King excited by Medermit chance :: Horse Racing News

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02:33 Friday 10th February 2012

Updated: 15th March 2010

King excited by Medermit chance

PA News

Alan King hopes the decision to postpone a chasing campaign for Medermit pays dividends in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.

The grey has been something of a surprise package this season and lowered the colours of current champion Punjabi on his last start at Haydock. He was just touched off in the Supreme 12 months ago and his trainer expects another bold show.

"Everything has gone well, just as we wished, he's in good order and I'm looking forward to it. This time last year I thought we'd be taking him there for the Arkle but I've been pleasantly surprised by the way he has progressed," said King.

"The handicapper is saying he has improved with each run because each time he has raised him. It puts him well in the mix and I don't think there is an outstanding horse amongst them.

"There are several very good horses though and I think we are in for a very exciting Champion Hurdle, there is only a few pounds between the top eight or nine.

Won In The Dark was only 10th 12 months ago but had finished third in the Triumph the previous season. He goes to Cheltenham on the back of two confidence-boosting wins last month at Punchestown and Leopardstown.

"He's very well and we're happy to see the ground drying out," said County Kildare trainer Sabrina Harty.

"Those two wins will have done his confidence the world of good, he'd been running on terrible ground and he seems to have come right again.

"He's bound to be stronger this year. The ground was terrible for him in the Champion last year and it wasn't that much better in the Triumph.

"He loves good ground so hopefully this is the best ground we'd had for him in two years."