'The final will be the target' - Koenigsstern teed up for lucrative contest following smooth victory

Nick Gifford's fine festive run of form continued with a 44-1 double, including when Koenigsstern perfectly warmed up for a lucrative return to the track next year in the 2m2f handicap chase.

The seven-year-old ran out a five-and-a-half length winner under James Davies for owner Paul Langmead, who runs his horses under the Ham Manor Farms banner. Koenigsstern will now be aimed at the course's £40,000 chase series final in March, which his success was a qualifying contest for.

"The owner lives just ten minutes down the road, so it makes the victory extra special," Gifford said. "He'd been running really well without winning, but here I thought he jumped incredibly well. 

"He'd already qualified for the final before this, but we want to keep them running and this looked like the right race, but the final will be the target now. All of my horses are running really well, so long may it continue."

Gifford completed his haul when 11-1 shot River Tyne struck in the 3m2f handicap chase. The wins took the trainer's strike-rate in the last fortnight to 44 per cent.

Strong strike-rate

Tim Vaughan enhanced his recent red-hot record at the track when Kalium continued his rise through the ranks in the 2m1½f novice hurdle.

The four-year-old made all under Alan Johns and took the trainer's strike-rate at the Sussex venue in the last five seasons to 57 per cent. Four of his last seven runners there have won.

Knight at it again

After becoming Henrietta Knight's first jumps winner since her training return, Motazzen gave the esteemed trainer more glory at the track this month in the opening 2m3f conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle.

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'He's lovely but he's also quite good' - exciting discussion awaits as Thomas Mor makes winning reappearance after 650 days off 

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