Nigel Twiston-Davies remains ultra confident about the chance of Khyber Kim in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.
The eight-year-old takes some knowing but has looked to be back to his very best in two starts this campaign, slamming last year’s Champion Hurdle runner-up Celestial Halo in the Boylesports.com International Hurdle in December. He has not been seen since but Twiston-Davies told At The Races:
“He’s very happy and is working really well. The others keep shooting themselves in the foot one by one and I think he is still a nice price at 8-1 or whatever he is. We hope the staying types will set the race up for us and we’ll come storming along at the end. I couldn’t be happier with way things are at the moment.”
The Gloucestershire handler also had an upbeat bulletin on his Gold Cup hope Imperial Commander, who suffered an agonising defeat to Kauto Star at Haydock in November before disappointing in the King George VI Chase at Kempton. wiston-Davies said:
“He seems in very good condition. I don’t think there are many questions over Kauto but there are over Denman after the other day. I’m looking forward to it. Kauto probably needed it (at Haydock) but I think our horse did as well so who knows. Forget the King George, he hit one early and did well to stay on his feet. Let’s go back to his favourite track (Cheltenham) and see what happens.”
