King's French Raid

9:26am Saturday 24th May 2008

CHAMPION Hurdle-winning trainer Alan King will saddle his first ever runner in France tomorrow with another of his Cheltenham Festival heroes, Nenuphar Collonges.

The winner of the three-mile Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle in March will drop back in distance slightly at Auteuil for the Prix La Barka over an extended two miles and five.

It is a race often targeted by British and Irish trainers and especially Willie Mullins, who has entered his Ballymore Properties winner Fiveforthree and quite a few others across a glittering card topped by France's most prestigious jump event, the Grand Steeplechase de Paris.

Nenuphar Collonges was fourth on his only subsequent start at Aintree and Barbury Castle handler King reported: "He's going over tonight and really the plan is to see if he is good enough to come back later in the summer for the French Champion Hurdle.

"The trip might be a bit sharp for him but the ground should suit. He had a break after Aintree but seems to have held his condition well."

Remember When...