Alan King was left impressed by Mille Chief’s scintillating display at Sandown on Saturday and has admitted he can’t wait to see the handicapper’s reaction to the victory.

The trainer is eyeing a tilt at the totesport Trophy at Newbury on February 12 but fears that the handicapper could punish him severely for his latest success as the trainer weighs up a crack at the Champion Hurdle in March.

King explained: "Everyone knows how much I idolise Mille Chief, but to hump 11st 12lb in that ground and run out such an easy winner was certainly very pleasing," said King.

"He looked very good, and on that performance you would have to say that he warranted an entry for the Champion Hurdle, though the totesport Trophy is very much the next port of call - depending on how the handicapper reacts.

"It was imperative that we got another run into Mille Chief before Newbury, but if the official assessor goes over the top we might well run him instead in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton the following weekend.

"We also have Salden Licht for Newbury and, though it was a bit of a shock seeing him go up 10lb for winning at Exeter on New Year's Day, these horses are with us to run and you can't go protecting them forever.

"Salden Licht is now rated 152 and could still go for the totesport, but we will wait until Tuesday and see what reaction we get from the handicapper for Mille Chief, who went to Sandown on a mark of 145.

"You'd have to also think about the Champion for Mille Chief.  He has always been exceptional on the gallops and would be far superior to Katchit in the mornings and, though Katchit did it on the track and has a hurdling crown on his CV Mille Chief is also beginning to show us on the track what we see on the training grounds and he is a very exciting prospect."