Firing Kalashnikov lined up for Arkle

Horse Racing
All British racing off until at least Wednesday

Kalashnikov is on course for the Racing Post Arkle at Cheltenham after a comfortable 18-length win at Plumpton on Monday afternoon.

The impressive five-year-old went into the Sky Sports Racing Novices’ Chase on the back of last month’s 11-length win at Warwick.

Having won the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last season, Kalashnikov will put his good record over fences to the test in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival in the spring.

Speaking after the Plumpton triumph, trainer Amy Murphy told the Racing Post: ‘That was fantastic, I was absolutely delighted, not that I watched a lot of it, but it sounded very good! [Jockey] Jack [Quinlan] was ecstatic coming in.

‘Kalashnikov learned an awful lot at Warwick, he was pretty foot perfect here today and has come on a lot fitness-wise.

‘ Looking ahead to Kalashnikov’s pre-Arkle plans, Murphy added: ‘It’s exciting for the future for a team of our size and, all being well, he will go to Kempton for the Wayward Lad [on December 27] and then probably Doncaster in the new year.’

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