Alan King sweet on Uxizandre claims in Ryanair Chase

Alan King is looking forward to another crack at the Ryanair Chase with 2015 Festival hero Uxizandre.

The JP McManus-owned nine-year-old provided Sir Anthony McCoy with his final Grade One success at the Festival two years ago and returned from injury with a pleasing second behind Un De Sceaux in the rearranged Clarence House Chase in January.

He's reported in good heart ahead of a return to the fray, with the return to better ground expected to prove in his favour.

Speaking at Wednesday's press day at Prestbury Park, King said: "We were thrilled with his comeback run, he exceeded my expectations having not run for the best part of two years, the ground was softer than he wants, and he was against some top-class, race-fit horses.

"I was delighted with the way he stayed on up the hill, he had a good blow afterwards and he's had plenty of time to get over that. He's had the best part of seven weeks off again so hopefully the 'bounce' factor has been taken out of the equation.

"It's 90 per cent certain he goes for the Ryanair again - God forbid if anything should happen to Douvan then it might change things but if he runs then there's no point taking him on as he's a superstar.

"I'm not too worried about the tactics at this stage, he didn't make the running at Cheltenham the other week but if he got an uncontested lead then great, if something else wants to go on and blaze a trail then fine, I'll worry about that kind of thing a little nearer to the time."