Flagship Uberalles won the 2002 Queen Mother Champion Chase

Champion two-mile chaser Flagship Uberalles is on course for a surprise run in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Trainer Philip Hobbs confirmed on Friday that the eight-year-old gelding is set to step up in trip to three miles for the Christmas feature.

Flagship Uberalles made his seasonal reappearance in the Tingle Creek at Sandown last week but he could only manage fourth place after a bad slip on landing at the fifth fence.

Hobbs said that the horse was none the worse for the experience and that the King George was now the aim.

Most of Flagship Uberalles' races have been over two miles, with two unsuccessful trips over 2m4f.

But Hobbs says he expects the gelding to have the stamina for three miles.

"He runs over two miles like further would suit," he told Channel 4.

"Obviously three miles round Kempton is an easy three miles - whether he will actually get the trip all right, we won't know until we try," he added.