Classy sort can come good dropped in grade

Understandably all the talk regarding next Monday’s King George centres around stablemates Cue Card and Thistlecrack, who are around even money and 6-4. However, I don’t think it’s difficult to make a case against them.

Cue Card’s 15-length victory at Haydock last time proved little, as he was chased home by Coneygree, who was having his first start in over a year and whose subsequent poor gallop suggests he is nowhere near the horse who won the 2015 Gold Cup. Let’s not forget, Cue Card had lost three of his previous four starts.

Thistlecrack is undoubtedly the most exciting horse in training, but this is a whole new ball game over fences after completing his chase hat-trick by beating a 133-rated performer at Newbury. However, it’s not so much the tougher company as the pressure this track will put on his jumping, which has yet to fully convince me. It was awful at Cheltenham two starts ago and, although better last time, he is unlikely to be allowed as much rope in front at Kempton.