Preview: Francois Doumen is hoping L'Ami can improve enough to give him a sixth success in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Sandown on St Stephen's Day.

The French handler has lifted the Grade One feature with Nupsala, dual winner The Fellow, Algan and First Gold in the past and L'Ami is as low as 8 to 1 with William Hill and Ladbrokes to add to that tally.

The six-year-old was last seen when finishing second to Trabolgan in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and Doumen believes he will have to improve on that form to challenge last year's first and second, Kicking King and Kingscliff.

"I would say he has improved for his last race but we have to look at the weather to start with because I came all the way to England (Windsor) for nothing yesterday and I'm a bit upset about it" he said.

"This horse is a bit young. He is only six-years-old, but he is an improving horse and he will no doubt have to to beat two big boys. You have to stay positive about it as as this horse has got slight improvement to do.

"Those two horses have proven their level and I don't think they can improve much more, so with my horse being younger and improving, maybe he can reach that level and beat them. If he can't reach that level at this stage he won't beat them."