King George Chase

Kalahari King could miss the King George Chase

Kalahari King could be in doubt for the King George Chase. The Ferdy Murphy trained Kalahari King might miss the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon this Saturday due to the likelihood of soft ground and if so he is unlikely to compete in the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Kalahari King’s preparation has been thrown into disarray after his intended run at Kelso two weeks ago was halted after medication to treat an infected cut on one of the eight-year-old’s hocks failed in time for it to be out of his system. He was then poised to run Kalahari King at Huntingdon however the unsettled forecast could disrupt those plans as well.

“I’ve been desperate to get a run into him and the Peterborough Chase would be ideal, but obviously with the weather the way it is, there is a doubt that he’ll be going there. I don’t want to run him on soft ground for his first run of the season. It wouldn’t be ideal for him.

“They have a meeting there on Thursday and we’ll have a couple of runners, so we’ll see what the ground is like and take it from there.

“The trouble is there are not a lot of races for him after that and if he misses Huntingdon, he wouldn’t go for the King George without a run. It’s very frustrating.” Murphy said.