Riverside Theatre will line up alongside Kauto Star in King George
Published:While Wednesday’s incredible action at Newbury and Fairyhouse leaves punters with plenty of opportunity to find value, Riverside Theatre is one horse that will not line up in the Peterborough Chase at 3.10pm.
Instead connections of the horse are targeting a run at the King George in which Riverside Theatre is a 10/1 shot.
Taking on Kauto Star will be no easy task as the defending champion goes for an unprecedented fifth consecutive King George title – Kauto Star is 10/11 to win the race – but connections of Riverside Theatre believe their horse stands a fine chance.
Owned by actor James Nesbitt, Riverside Theatre is unbeaten in four runs at Kempton and his love for the track is the main reasoning behind missing the Peterborough Chase at Newbury.
“There’s nothing wrong, we just had a change of plan,” said trainer Nicky Henderson.
“He loves Kempton so much that we’ll go straight for the King George now.”
Riverside Theatre’s only appearance so far this season was at Kempton on the 1st November when he took apart a small field including Free World and Tatenan to land the £15,655 prize.
Last year Riverside Theatre also ran at Kempton in their Winter Festival and won a grade two novice chase but went on to finish fifth in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival before falling over the Punchestown fences in April.
The King George represents a step up in class for Riverside Theatre and the betting market suggests Long Run, priced at 5/1, is Nicky Henderson’s best chance of winning.
Henderson also has entered Burton Port, Punchestowns and Mad Max but Mad Max ran at Cheltenham last week and Punchestowns has been aimed at Ascot on Saturday should it go ahead.
Burton Port may have a crack after his second place in the Hennessy and is 16/1 in the King George betting.
A £10 stake on Nacarat winning the King George would return £130. New customers can sign up here for a free £10 bet.
