King takes charge with two exciting hurdlers

A New Year’s Eve date at Newbury is the logical next step for Messire Des Obeaux, but Alan King needs convincing.

“The Challow Hurdle is the obvious place to go, but the only thing putting me off is that my three previous winners have gone to the Challow and been lapped, so we’ll have to see!” said the trainer after his four-year-old had taken charge of the Grade 2 Winter Novices’ Hurdle.

“But I thought it was a cracking race with real depth and we’ve always thought he was very good. He’s going to get better, as he's big and rangy.”