Sandown preview: On St Stephen's Day, most eyes will be on Sandown's Stan James King George VI Chase where Kingscliff can go one place better than last year.
Robert Alner's charge was second to Kicking King at the race's usual venue of Kempton last season but recently gained revenge on his Irish rival when winning last month's Betfair Chase at Haydock, a race that featured some of the best staying chasers around.
A massive gelding, Kingscliff jumped particularly well that day and was never in any real danger of being caught despite a determined challenge from runner-up Beef Or Salmon.
There could yet be more to come from him and he gets the nod in one of the season's highlights.
Barry Geraghty is "very hopeful" Kicking King can complete back-to-back victories.
The rider was in the saddle 12 months ago when they survived a last-fence blunder before going on to beat Kingscliff by two and a half lengths.
The Tom Taaffe-trained gelding went on to win the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup under Geraghty, but has suffered defeats in his two races this season.
After being beaten by War Of Attrition on his reappearance at Punchestown in October, he was only third to Kingscliff in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last month, although he returned sore after twisting a shoe.
"Naturally I'm looking forward to riding Kicking King again. I've not ridden him since Haydock, but Tom says he's in brilliant form so I'm very hopeful," said Geraghty.
"I see no reason why the course at Sandown won't suit him. He should be okay.
"Kingscliff is the horse to beat, but I'd be hopeful. We beat him well in the King George at Kempton last year despite making a mistake at the last. If he's back to anywhere near that form he'd be good enough to beat him.
"Impek is a horse that has improved, but I just think three miles in that company around Sandown may be a little bit too much for him.
"It's going to be a good race and will take some winning, but I'd be very hopeful."
Taaffe reported the seven-year-old to be "100 per cent" ahead of his attempt to retain his title for which he is 11 to 8 favourite.
"He's 100 per cent, thank God. He seems fine and is due to travel later this afternoon," said the Co Kildare handler. "It's nice to win any race but to win a King George again would be brilliant."
Robert Alner put Kingscliff through his paces at his Dorset stables ahead of the eight-year-old's bid to go one better in the Christmas showpiece, for which nine horses stood their ground at the final declaration stage.
"I've ridden him out myself this morning and I'm 100 per cent happy with him," the trainer said. "There are no problems so we are looking forward to it. "We are counting the hours until we get there. He's absolutely A1 and we're totally happy with him."
Kingscliff gained revenge for last year's defeat in the King George when having him more than 10 lengths back in third when winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock five weeks ago.
Robert Walford was in the saddle that day, but he has had to give way to Tony Dobbin after being injured in a schooling fall last week.
"It's a different day, different course but as long as we go there 100 per cent I'm happy. We are looking forward to the race," Alner went on.
"The ground doesn't matter. I wouldn't be worried - it's the same for all of us. It doesn't inconvenience him one way or the other."
Victory at Haydock put Kingscliff in line for the £1 million Betfair bonus for any horse going on to win the King George and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"I'd been lying if I said I didn't have the bonus at the back of our minds, but we'd be going to Sandown for the King George if we didn't have the bonus," added Alner.
Kingscliff remains a 9 to 1 chance to land the bonus with Paddy Power, who have him 9 to 4 second favourite for the King George.
Paddy Power: 11-8 Kicking King, 9-4 Kingscliff, 13-2 Impek, 9-1 L'Ami, 11-1 Ollie Magern, 16-1 Royal Auclair, 25-1 Irish Hussar, 28-1 Monkerhostin, 150-1 Ballycassidy.
