Owner Ricci hopes for more from victor Vautour

Though Vautour was made to work by Ptit Zig, Ricci says the horse – trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh – was only “half-fit” and is the horse to beat in Kempton’s King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

“I’d say he was about half-fit today,” said Ricci. “He’s jumped a bit left which can sometimes happen at Ascot, but he needed the run badly and I’m pleased with the way it went.

“I think we will get him fine-tuned for the King George and hopefully he is the horse we think he is. It was a great run and we’re delighted with that.

“I hope he’s a Gold Cup horse, but the King George will tell us a lot. He’s certainly got the speed to be two-miler, but Ruby and Willie say he will do anything between two and four miles.”

SARA Bradstock reports it to be “all systems go” for Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Coneygree’s intended appearance in the Hennessy Gold Cup next Saturday after delighting connections in a crucial gallop yesterday following an injury scare.

Bradstock, assistant trainer to husband Mark, said: “I’m very happy. He worked very well, I rode him myself and he seems to be flying, so it’s all systems go.”