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Winning local trainer Martin Keighley is hoping his bandwagon can roll on to Cheltenham on New Year's Day.
Keighley enjoyed his first Grade One success at Kempton Park on Boxing Day with Annacotty in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase and is hoping the stable's good form can continue at Cheltenham on New Year's Day (Wednesday, January 1, 2014).
Stable star Champion Court was an early casualty in the Grade One William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton Park yesterday, when he was hampered and unseated Ian Popham at the fifth fence.
He could bid for compensation in the richest race of the day on New Year's Day at Cheltenham, the £50,000 Fairlawne Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs.
Keighley, based at Condicote, said today: "We will see how Champion Court comes out of the King George, but if all is well with him, he could run at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.
"Although he only got as far as the fifth yesterday, he didn't do himself any favours by running and jumping round for a circuit after he had lost his jockey! He seems OK today though."
One horse that is definitely heading to Cheltenham on Wednesday is Coyaba, who runs in the concluding £20,000 Listed EBF High Sheriff Of Gloucestershire's" Junior Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race over an extended mile and six furlongs.
The son of Midnight Legend has won impressively on both his starts, scoring by seven lengths at Ffos Las on November 10 and by four and a half lengths at Towcester 20 days later.
Keighley continued: "Coyaba is a real nice horse and has done everything right in his two runs so far.
"He worked well this morning and the plan is now to go to Cheltenham on New Year's Day with him.
"If all goes well then, we would probably then give him a break with a view to bringing him back to Cheltenham for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at The Festival."