ALL eyes at Neil King’s Wroughton yard are fixed on Cheltenham this afternoon as Lil Rockerfeller takes on a bumper field in the Champion Hurdle.
The five-year-old gelding has been supplemented for the Grade One feature race on the opening day of the Festival at a cost of £20,000 following the wide-margin win in the Grade Two National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.
Despite being at 33/1 with many bookmakers, King is adamant they are not just there to make up the numbers.
“To be truthful, when Faugheen came out the idea came to us then because we realised how open the Champion Hurdle was becoming,” said King.
“I just feel this year the Champion Hurdle is a particularly open race. Our horse is a young improving horse. He is in great form. He will go into the race on the back of a win, which not many in the Champion Hurdle can say.”
Barbury Castle trainer Alan King has just one runner on the first day as William H Bonney goes in the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Swindon jockey Wayne Hutchinson on board the 66/1 hope.
“He is a progressive young horse who has won twice this season and with a rating of 136 he deserves to take his chance,” said King.
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