Daryl Jacob is to ride Master Minded confidently when the dual Queen Mother Champion Chase winner steps up to three miles for the first time in the King George VI Chase.
He partnered the eight-year-old to victory over Somersby in the Amlin Chase at Ascot last month and is delighted to be keeping the ride at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Jacob is relishing his role as number two rider for trainer Paul Nicholls, with stable jockey Ruby Walsh aboard owner Clive Smith’s other runner, four-time King George hero Kauto Star.
“Obviously Ascot was a stepping stone towards the King George,” Jacob said.
“I saw him in the yard last week and both he and Kauto Star look great so I’m looking forward to be being part of the big day.
“I’d be hopeful of beating Somersby again. As for the trip, it just depends on what the ground is going to be like.
“If it’s very dead it’s going to make it harder work for him, but I’ll just do the usual and ride him very confidently as if he does get three miles (4800m).
“If he doesn’t then he doesn’t, but I will be riding him very confidently. If he does get the trip we’ll see where we go from there.
“Kauto’s performance the last day (at Haydock) was brilliant for everyone involved and if he turns up in that sort of form again he’s obviously going to be very hard to beat.
“Long Run needed the run there a little bit and he’s going to strip fitter so they are definitely the two principals we’ve got to try to beat,” the jockey told At The Races.
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