Peterborough run could be key to Djelo King George hopes

Djelo could put himself in the mix for the King George VI Chase with a successful defence of his Sky Bet Peterborough Chase crown at Huntingdon on Sunday.

Venetia Williams’ seven-year-old made the perfect start to the new campaign when edging out Pic D’Orhy in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby, but now drops back in distance for a race he won emphatically 12 months ago.

Speaking at a stable visit organised by the Jockey Club, Williams said: “It hadn’t been our plan to run him in the Charlie Hall, but when I saw the entries it was a strong temptation and he had won over that sort of distance at Newbury in the Denman Chase last season.

“Going into Newbury, the plan had been to run in the Game Spirit. It was only a bit of opportunism that made me put him in that race as well. I think the same probably applied with the Charlie Hall.

“We are obviously stepping back in trip in the Peterborough Chase. It was a very wet day last year and we all got drenched, and I suspect the ground will be quicker this year.”

Williams knows exactly what it takes to win Kempton’s Boxing Day showpiece having landed the odds with Teeton Mill in 1998, but she is keen to take it “one race at a time” with the sponsor’s 4-6 Peterborough Chase favourite.

Williams added: “He might still go for the King George, but having won this so well last year it would be a mistake to omit it this year. He does have an entry in the King George, however, it will be one step at a time and it will all depend on how Sunday goes.

“One hopes there is a Grade One in him. Any horse that has won a number of Grade Twos, as he has, you always hope his turn will come at the top table. The first one on his horizon is the King George, but we will take it one race at a time.

“You are not beating the track or the trip, you are beating the other horses and it just depends on who shows up.

“Sure the other horses in it would have had more time between their races, and you wouldn’t want to do it too frequently, but it would be a mistake to forfeit a race he won so well last year to concentrate purely on the King George.”

The King George is also an option for L’Homme Presse, who having been out of action since pulling up in the Ascot Chase last February, is due to return at Cheltenham next week in the Southam Handicap Chase.

“He is due to go to Cheltenham on Friday next week for the three-and-a-quarter-mile handicap chase there. That would be a quick turnaround for him to run in the King George,” explained Williams.

“Remember as a novice chaser he ran his first two races in 15 days, and he has not had a lot of racing, but first things first is Cheltenham.

“The King George is always a competitive race so we will see. Hopefully he will go well at Cheltenham and we will take it from there. He seems to be going as well as one can hope for so I’m looking forward to running him.”