Kingscliff 'back in the spring'

Kingscliff is likely to have a prep-race before the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup – but will not be seen on the track until spring.

Trainer Robert Alner put his tame performance in the Betfair Chase at Haydock down to his previous run in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, when he finished a tired fourth.

The lightly-raced nine-year-old has shown flashes brilliance including a victory in the 2005 Betfair Chase and a fine second in the 2004 King George VI Chase.

His career has been littered with disappointments and problems, however, not least when he was beaten over 100 lengths by Kauto Star in this season’s Betfair Chase.

Alner said: “I am going to lay him off for a while. He is absolutely fine, there are no physical problems or anything.

“He had a hard race at Wetherby and he just wasn’t himself at Haydock.

“He will be back in the spring. I’m not sure if he would have a race before the Gold Cup but he would probably need one.”

Kingscliff is a general 50-1 shot for the Cheltenham showpiece in March.