Fox Appeal has the option of tackling the William Hill King George VI Chase after Hampshire trainer Emma Lavelle decided to enter Monday's Kempton winner.

The seven-year-old dead-heated with Theatre Guide in the Weatherbys Private Banking Graduation Chase over an extended two and a half miles at the Sunbury venue, looking a likely winner when hitting the front three fences from home only to idle and allow his rival a slice of the glory.

Although the three-mile Boxing Day feature back at Kempton is only an option at present, Lavelle - who is based near Andover – believes the seven-year-old needs to stay away from handicaps as his mark of 151 allows little room for manoeuvre.

The two-mile-three-furlong Grade Two Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot on November 22 is a possible next port of call, while Huntingdon's Peterborough Chase on December 7 could also be on the radar.

Lavelle said: "We have entered him for the King George and that's just a possible option for him at the moment.

"We will probably look at the Amlin Chase at Ascot and perhaps the Peterborough Chase as I think conditions races are where we will be looking.

"What he doesn't want to be doing is carrying big weights in handicaps.

"I think he will come on again for yesterday's run, as he just got to the front and then sort of waited for someone to join him before going on again. It's not that he's ungenuine, he just doesn't want to be in front too early. He was in front too soon at Market Rasen the time before as well and just thought he'd done enough.

"He travels so well through his races - you could see that yesterday - and in those three-mile races you can sit at the back and then come through horses, which suits him. That was one of the reasons for the King George entry.

"The King George is a thought, but we'll probably have a good look at the Amlin as it's race that doesn't usually have too many runners."