'I'd rather be on him than anything else' - Minella Indo camp full of confidence

Gold Cup hero Minella Indo will have the gears to handle his rivals in the King George when he lines up for Kempton's Christmas showpiece under Rachael Blackmore, says his owner Barry Maloney.

Minella Indo was ridden by Jack Kennedy when triumphing at Cheltenham in March, but Maloney said Blackmore will be on board for the Ladbrokes-sponsored prize, for which the eight-year-old is a best-priced 5-1 chance behind favourite Clan Des Obeaux.

Minella Indo showed bucket-loads of stamina when winning the Albert Bartlett and the Gold Cup but Maloney believes the drop back to three miles at a quicker track will not be an issue and that he will strip much fitter as a result of his reappearance third behind Frodon in the Champion Chase at Down Royal six weeks ago.