The Real Whacker Aims for King George VI Chase

Patrick Neville’s hopes remain high as he sets his sights on the prestigious King George VI Chase with his talented horse, The Real Whacker. However, their journey hit a roadblock during the recent Cheltenham race when The Real Whacker suffered from lameness.

The seven-year-old had previously showcased exceptional form at Prestbury Park in March, securing a hat-trick victory by narrowly defeating Gerri Colombe in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase during the Festival. With such an impressive track record, expectations were high as The Real Whacker entered the Paddy Power Gold Cup carrying top-weight.

During the two-and-a-half-mile contest at Cheltenham, The Real Whacker initially kept pace with Stage Star but eventually faded out of contention before reaching home turn. Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies made a wise decision to pull up and assess the situation promptly – it was then that they discovered an unpleasant overreach injury causing slight lameness.

Neville shared his thoughts on this setback: “He got a dirty overreach – he’s OK, but he was a small bit lame after it.” Despite this disappointment, Neville remains optimistic about their chances in the upcoming King George VI Chase.

In preparation for Kempton’s Boxing Day highlight event, The Real Whacker is currently priced at 33-1 odds. Neville firmly believes that with proper recovery and training, his horse will regain top form in time for this festive race.

Reflecting on the recent race, Neville added: “It could have been a lot worse, we knew something was amiss and Sam minded him. We’ve got a run into him now…so we’ll move on and get him ready for Christmas.”

Although The Real Whacker may be considered an underdog with higher odds, Neville remains unfazed by this fact. His determination to compete in the King George VI Chase is unwavering.