Moore will not add Ar Mad to King George

Gary Moore has decided against supplementing Ar Mad for the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton over Christmas.

The six-year-old returned from injury at the start of the month when fourth in the Tingle Creek – a performance that went in many notebooks.

Having jumped exuberantly in front, Ar Mad appeared to have blown himself out with three fences left, but rallied well to be beaten only three and a half lengths by Un De Sceaux.

That run left Moore pondering whether a step up to three miles for Kempton's showpiece Grade 1 on December 26 could prove worthwhile, but the trainer confirmed on Wednesday the idea had been scrapped.

He said: "I think we would have been biting off more than we could chew. It looks like it's going to be a very tough race."

Ar Mad has yet to run beyond 2m4½f, but a step up to 2m5f could be on his agenda next year as Moore added that Ascot's Betfair Chase in February is under consideration.