Switch back to hurdles should not stop Tyner star

This time next week I will have a few more pairs of socks, some boxer shorts and if I'm really lucky a chocolate orange too. We will also know the make-up of the field for traditionally the best Christmas present of all, the King George at Kempton, although reading between the lines this year’s race could be underwhelming too.

Cue Card is going to run and Coneygree appears certain to join him, but I can see Tea For Two as the only other certain runner at this stage and it could easily be that the King George is contested by only five or six runners.

I can't see an Irish runner coming over and Colin Tizzard is beginning to give the impression that Thistlecrack won't be running either. That will be a real shame because I think Cue Card is beatable going right-handed and Coneygree had a really hard race after a year off and there is no guarantee he will run his race either.