Ferdy Murphy is already looking forward to challenging for top two-mile chase honours with Kalahari King next season.
The Arkle runner-up and Maghull Chase winner stepped out of novice company with a creditable second to the much more experienced Twist Magic in the Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday. The run was all the more meritorious as Kalahari King pulled muscles in his back when jumping the first fence.
"He's pulled some muscles in his back. We'll give him treatment during the week then he'll go out in the field. It's not a big deal," said the West Witton trainer.
"He's come down a bit steep over the first and Graham (Lee) reckons he just hung a bit left from there. He's pulled a couple of little muscles, nothing serious, so we'll get the little problem sorted and go to war with him next year.
"He's gone down to the first all right but then he's skewed left which he never does - he always jumps straight. There was obviously some little thing bothering him.
"He's had three quick races and probably needs a bit of time to recover between races, but it was just the way the campaign was set out.
"We went for it, we're happy with the horse and hopefully now we'll get him placed to advantage next year.
"He's good enough to run in the best races, and to win or two of them would be grand."
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