Impressive King has ability to reign supreme at Cheltenham

A quintessentially English scene, this was North Yorkshire at its picture postcard best. Yet, high up in Wensleydale, and looking towards the spectacular ridge, Ferdy Murphy had little time to savour the view on the first Spring-like day of the year.

The trainer's eyes were, instead, firmly focussed on the horse galloping at speed – on a freshly harrowed racing surface – towards the makeshift steeplechase fence which he had lifted into position with his son Rees moments earlier.

"Woa, woa – he's quick," said the fast-talking Irishman as the horse arched his back and cleared the obstacle without even brushing a twig.

Seconds later, horse and rider had completed a circuit of the gallops and were once again bearing down on the fence. "He's unreal, isn't he?" said Murphy with that knowing look in his eye.

Half-a-minute later and the horse's athletic leap was even more impressive. "He's not going to improve on that," said Murphy with typical directness before imploring his stable jockey, Graham Lee, to pull up his charge.

There was every reason for Murphy's caution. This was no ordinary horse being put through its final paces ahead of next week's Cheltenham National Hunt Festival.

It was the mercurial Kalahari King, the 5-1 second-favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and tipped by many to depose dual winner Master Minded – the best NH horse in training according to the official ratings – in Wednesday's renewal of the two-mile championship.

With so much prestige at stake, these are anxious times for any Cheltenham-bound trainer. Thirty years ago, a flint went through one of Anaglogs Daughter's feet a couple of days before the Champion Chase. And while Murphy's speedster ran with great distinction, she was only second. The minor setback, says the trainer, made all the difference. He has also not had another chance to win the race – one of the Festival's four 'blue riband' contests. Until now, that is.

Having completed their final training at pace, Kalahari King will undergo light work – the equine equivalent of an athlete tapering for the Olympics – before Cheltenham.

Tuesday's schooling session, said jockey and trainer, was just to get the horse's feet "off the ground". Yet, in many respects, it is a fine training achievement that Yorkshire racing's talisman is primed for Cheltenham. A badly cut leg earlier in the season took longer than expected to heal. And, when Kalahari King's fitness returned, weeks of heavy snow caused havoc to Murphy's training plans.

Improvisation became the key; hence why Kalahari King has undergone a 100-mile round trip on less than 20 occasions to Redcar beach to gallop on its sand, and soothe his legs in the salt water.

The horse's personality shines through on the seaside trips. On one visit, the bay gelding, said Lee, seemed more interested in a five-a-side football match being played out.

It has required time and dedication on the part of Team Murphy just to undergo the trip in potentially hazardous weather.

But their faith paid off when the horse won his comeback race at Doncaster, defying top weight, with a foot-perfect round of jumping and Lee timing the final run to perfection. Murphy believes his stable star has improved even further from that performance against a top-quality field.

He is also buoyed by Kalahari King's liking for Cheltenham.

Fourth in the Supreme Novices when taken wide, he was a close second in last season's Arkle Trophy. He could easily have won if he had enjoyed a clear passage at the top of the Cheltenham hill.

Murphy, with a host of Festival wins to his name, says this is one of the "keys" to Cheltenham success. "You need your horse 100 per cent – but you also need the breaks on the day," he says.

The pre-race hype will, inevitably, revolve around Master Minded and the all-conquering champion trainer Paul Nicholls, a horse that won the Champion Chase for the first time in 2008 before Kalahari King had jumped his first steeplechase fence.

Murphy, however, is not perturbed as he patiently explains his preference to break in horses over time rather than rush them when they are so young. He also knows that his horse, sired by 1988 Derby winner Kahyasi, has the necessary speed.

"All we're bothered about is our own horse. If you're not, you're not doing your job properly," he said before casting his expert eye over the remainder of his 10-strong cavalry heading to the Cotswolds.

One of Murphy's stable staff has no doubts about Kalahari King's prowess. "He'll win," he says confidently. The horse's stable lass, Zoe Doyle, certainly hopes so. "He's a legend," says the 19-year-old from Bradford. "He just loves sticking his head on my shoulder and giving me a nuzzle. Sometimes, he has a bit of a nip – but he's really on form."

There was one final pat on Kalahari King's neck from his big-race jockey as the bay gelding was led – somewhat reluctantly – back to his stable.

"Go on the King," whispered Lee – a cry that will be repeated by every racing devotee from Yorkshire if he is in contention at the final fence of a race that, potentially, will define the careers of the horse, jockey, trainer and all those stable staff who have been part of

Kalahari King's journey to the top.