- The Real Whacker was pulled out of the Betfair Chase due to the conditions
- That could come to benefit the horse and Patrick Neville in the King George
The Real Whacker is primed to become another fascinating contender in the King George after Patrick Neville pointed the way to Kempton for his stable star.
After beginning his campaign with a superb victory in Wetherby’s Charlie Hall Chase, The Real Whacker was pulled out of the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park last month because of atrocious ground conditions.
But Neville, who saddled a double at Catterick on Tuesday, feels missing that arduous race may prove to be a blessing in disguise as the gelding is bouncing and ready to run for his life on Boxing Day.
‘He’s in good form and he’ll probably run next week in the King George,’ Neville said. ‘The weather forecast and everything is coming right and he’s in great form, so why not? I didn’t enter him originally as we were going a different route, but with the ground the way it is, we’ll give it a go.’
It costs £4,600 to supplement for the King George and The Real Whacker is expected to be joined in the field by Spillane’s Tower, who is trained in Ireland by Jimmy Mangan for JP McManus.
The Real Whacker is set to compete in the King George – after being pulled out of the Betfair Chase last month
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Kia Joorabchian’s determination to take his Amo Racing operation to the next level has been reinforced after he confirmed he is on the brink of buying Freemason’s Lodge. Joorabchian spent more than £34million on bloodstock at the sales this autumn and has backed that up with a deal for the Newmarket yard synonymous with the recently-retired Sir Michael Stoute.
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