KALAHARI KING has been having trips to the seaside to prepare for the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Trainer Ferdy Murphy is well known for using Redcar beach to prepare his horses for big engagement, in much the same way as Ginger McCain readied the great Red Rum on the sands at Ainsdale before his Aintree dates.
The North Yorkshire-based handler used the same beach for some of Kalahari King’s preparation when his West Witton gallops were hit by the cold weather. The nine-year-old was second in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham last year and was an impressive winner at Aintree.
Following a slight setback he only made his comeback last month. But the gelding put in a superb display to land a decent handicap under top weight at Doncaster last month.
He is now a best-priced 6-1 with Paddy Power and Betfred to upset dual winner and current 4-5 favourite Master Minded in the Champion Chase a week on Wednesday.
Murphy said: “He worked on Wednesday morning and will work on Friday, but he has been down to the beach twice this week and he really enjoys it.
“He’s one of those horses who goes paddling in the water and has a roll on the beach and a look around.
“Graham Lee said there were a few lads having a five-a-side football match there the other day and the horse was like a spectator. It’s only 50 minutes away and he likes going off in the box.”
Murphy is looking to add to impiressive Festival record and could have a decent squad to take to Prestbury Park, including the progressive types Bedlam Boy and The Hollinwell.
New Alco will also head to Cheltenham, but the John Smith’s Grand National – for which he is a best-priced 100-1 with Stan James.
Murphy added: “We will probably have 10 runners, and two in the charity race.
“All of them have been aimed for Cheltenham and have had their prep races apart from New Alco.
“He hasn’t run yet but is having a prep for the Grand National in the William Hill.”
Another horse with Aintree as a key target is the Howard Johnson-trained Quwetwo.
Last month he beat the then ante-post favourite for the Champion Hurdle, Zaynar at Kelso. Zaynar has been a 1-14 for the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle, but Johnson’s seven-year-old.
Johnson was looking at a novice chase campaign for Quwetwo, but he will now be aimed at some of the better hurdling prizes at Aintree and also Ayr next month.
The County Durham handler said: “He’s in good form and will go on to either Aintree or Ayr all being well.
“He’s gone up to 146 in the ratings so we have a few options and we’ll just weigh it up nearer the time.
“We could look at the Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles, we might see what the handicaps are looking like and there is also the Scottish Champion Hurdle.”
Meanwhile John Oxx may not have a Sea The Stars this year, but he is hopeful Behtarini may have a chance of emulating his former stable-mate in the Investec Derby this June.
There were 122 colts entered in the Epsom contest. Oxx is hoping his maiden Behtarini can show improvement on his decent runs behind Chabal and Jan Vermeer during his three starts as a juvenile.
The Irish trainer said: “We have given Behtarini an entry but it’s slightly speculative at the moment.
“He has been beaten three times but he has run up against some good horses.
“He would have to take a step forward now in the springtime if he was to measure up to be a Derby contender but we thought we would leave him in. He is in good form and we are just starting him off in his work.”
Irish-trained horses have won five of the past 10 renewals of the Derby and Aidan O’Brien has 40 of the remaining entries, including the unbeaten winter favourite St Nicholas Abbey.
TODAY’S NAP: Gentle George (5.05pm Newbury)
