Harald Fine After Cheltenham Run

King Harald is 'fine' following his fourth place finish on his reappearance at Cheltenham on Saturday and could yet make the line-up for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.

The Mark Bradstock-trained seven-year-old made the running until three from home in the Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase.

He was weakening when he made a mistake at the final fence but he recovered to finish 11 lengths behind the winner, Innox, on his first outing since March.

It was later reported the gelding had laid down for some time on his return to the racecourse stables.

But the trainer´s wife, Sara Bradstock, said yesterday: 'The horse did not lie down in the stables. We were with the horse for every minute.

'In fact by the time he got back to the stables he was pulling us around and he ate up.

'The horse was running over three mile, three for the first time in his life on sticky ground and got tired. He´s not a strapping big chaser who can deal with that ground.

'He ran a very good race and didn´t get home and he got leg-weary. After he crashed through the last fence he galloped up the run-in.

'All he did was take a slight trip behind coming up to the winner´s enclosure - he was tired.

'He´s fine this morning and it may be that the Hennessy will come too quick but obviously we´ll monitor it.

'The owners are very keen to run him and if he´s OK he will but if he´s not OK he won´t. The next two or three days will tell.'

King Harald is a top-priced 12-1 chance with Stan James for the Hennessy at Newbury on November 26.

(C) PA Sport