Kalahari King primed for action

Ferdy Murphy's star is primed to line up alongside stablemate Beggars Cap in a highly competitive renewal of the Blue Square Handicap Chase at Doncaster, even though he will have to carry top weight of 11st 12lb.

The West Witton trainer had contemplated swerving the Doncaster race because of the weight burden, but he risks running out of options if the weather becomes even more inclement prior to the Cheltenham Festival.

Furthermore, last season's Arkle Trophy runner-up has yet to see a racecourse this season having been held up by a minor setback and the weather – hence Murphy's decision to favour the Blue Square race rather than Newbury's Game Spirit Chase in 10 days.

"Graham schooled him over 10 fences and then we worked him twice up the all-weather and he worked really well," explained Murphy.

"He will come on for the run but we are fairly certain racing will be on this weekend and you wouldn't be so sure for next week.

"We're going to grasp the nettle and get on with it, but it's a very competitive handicap as you would expect for 70,000.

"It's a matter of getting a run into him and then that gives us five and a half weeks to the Festival, which would be just right for him."

Murphy also expects Beggars Cap to creep in near the bottom of the handicap – and Keith Mercer, his second jockey, will be in the saddle.

An impressive performance will leave the horse on target for Cheltenham.

Saturday promises to be a key day for the Murphy yard with the progressive Bedlam Boy entered in the Bet With Blue Square Mobile Novices' Chase.

A prominent showing will see the nine-year-old book his place in the Arkle line-up, the Cheltenham race which Kalahari King lost so narrowly last year,

"He'll run and we were very pleased with his work," added bullish Murphy. "Graham thinks that the trip, two miles and three furlongs, will be okay, so we're happy enough with him.

"We'll look at the Arkle as he's won his two races very easily and we've got to get this race in.

"You couldn't have picked a hotter race for the Arkle but at the same time, he travels and he jumps.

"We've run a good few horses in the Arkle and he'd be near enough as good as anything we've run in it and that's including Kalahari King."