News round-up: Tony Dobbin could not contain his delight at landing the plum ride on the Betfair Million-seeking Kingscliff in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown on St Stephen's Day.
The 33-year-old rider has beaten the likes of Paul Carberry to replace Robert Walford aboard the eight-year-old, with the latter ruled out following an injury to his collar bone.
"I am over the moon and it is a great spare to get, although it is very unfortunate for Robert," Dobbin said yesterday. "I have ridden in both of his last two races and at Wetherby Kingscliff did look very well. But he did look a bit burly down at the start, while Ollie Magern looked a million dollars.
"At Haydock, Kingscliff looked like a totally different horse, he looked much fitter, which he proved when he ran."
Kingscliff came off second best to Kicking King in last year's King George and Dobbin believes Tom Taaffe's charge is again the one to beat. "He is a Gold Cup winner and a King George winner and I am sure he will be right on the day, but I think my horse will run really well," he added.
Kingscliff put himself in line for a £1 million bonus when winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock last month. The King George is the second leg with the final leg being the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
His intended partner Walford suffered a crack to his collar bone when schooling a horse at Alner's Dorset yard last Thursday.
The 25-year-old has ridden Kingscliff in both his starts this season with Andrew Thornton, who had been previously in the saddle, now looking for a ride in the Christmas feature.
"Robert Alner was right behind me, but I have spoken to the owner (Arnie Sendell) who does not feel I'm the right man for the job," Thornton said yesterday.
Kingscliff is the 9 to 4 second favourite behind Kicking King to go one better than last year.
Kicking King was reported to be in fine shape ahead of his bid for back-to-back victories and the market leader has been backed down to 11 to 8. "He's extremely well. He's on his toes and is very bright and well. We're looking forward to Sandown," his trainer Tom Taaffe said yesterday.
Tony McCoy looks like being aboard the Henrietta Knight-trained Impek after getting the nod over Timmy Murphy from owner Jim Lewis.
Trainer Peter Bowen is on the lookout for a jockey for Ballycassidy as the nine-year-old's usual partner Richard Johnson is likely to be claimed by Philip Hobbs for Monkerhostin.
John Queally will wait until tomorrow morning before deciding whether to commit Al Eile to the Stan James Christmas Hurdle on the same card.
The five-year-old captured the notable scalp of Inglis Drever in his last run over timber in the Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles in April when Timmy Murphy was in the saddle.
The Co Waterford trainer had planned to delay his seasonal reappearance until Haydock next month, but has had second thoughts as the Sandown race was reopened and the horse is more forward than expected.
"There's a good chance we'll travel to Sandown, but we'll decide after he's worked on Friday morning," said Queally.
A surprise omission from the entries was Lingo as trainer Jonjo O'Neill was not totally happy with his condition.
Last year's winner Harchibald heads the 12 possibles, although he may well go instead for the Bewleys Hotels December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown next Thursday.
Only nine initial entries were received, with Charlton Kings, Hawkit as well as Al Eile being added to the field this morning.
In addition to the latter and Harchibald, Colm Murphy's Feathard Lady completes a three-strong Irish entry.
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