King on course for Hennessy tilt

Our gallops reporter has paid a visit to the West Country and has the latest news on Hennessy hope Balthazar King.

Philip Hobbs sent the majority of his workers up the steep all-weather at Sandhills in spite of having to contend with continuing inclement weather conditions.

The trainer may take some horses to Wetherby next week, amongst them IRISH BUCCANEER.

The five-year-old bumper winner may defend his unbeaten record in a novices' hurdle for which he has schooled proficiently.

He also took the eye on his latest stretch up the all-weather.

Hobbs is also considering taking TALKONTHESTREET to Wetherby for a beginners' chase.

The five-year-old made a satisfactory start to his chasing career when second to a well-regarded rival and has plenty of scope for improvement.

VOLADOR should progress significantly from his comeback a month ago and he looked well in himself breezing this morning.

OLDRIK looked well in himself and CELTIC ABBEY also breezed nicely.

BALTHAZAR KING ran well when a solidly-backed favourite for the cross-country chase at Cheltenham and worked well this morning ahead of a big-race assignment.

This habitual front-runner seems to have come out of that race sufficiently well to now have his sights raised towards a crack at the Hennessy.

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