Ustedes primed for rearranged Kingmaker

Voy Por Ustedes is still likely to get a prep race for Cheltenham in the rearranged Kingmaker Novices’ Chase on Saturday.

The Alan King-trained five-year-old, a best-priced 10-1 chance for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy, was denied the opportunity of strengthening his Festival claims after the original two-mile contest at Warwick was lost to frost.

If Voy Por Ustedes does not feature next weekend, however, connections would have no hesitation in sending the Sir Robert Ogden-owned gelding, who is unbeaten on his three outings over fences, straight to Prestbury Park without another run.

“It’s always nice to get one more race into them but it’s not like he’s light on experience,” reasoned Ogden’s racing manager Barry Simpson.

“We’ll go to Wincanton if Alan’s happy with the horse and he wants to go there.

“I would have expected a good run yesterday and on the back of a good run, we would have gone to Cheltenham.

“Seven days doesn’t make a great deal of difference and that is where we still are with him.

“If he doesn’t run in the Kingmaker, he’ll go to Cheltenham without a prep race.”