King happy with Obeaux
King's exciting four-year-old defeated Champion Bumper winner Ballyandy on his last start and will step up to Grade 1 level at Newbury
MESSIRE DES OBEAUX remains on course to make his next start in the Betfred Challow Hurdle at Newbury on New Year's Eve.
Trainer Alan King is to pitch the four-year-old into the Grade One contest as he bids to make it three from three for the season.
After claiming a handicap on his seasonal return at Bangor last month, the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned gelding took a step up in class in his stride on his most recent start when defeating Champion Bumper winner Ballyandy in a Grade Two at Sandown.
King said: "Messire Des Obeaux worked well on Friday and the Challow is the plan at the moment.
"I think we will go there because in the other novice races he will have to carry a penalty and obviously the Challow is a Grade One so he won't have to.
"Provided we are happy with him at the time, that is where he will go."
The Barbury Castle handler confirmed that Sceau Royal, who is also owned by Munir and Soeude, is having a short break after he failed to figure in last month's Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle having previously landed the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.
King added: "Sceau Royal is fine but he is having a little holiday at the moment. I suppose he will come back for something like the Kingwell Hurdle in February."