Good enough to finish seventh in last season’s Champion Hurdle, the six-year-old looked sure to take high rank over fences.
A bloodless victory at Aintree at the first time of asking was routine, but he then left his connections baffled when refusing at the sixth fence on his next appearance at Huntingdon.
Ridden more conservatively by Robert Thornton, the 6/4 favourite jumped well in the main, but a jolting error four fences from home looked like knocking the stuffing out of him.
But he was soon back on an even keel and a measured leap at the second-last fence took him to the lead. He then safely negotiated the final obstacle and kept on well in the last furlong to score by three-and-a-quarter lengths from Tullamore Dew.
“It’s nice to see him get back to winning ways and bar the fourth-last I thought he jumped great,” said King.
“I haven’t got quite as much schooling into him as I would have liked as the schooling ground has been frozen for the last fortnight.
“He should improve for that and he could easily step up in trip as well.
“I might step him up to two-and-a-half miles so while I suppose the Arkle is likely, I wouldn’t say it’s set in stone. We might have a look at the new race at Cheltenham over two-and-a-half (Jewson Novices’ Chase), but we’ll see.
“I haven’t thought about where he’ll go next as I just wanted to get this race out of the way, but we’re certainly back on track anyway.”
