The 32Red King George VI Chase is threatening to turn into a procession and a coronation for Cue Card after the withdrawal yesterday of Coneygree, one of his main adversaries.
Sara Bradstock, wife of Mark, the trainer of the 2015 Gold Cup winner, said that Coneygree had failed to show his usual spark in a gallop on Saturday and as a result the decision had been taken not to risk him at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Today’s racecards (website only)
The absence of the nine-year-old is a huge disappointment as the duel between two of the stars of the staying chasing division had been keenly anticipated. The pair met at Haydock last month, when Cue Card beat Coneygree in the Betfair Chase on the latter’s return from a year-long absence through injury.
After the race a bullish Bradstock said that she was confident that Coneygree would get the better of Cue Card when the two met again. However, that will now have to wait until Cheltenham in March, which has always been the priority, and which is promising to be a mouth-watering occasion.
Cue Card’s odds shortened yesterday to a best-priced even money, with stablemate Thistlecrack his nearest challenger at 11-8 with a run. However, that must be considered unlikely with trainer Colin Tizzard surely reluctant to expose Cue Card to the risk of defeat while the prospect of the £1m Triple Crown bonus remains.
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Thistlecrack has taken to fences with alacrity, winning each of his three starts as a novice in increasingly impressive fashion. After his faultless display at Newbury recently, Tizzard did not rule out the prospect of the two battling it out at Kempton.
He described it as a “50-50” chance, but said that he would have to discuss options with the respective owners. The Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on the same Kempton Boxing Day card would be an obvious alternative for Thistlecrack, who is favourite for the Gold Cup in March.
“He just wasn’t 100 per cent and there’s no point running in the King George if he isn’t rightSara Bradstock on Coneygree
Explaining the decision to take Coneygree out of the King George, Bradstock said: “I ride him in all his work and know every step he takes. He had been in flying form last week but was not himself on Saturday.
“He just wasn’t 100 per cent and there’s no point running in the King George if he isn’t right. It is important not to take any risks.
“If everything is well we will be looking at running him in either the Cotswolds Chase [at Cheltenham, end of next month] or the Denman Chase [at Newbury in February] before going to the Gold Cup.”