Leading Arkle hope Kalashnikov tackles three in rescheduled Kingmaker

Kalashnikov, a general 11-2 shot for the Racing Post Arkle, will take on three rivals in the rescheduled Kingmaker Novices' Chase at Sandown on Friday as he is tasked with strengthening his Cheltenham Festival claims.

Winner of the Betfair Hurdle and runner-up in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last year, the six-year-old has taken well to chasing this season and impressed with his jumping when winning at Warwick and Plumpton before finishing second to Dynamite Dollars in the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase on December 27.

The Amy Murphy-trained novice takes on Harry Fry's Dalila Du Seuil, an impressive winner on her sole chasing start, as well as Glen Forsa and Dell Oro in the Grade 2 contest.

Murphy said: "Kalashnikov was meant to run at Warwick in the Kingmaker and I would love to have been going left-handed [with him] but we are where we are. I’d rather give him a run than not.

"Touch wood he will be fine for Cheltenham. He normally bounces out of his races pretty well. He might be our only runner all week but I certainly wouldn’t swap him, that's for sure."

Waiting Patiently heads Ascot Chase sextet

Last year's Betfair Ascot Chase winner Waiting Patiently features among a final field of six for Saturday's Grade 1 at Ascot.

The Ruth Jefferson-trained chaser, who is bidding to become the first back-to-back winner of the Ascot Chase since Riverside Theatre triumphed in 2011 and 2012, unluckily failed to complete the King George on his only start this season. He was badly hampered by the fall of Bristol De Mai and Brian Hughes had little chance of staying in the saddle.

Paul Nicholls is double-handed with Cyrname and Politologue, who are a top price of 7-2. Waiting Patiently heads the betting at 15-8.

The Colin Tizzard-trained Fox Norton, who was second to Altior in the Clarence House Chase on his only start this season, is joined by Charbel and Aso in what looks a wide-open renewal of the Grade 1.

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