Alan King says he is likely to send Sceau Royal to Sandown for the Celebration Chase on April 27 rather than run him at Aintree. The seven-year-old produced arguably the performance of his career when chasing home Altior in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, eventually finishing a close third.
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A step up in trip to two-and-a-half miles for the JLT Chase at Aintree had been mooted after his efforts at Prestbury Park but King has other ideas. Sceau Royal will now challenge for the Grade One Celebration Chase at Sandown on the final day of the national hunt season, the Barbury Castle handler believing the trip at the Esher track will suit him better.
King said: “I think he will be going to Sandown. I thought about going two and a half at Aintree with him, but I think two miles at Sandown will suit him better. I’m not convinced he is crying out for two and a half miles. “It was a career-best in the Queen Mother. It was an amazing run. The ground was as slow as he would want it. I was thrilled with him and he ran a mighty race.”
