Kal has shot at bonus

KALASHNIKOV took dead aim on a £60,000 Cheltenham bonus with an 18-length demolition of his Plumpton rivals yesterday.

In doing so the Amy Murphy-trained chase novice joined Saturday’s possible Sandown runner Lalor at the head of the Arkle market.

Apart from trailing his legs in one of the ditches, the 1-7 favourite produced an excellent round of jumping.

Plumpton’s bonus goes to any horse who wins at the track and then triumphs at the Festival in March.

“That was fantastic, I was absolutely delighted. Kalashnikov was pretty foot perfect and he has come on a lot fitness wise from his Warwick debut,” said Murphy.

Jockey Jack Quinlan added: “It’s nice to get it over and done with, but he did do it with any amount in hand.”

Paddy Power trimmed last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle runner-up to 9-2 jointfavourite with Lalor for the Arkle.

He is now set to head to Kempton on December 27 for the Wayward Lad Chase in which he could clash with Lalor, who is entered on Saturday in Sandown’s Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.

THE 2017 Grand National winner One For Arthur will make his comeback from injury in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

The nine-year-old, who be ridden by Tom Scudamore, had been entered in the Becher Chase on the same card but trainer Lucinda Russell has decided to steer clear of another run over the big fences until April.