Gold Cup runner-up to be unleashed over Christmas period
Charlie Mann hopes to find the most "winnable" race between the Stan James King George VI Chase and the Lexus Chase for Air Force One following his fine effort at Newbury.
The Upper Lambourn trainer is eyeing Kempton's Christmas cracker on Boxing Day or Leopardstown's showpiece on December 28 for the six-year-old.
Air Force One has earned his chance at one of those star prizes after finishing second behind Madison Du Berlais in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on Saturday.
"He's obviously had a fairly hard race but he's come out of it fine and has trotted up on Sunday morning," said Mann.
"I don't think the ground helped but I think he got through it better than he would have done last year as he's a bit stronger.
"If he'd have jumped the last two fences I think he'd have won anyway. I didn't realise that he hit the second last fairly hard and the last as well.
"I was very proud of him and I see he has been shortened in the betting for the King George and the Gold Cup now.
"His next race will either be the King George or the Lexus in Ireland.
"We've got three or four weeks to think about it and on his run on Saturday he's proved himself up to it and he goes on most ground.
"A lot of things have to go into the equation and it would be whichever race was the most winnable.
"He's been second twice now so I'd like to get his head in front whether it's the King George or the Lexus I don't know at this stage. It will be one of them."
