King hoping Judge can rule

Alan King has pinpointed Godsmejudge as one of his best hopes to get on the scoreboard at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

The Barbury Castle trainer expects to have only "10 or 11" runners at a meeting he has enjoyed great success at in the past.

After just losing out in a pulsating battle for the Classic Chase at Warwick, Godsmejudge returned to the same course to win a novice event and is being aimed for the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase.

"He'll get the four-mile trip well, although he wouldn't want it to dry up too much," King said.

"Warwick takes a lot of jumping and I think he'd have to be one of my best chances of the week."

McVicar and King Of Dudes are likely to represent the yard in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle rather than L'Unique, while the smart Smad Place has another crack at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

"I've been pleased with him," King said. "I had him in at Fontwell on Sunday but I thought it was a bit close, but he worked very well this morning."

While former Festival winner Bensalem has been ruled out for the season, last year's top-class juvenile Grumeti will also miss Cheltenham, but not the whole season.

"He's fine - he's not going to be ready for Cheltenham but he'll

probably go for the Scottish Champion Hurdle," he said.

Other King runners include Walkon (Byrne Group Plate) and Kumbeshwar (Grand Annual).