No King George For Wayward Prince

It has come as little surprise to see that trainer Ian Williams had decided that a crack at the Grade 1 William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day might be asking too much of his Wayward Prince in view of the poor effort from the gelding on his reappearance at Newbury last month in the Hennessy Gold Cup, writes Elliot Slater.

The highly promising seven-year-old was amongst a group of six horses who were not declared at the latest forfeit stage for the mid-season steeplechasing crown, a race that appears to centre very much on the latest battle between the young king Long Run and the old master Kauto Star, with the not insignificant matter of the former dual champion chaser Master Minded thrown in for good measure. People looking at the Kempton Boxing Day betting should bear this in mind.

Wayward Prince had been a leading candidate for honours in the Hennessy last month but was never travelling particularly well on his season bow under Dougie Costelloe, getting behind at half-way and running without any of his usual sparkle before being pulled up when tailed-off before the 17th in the race won by the tough as teak Carruthers. Such a bad run had been highly unexpected from a horse who made tremendous progress last term over fences having been a Grade 1 winning novice hurdler the season before. People looking at the online horse racing tips should bear this in mind.

After rattling up a hattrick of wins in his first three outings over the larger obstacles Wayward Prince ran a fine race to be beaten just a length into third in the Grade 1 RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March behind Ireland’s Bostons Angel, then ran slightly below expectations in a first-time visor when fourth to Quito De La Roque in Grade 2 company at Aintree.

Although he will not tackle the King George the gelded son of Alflora remains amongst the contenders for the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on December 27, a race for which he is offered at as short as 14/1 with some firms whilst others go a more appealing 20/1.