Master Oats to clinch tricky King George

MASTER OATS could provide the answer to today's extremely tricky King George VI Tripleprint Chase. Two shifts of date for the Grade One contest and a change of venue from Kempton to Sandown have only added to the difficulty of trying to forecast the winner.

Doubts surround each of the leading contenders. Ante post favourite One Man - a faller twice in three starts last term - has failed to erase doubts about his jumping in this grade with wins in two uncompetitive races to date this season.

The 1993 winner Barton Bank has not looked the same horse since he unseated his rider at the last with the race at his mercy 12 months later. He proved little in a three runner contest at Wetherby in October and has a worrying tendency to break blood vessels.

Doubtful stayer Merry Gale's chance has been lessened by the frost enforce a switch of the race to a much stiffer track.

French challengers Algan and Val D'Alene have been in fair form at home this term but neither has yet shown the form required to win this event in an average year. Nor has either shown their form anywhere other than at Kempton in this country.

Not that Master Oats is a cast iron bet himself. He was pulled up when sent off 4 to 9 favourite for the Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow last month, a dismal display for which no explanation has yet come to light.

But trainer Kim Bailey, whose horses have been going very well since the cold snap, would not itch him into this level of coma petition unless convinced all was well and the gelding is certainly worth another chance.

Master Oats looked head and should the best staying chaser in training when he demolished the field in last season's Gold Cup - with half a dozen of today's rivals beaten upwards of 30 lengths. And he made a bold bid to defy top weight in the Grand National on ground too fast for him at Aintree subsequently.

The 10 year old will be more at home on the testing Sandown track than had he been faced with a test of speed round Kempton's easy course. He benefitted from the switch of the Greenalls Gold Cup from Haydock in 1994 and could be set to take advantage of another change of venue tomorrow.

Cheltenham Festival clues should be thick on the ground on a fascinating card. Bimsey can show himself to be worth a crack at the Champion Hurdle with victory in the Bonusprint Limited Handicap Hurdle.

High class Flat racer River North need jump only adequately to put himself in the big race picture with a win in the ING Barings Tolworth Hurdle.

And Daily Express Triumph Hurdle favourite Our Kris is set to complete a hat trick in the Fairlawne Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.

But the best bet of the day looks to be at Haydock where Thornton Gate should advertise his Tote Gold Trophy claims by taking the Northern Handicap Hurdle.

The Peter Easterby trained gelding accounted for the bang in form Star Rage by three lengths at Doncaster last time. He did not have to come off the bridle to beat a rival who'd won his two previous starts in good style and is clearly on a winning mark at present.

Thornton Gate can defy a 3lb rise in the weights to make it four wins in his last five starts.

Smith's Band was going well when he tell at Sandown last time and can gain compensation in the New Year Handicap Chase on the same card.