Last Updated; 17/02/2009

Aspiring novice champions Bensalem, Karabak and Walkon were given particular star billing by Alan King as he unveiled a squad of roughly 21 horses for the Cheltenham Festival. King's could grudgingly have another runner in a flagship race through Halcon Genelardais in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

It will be hard for the Scot to improve on the three winners he has collected at the meeting in each of the last two years as his gallops at picturesque Barbury Castle in Wiltshire were hit badly by the snow, some of which was still lying on the ground on Monday morning.

Prestbury Park mainstay and current Ryanair Chase favourite Voy Por Ustedes leads the charge, but Karabak, an impressive winner at Ascot last time, and Bensalem, who was just beaten by Diamond Harry on trials day at Cheltenham, are right behind.

'Bensalem gave Diamond Harry a real fright and is very exciting. He is in the Ballymore and the Albert Bartlett,' King said. 'I have got to discuss it with the owner but I'd like to keep him and Karabak apart and go for the three-miler. I'd see him coming back for an RSA Chase there another year.

'Karabak has done very little wrong and although he is in the Supreme, he is 99 per cent likely to go for the Ballymore.

'I think he is about third favourite for that, which shows what chance he has.'

King excels with his juveniles and his best this time around is the grey Walkon, whose only defeat in four starts came to the JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Zaynar.

'He is thoroughly enjoying life and the plan was always to go for the Triumph after he went to Cheltenham in January," he reported. "I couldn't be more pleased with his progress mentally and physically and he would compare favourably with the likes of Penzance and Franchoek in recent years.

'I am very excited about him.'

The trainer will contest the williamhill.com Supreme Novices' Hurdle with Medermit.

'I know the form of his defeat of Dee Ee Williams at Ascot took a beating when that horse lost at Haydock subsequently but Charlie Mann's horse who was third (Wendel) won again well at Ascot last weekend,' King explained.

'He was going to go for the Tote Gold Trophy but that was off and we have kept him fresh for the Supreme, where I hope he has every chance of getting in the money.'

Balzaccio has been given a breathing operation although King admits it may be a 'rush job' to get him ready for the Fred Winter, a race in which Trenchant and Saticon could also represent the stable. Blazing Bailey will again contest the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, but King has a novice chase career in mind for the autumn.

Oh Crick is being aimed for the Grand Annual, while Pennek may be fitted with blinkers for the Pertemps Final following his pleasing third in the qualifier at Haydock last Saturday.

**Nenuphar Collonges' target will be the William Hill Chase **and Ouzbeck will be entered for the Jewson and Festival Plate handicaps.

The improving Penn Da Benn has options of the Coral Cup or the new Martin Pipe conditional jockeys event, while the same choices are on the cards for Pouvoir.

Thetwincamdrift could go for the Albert Bartless Novices' Hurdle, with Pangbourne a possibility for the National Hunt Chase.

Over Sixty may take her chance in the David Nicholson mares' race.

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