Kalahari King emerges from gloom for Festival

His worry is securing a place in the Centenary Novices Handicap Chase tomorrow week. Rated 35th of the entries, he needs 20 horses to come out.

Fifth behind Time For Rupert, the red-hot RSA Chase favourite, at Cheltenham in November, the West Witton handler believes course experience will pay off for the horse, who is part of the David Parry Racing syndicate.

Yet, as darkness enveloped Doncaster after racing on Saturday night, Kalahari King’s shining coat – and easy stride – shone out in the gloom as the 10-year-old sauntered around Town Moor ahead of the Ryanair Chase.

Those impressed were Mick Fitzgerald, the former Gold Cup-winning jockey, who won the 2006 Ryanair Chase on Fondmort.

“Kalahari King is the each-way stand-out bet of the meeting,” observed Fitzgerald ahead of news that Riverside Theatre – one of the market leaders – will miss the race through injury.

Second to Long Run in the re-arranged King George before landing the Betfair Ascot Chase last month, the Jimmy Nesbitt-owned horse has suffered a hairline fracture to the pelvis.

“Riverside was lame after exercise on Friday. Although we hoped the problem was muscular, a scan revealed that to be not the case,” said trainer Nicky Henderson. “He’s lucky this has been revealed, rather than anything more serious, as the consequences would have been bad. We are confident he’ll be perfectly fine for next season.”

With a decision on Albertas Run defending his Ryanair Chase title being delayed, Simon Clare, of bookmakers Coral, says Kalahari King – 7-1 at present – could go off as favourite.

After suffering a terrible fall at Ascot, Albertas Run’s owner, Trevor Hemmings, appears tempted to swerve Cheltenham in favour of Aintree.

However, Murphy is simply concentrating on his string. “They will all go to the beach on Thursday and that should put them spot-on for Cheltenham,” he said.

Howard Johnson sent out Gold Cup hope Tidal Bay and Arcalis after Murphy had cantered his horses with the assistance, among others, of Sam Twiston-Davies and James Reveley.

Owner Graham Wylie said of the enigmatic Tidal Bay: “I think he has got a good chance of being placed. It depends what Tidal Bay turns up.”