Dobbin Handed Kingscliff Role Tonny Dobbin has picked up the plum spare ride on Kingscliff in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown on St Stephen´s Day. Paul Carberry had been touted as a possible replacement for the injured Robert Walford when the Betfair Chase winner lines up for the Christmas feature, but the Cumbria-based rider has been given the leg-up. 'Tony Dobbin will ride Kingscliff,' confirmed a spokesperson for trainer Robert Alner. Walford suffered a crack to his collarbone when schooling a horse at Alner´s Dorset yard last Thursday. The 25-year-old had partnered Kingscliff to success in the Betfair Chase in which he beat Beef Or Salmon and Kicking King to score by a length and a quarter. Walford rode Kingscliff for the first time at Wetherby in October when the pair finished second to Ollie Magern in the Charlie Hall Chase. Kingscliff had previously been partnered by Andrew Thornton, but he ruled himself out of the ride this morning. 'Robert Alner was right behind me but I have spoken to the owner (Arnie Sendell) who does not feel I´m the right man for the job,' Thornton told PA Sport. 'There are a lot of other good horses in the race so hopefully something will crop up.' Dobbin, however, was delighted to pick up the ride on Kingscliff, who is the 9-4 second favourite behind Kicking King for the King George. He told At The Races: 'I am over the moon and it is a great spare to get, although it is very unfortunate for Robert. 'I have ridden in both of his last two races and at Wetherby Kingscliff did look very well but he did look a bit burley down at the start, while Ollie Magern looked a million dollars. 'At Haydock, Kingscliff looked like a totally different horse, he looked much fitter, which he proved when he ran.' The 33-year-old rider believes last year´s winner Kicking King is again the one to beat. 'He is a Gold Cup winner and a King George winner and I am sure he will be right on the day but I think my horse will run really well,' added Dobbin. 'Mr Alner rang me during the week to put me in the picture and to say I was in the frame for the ride. 'I was schooling yesterday morning at Howard Johnson´s and he rang back and confirmed it.' ? PA Sport
