Kalashnikov set for 'very exciting' Christmas showdown with Ahoy Senor

Wetherby is set to host a Boxing Day clash between Ahoy Senor and Kalashnikov, with the latter in line to make his first appearance since sustaining a tendon injury in the 2021 Ryanair Chase.

Lucinda Russell’s assistant trainer and partner Peter Scudamore indicated that the Rowland Meyrick Chase on December 26 would be the next destination for Ahoy Senor after he finished third in the Many Clouds Chase this month. He would have to give 2lb to Kalashnikov in the £50,000 Wetherby handicap.

Kalashnikov was was beaten a neck in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in 2018, the same year that he won the Betfair Hurdle, and proved himself at the highest level over fences when landing the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree in 2019.

The Amy Murphy-trained nine-year-old has not been seen since finishing fourth in last year's Ryanair Chase and the three horses who finished ahead of him that day have all boosted the form subsequently.

The winner, Allaho, defended his crown at the Cheltenham Festival in March, while runner-up Fakir D'Oudairies has taken three Grade 1s since and the third-placed Tornado Flyer won last year's King George VI Chase.

Kalashnikov underwent his first bit of fast work under regular rider Jack Quinlan last Tuesday after his spell on the sidelines, and Murphy is hopeful her stable star over jumps can reappear in the Wetherby race, which has been a Grade 3 since 2005.

“Touch wood he’s in good form," the trainer said. "We’re aiming for Wetherby on Boxing Day. There’s still a racecourse gallop to go yet which is going to happen at Kempton this week. We couldn’t be happier with him but as with all of those things, every day you go out there still hoping he’s okay.”

Quinlan has partnered Kalashnikov in all 20 of his starts under rules and was relishing the prospect of reuniting with the gelding on the racecourse.

“He’s done a couple of pieces of work but that [Tuesday] was his first piece going upsides a horse and letting the handbrake off. He’s coming through all that very well," he said.

“It was a real shame not to have had him all of last season, he was both mine and Amy’s kind of flagbearer for the previous three or four seasons and you really do miss a horse like that at the Saturday meetings, and hopefully the big festivals in the spring.

“Now he’s on the comeback trail it’s very exciting. So far, everything he’s doing is showing that he retains his old ability and especially his old enthusiasm so hopefully, if he remains sound, he should be able to pick up where he left off.”

Of his last start Quinlan added: "I rode my race at Cheltenham that day in the Ryanair to try to follow Allaho and give him a race, and it was probably my undoing from the back of two out. I wonder with a bit more restraint, how much closer he could have been.

"I'm not saying he would have got anywhere near Allaho, but certainly I think he would have been right with the second and third. It was a seriously good performance, perhaps even a career-best."

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