Kalashnikov taking aim at Plumpton as Amy Murphy eyes Cheltenham bonus

Leading Racing Post Arkle fancy Kalashnikov is set to have his second outing over fences at Plumpton on Monday which could set him on the trail of a £60,000 bonus.

The Sussex course is once again putting up the bonus for any winner of one of their five nominated novice contests at the track who then goes on to glory at the Cheltenham Festival in the same season.

The double was last achieved by Voy Por Ustedes in 2006 but Kalashnikov will be many people's idea of a live contender if he can back up his recent impressive debut success at Warwick.

Amy Murphy's star performer had little trouble in landing odds of 1-4 that day when beating just three rivals and is the highest-rated among the 16 entries for the Sky Sports Racing Novices' Chase over 2m2f.

Watch the replay of Kalashnikov's chasing debut at Warwick

Last season Kalashnikov won three times over hurdles, including the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February, and was beaten just a neck by Summerville Boy in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham the following month.

Murphy said: "The plan is to run Kalashnikov at Plumpton where the £60,000 bonus is attractive but he also needs some more experience. He's been fine since Warwick and has only schooled once since. Obviously there is some rain forecast which he won't mind although he's better on top of the ground."

Kalashnikov is the general 5-1 joint-favourite for the Arkle with recent Cheltenham winner Lalor and has a path already mapped out to the Cotswolds in March.

Murphy added: "If all goes well at Plumpton then we could look at Kempton the day after Boxing Day and beyond that there is Warwick or Doncaster in January."

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