Captain Chris KO’d from Boxing Day challenge

Captain Chris was on Monday ruled out of the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.The nine-year-old, runner-up in last year’s King George, suffered a minor injury during a schooling session.

His trainer, Philip Hobbs, said: “He’s banged a joint schooling, it’s nothing serious but he won’t be running. I hope he will now run in the new williamhill.com Chase at Kempton on 11 January.”

Captain Chris’s stablemate Menorah, unbeaten in three starts at Kempton, will make his reappearance in the King George, for which he was one of nine acceptors.

The dual winner of the race Long Run, Cue Card, Al Ferof, Dynaste and Silviniaco Conti all stood their ground.