The Michael Hourigan-trained Dorans Pride was yesterday cut to 7 to 1 from 8 to 1 by Coral for the £110,000 Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on December 27th after taking a cash bet of £1,000 eachway in a betting shop in Central London.

A decision on whether he runs at Kempton or in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown has yet to be made but Coral have also taken a stream of smaller bets on Michael Hourigan's chaser.

"Dorans Pride will start much shorter than 7 to 1 if he turns up at Kempton and this betting shop support suggests the King George is now his preferred option," said Simon Clare, Coral spokesman.

Kempton and Pertemps have reserved a plane to fly over the Irish challengers - Imperial Call and Rince Ri are also engaged - for the race and the supporting events, and Cooper went on: "Pertemps and ourselves are prepared to pick up two-thirds of the cost of a plane, with the Irish owners paying the rest. The final bill will depend on what size of plane we opt for, which in turn hinges on how many Irish horses want to come.

"Some trainers may still prefer to come be ferry and pick up the £1,000 per horse travel allowance we are offering for all 12 races."

Paul Nicholls has a strong hand to play in the big race and is happy with the preparations for See More Business and Double Thriller.

Good ground is expected at the Sunbury track, and Nicholls said: "They both worked yesterday and are bang on schedule."

See More Business and Looks Like Trouble head the market for the Grade One test, and the latter's trainer Noel Chance said: "He is spot on. I couldn't be happier with him, we just need to keep him sound and healthy and we will be there.

"Good ground will be ideal and Boardroom Shuffle is likely to run as well. He will probably have an entry elsewhere, but there is good prize money down to fourth in the King George so he may well take his chance."

Alan King who took out a trainer's licence at the beginning of the month could be doublehanded too, but said: "Go Ballistic is my main King George horse. I am very pleased with him and while I'd probably run him on anything other than heavy, good going would certainly help. There is a possibility Mulligan could run on good ground."

Kempton clerk of the course Andrew Cooper described the ground currently as, "good, good to soft in places."

He said yesterday: "The forecast is for a predominantly dry and cooler week next week. If that proves correct we are very likely to have good ground for the two-day Pertemps Festival."

Pertemps King George VI Chase betting:

Coral: 13-8 See More Business, 2-1 Looks Like Trouble, 7-1 Dorans Pride (from 8-1), Go Ballistic, 9-1 Double Thriller, 12-1 Simply Dashing, 16-1 Dr Leunt, Stormyfairweather, 20-1 Imperial Call, 25-1 Escartefigue, Rince Ri, Strong Promise, The Outback Way, Tremallt, 33-1 bar.

Montjeu, one of the outstanding middle-distance horses of the decade, is poised to race on next season. Trainer John Hammond yesterday denied reports that the colt is to be retired to stud.

An article in a national newspaper claimed that owners John Magnier and Michael Tabor had decided to send Montjeu to the Coolmore Stud.