King ponders Aintree mission with Yanworth
Alan King looks set to step stable star Yanworth up in trip at Aintree next month after the gelding finished a bitterly disappointing seventh in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last week.
The well-backed 2/1 favourite for the two-mile championship hurdling showpiece, Yanworth jumped better at Prestbury Park but was badly outpaced at the business end of the contest before plugging on in the home straight when well beaten.
A winner of his three starts this season prior to the Champion Hurdle, Yanworth was well touted for the event but never looked like winning. Nicky Henderson’s Buveur D’Air was the victor of the event.
King is now keen to step the seven-year-old son of Norse Dancer up in trip for his next assignment which could potentially be in the Aintree Hurdle over two and a half-miles.
Barbury Castle handler King failed to grab a winner at The Festival last month but his horses ran with credit in defeat.
Regarding Yanworth, King said: “I think it looked as if he does want more of a trip. He travelled very well early on. They didn’t go very quick and down the hill he was caught flat-footed, then stayed on up the hill.
“If we run him again, I would imagine we go two and a half at Aintree. If not, that would be him and he will go chasing next season.
“He was jumping big, but that is why we put the cheekpieces on. He looked like he had run an awful race, but he stayed on up the hill and with another few strides would have been sixth.
“I am pleased with the way he finished the race off.“