Alan King: Balder Succes runs at Kempton tomorrow

Festival hope steps up in trip as opportunity too good to miss

I have decided to declare Balder Succes for Kempton tomorrow as the opportunity is just too good to miss.

As I stressed last week, the plan was always to step him up in trip now and the obvious options were either tomorrow or the Ascot Chase next month. I had feared that Kempton would come to soon but he’s come out of the Desert Orchid well and seems in good form.

With only two other opponents, we have to take our chance. We will know more after the race about whether he’s likely to head to the Betway Champion Chase or step up in trip to the Ryanair Chase.

Read Alan King’s weekly column in the Racing Post Weekender every Wednesday to get the low-down on all his other runners.