Chris on track for King George Trainer Philip Hobbs feels Captain Chris is "back on track" for the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen's Day. Last season's Arkle winner made an inauspicious return at Exeter last month when unseating Richard Johnson in the Haldon Gold Cup. The dual Grade 1 winner was, however, in the process of running a big race at the Devon circuit, and is reportedly peaking ahead of the Christmas highlight. Hobbs said: "I know it will be massively hard, but there are no obvious alternatives. We've had a few worries with him but I feel we are back on track now. "He worked like his old self (on Tuesday), schooled well for Richard (on Wednesday morning), and scoped clean - that's three big pluses. "We have time to get him to the King George but everything would have to go right between now and then and I'd be very worried if the ground at Kempton got very soft." Stablemate Wishfull Thinking is also in contention to run at Kempton over Christmas. The eight-year-old has disappointed in two starts this season, in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and in the Tingle Creek, but could bid to set the record straight in the Desert Orchid Chase on December 27. Hobbs added: "I hope this isn't the last chance for him as he has so much ability." The Hobbs-trained Menorah, who, like Captain Chris and Wishfull Thinking, is owned by Diana Whateley, is another Kempton possible. Although he, too, unseated Johnson on his chasing debut at Exeter, connections remain hopeful he could still emerge a major player for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival. The six-year-old gelding will now remain over fences after failing to set the world alight in the StanJames.com International Hurdle earlier this month at Cheltenham. "He'll either go to Kempton for the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase, in which he'd have to meet Nicky Henderson's smart horse (Sprinter Sacre), or wait for Newbury the following Saturday," the Minehead handler told The Times. "We know he won't win a Champion Hurdle now and I'd always hoped he'd be better over fences."
