Sky Bet Chase at Southwell tomorrow.

The Cheltenham Festival winner began this term with a good Hennessy trial back at Prestbury Park in November, where he ran well for a long way before tiring.

However, he failed to shine in the Hennessy itself and was beginning to struggle on the second circuit before eventually unseating jockey Mattie Batchelor at the 15th.

“At the time, most of our horses were showing signs of not being 100% and he showed up the same at Newbury,” trainer Mark Bradstock told At The Races.

“He’s really good at the moment, he’s taken time to come back to himself but he is certainly back to form.”

“He’s never been round a tight track like Southwell before, but he’ll certainly be up there, bowling along up front.”

Asked about the eight-year-old’s Gold Cup entry, the Oxfordshire handler added: “He’s competed against some of the other horses entered in the Gold Cup who are 25-1 and I know I would prefer 50s about him.”

The highly-regarded eight-year-old is 9-2 favourite with the sponsors for tomorrow’s contest, switched to Southwell from Doncaster this season due to redevelopment work at the South Yorkshire venue.