Ar Mad to bypass Kempton
Moore had been considering supplementing his chaser for the big event on Boxing Day but fears it will be too tough an ask on his first try at the trip
GARY MOORE has ruled out supplementing Ar Mad for the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
The West Sussex trainer spoke in the wake of the six-year-old's fourth in the Tingle Creek Chase that he would not be afraid of stepping up in trip and did not rule out the Christmas feature.
However, his first try at a longer distance is now likely to come in the Ascot Chase over an extended two miles and five furlongs in February.
Moore said: "I spoke to the owner (Ashley Head) and he definitely won't be going to the King George.
"There'll be a lot of pace in the race and it will be a tough race for his first time over three miles, and I won't test him out in one of the best chase races of the season.
"The plan is to go to Ascot for the two-mile-five Grade One and he might have a prep run beforehand."
Moore added of Tingle Creek runner-up Sire De Grugy: ";He will run in the Desert Orchid Chase (Kempton, December 27), he is grand and in great form.
"His run in the Tingle Creek was his best for a long time and that was the closest he's got to Un De Sceaux."