Kalahari King's participation in the King George VI Chase has been thrown into doubt.

Last year's Arkle Trophy runner-up could miss Saturday's Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon because of the likely soft ground and if he does, trainer Ferdy Murphy says he is unlikely to take on Kauto Star in the Grade 1 feature race at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Murphy had hoped to let Kalahari King remove the summer rust at Kelso two weeks ago.

However, that intended prep run was scuppered as an infected cut on one of the eight-year-old's hocks failed to respond to treatment in time for the medication to be out of his system.

The in-form West Witton trainer, who saddled Galant Nuit to victory in a valuable handicap chase at Cheltenham on Saturday, was poised to re-route Kalahari King to Huntingdon.

However, an unsettled forecast could dash those plans.

Murphy said: "I've been desperate to get a run into him and the Peterborough Chase would be ideal, but obviously with the weather the way it is, there is a doubt that he'll be going there.

"I don't want to run him on soft ground for his first run of the season. It wouldn't be ideal for him.

"They have a meeting there on Thursday and we'll have a couple of runners, so we'll see what the ground is like and take it from there.

"The trouble is there are not a lot of races for him after that and if he misses Huntingdon, he wouldn't go for the King George without a run. It's very frustrating."

Meanwhile, Dessie Hughes says he has no immediate plans to retire dual Champion Hurdler Hardy Eustace.

Despite ruling him out of yesterday's Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown, the Kildare trainer is planning to let the 12-year-old make his seasonal debut at Ascot on Saturday.

Hughes said: "I've entered him for the two-and-a-half mile Ascot Hurdle, which he has won twice before (2006 and 2007) and if the ground is good, he'll run there.

"Plans are loose at the moment but he's in good form."