Michael Hourigan's sole previous visit to Kempton for the King George VI Chase turned into a disaster but the Co Limerick trainer is hopeful of a much better Christmas experience when Hi Cloy lines up against Kauto Star on St Stephen's Day.
The four-time Grade One winner put in an encouraging effort behind In Compliance in last weekend's John Durkan Chase at Punchestown and Hourigan is convinced that run will have Hi Cloy in peak shape for taking on the best chasers in Britain. It certainly won't take much for Hi Cloy to provide a better Kempton experience than Dorans Pride did in 1999 when Hourigan's former stable star didn't even make it to the 13th fence before being pulled up behind See More Business.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Hourigan and his team were then caught up in a bomb scare that resulted in racing being stopped after the King George and the track having to be evacuated.
Hi Cloy's last cross-sea trip was much more enjoyable as he landed the Grade One Melling Chase at Aintree and Hourigan is happy that the Kempton course will allow the versatile chaser show his best against Kauto Star.
"It's a level track and they will go a good gallop which looked to suit him perfectly in Liverpool. They go that bit quicker in England but he was able for the pace at Liverpool and it really helped him. I didn't think he would win a Melling but he did," Hourigan said yesterday.
Kauto Star is a heavy 4 to 6 favourite for the King George and Hourigan isn't underestimating the task in adding to Kicking King's brace of Irish victories in the Christmas feature in 2004-05.
"He is very good I would say," he said. "Ruby (Walsh) is certainly very sweet on him and there's no reason he wouldn't know."
Beef Or Salmon though is in pursuit of a more familiar holiday target and Hourigan's other top chaser will warm up for a potential fourth Lexus Chase victory over hurdles this weekend. The veteran is engaged in Sunday's Giltspur Hurdle at Navan but remains more likely to run at Fairyhouse tomorrow while his younger stable companion Mossbank has a range of novice chase options over Christmas.
"There are a couple of races at Leopardstown and there's also the Greenmont Chase (Grade Two) at Limerick on St Stephen's Day," the trainer added.
One horse who will definitely take his chance in the St Stephen's Day feature at Leopardstown, the Durkan New Homes Novice Chase, is Blueberry Boy who will drop back in trip from a good effort in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse earlier this month.
"He jumped very well at Fairyhouse but the ground and the trip were possibly against him there," said his Co Dublin trainer Paul Stafford yesterday. "The plan is the two mile race at Leopardstown. It looks the obvious thing to do to drop him back in distance."
Options are open for the talented Noel Meade-trained chaser Watson Lake who disappointed badly in the John Durkan last weekend. "I thought he was okay but he obviously wasn't and never put any heart into the race. We had him checked out and the vet can't find anything wrong with him," Meade said.
The chances of Navan's scheduled Grade One card on Sunday going ahead appear to be decreasing as a 7.30 inspection has been called for this morning. The track was untraceable last night after heavy rain waterlogged the course. Sunday's feature is the Grade One Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle.
