KING GEORGE VI
Thursday 26th December, 2:30pm
Spillane’s Tower @ 7/2
Il Est Francais @ 4/1
Grey Dawning @ 5/1
Banbridge @ 15/2
L’Homme Presse @ 9/1
Bravemansgame @ 14/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
THE RACE
Kempton’s King George VI Chase (2-30), steeplechasing’s mid-season championship, presents its very own examination, going three-miles, right-handed on a flat track that’s renowned for better ground. Though successful in two of the last three stagings, Irish runners have largely been kept at bay – whether that will still be the case this time remains to be seen.
THE MARKET
As he heads the Irish challenge, Spillane’s Tower brings the most enticing bit of recent form having served it up to Fact Or File so memorably at Punchestown in November, only going down by a half-length with Galopin Des Champs third. Given that the six-year-old is likely to come on for the run, he’s well-touted to give trainer Jimmy Mangan only his second winner in Britain after Monty’s Pass landed a gamble in the 2003 Grand National.
From France, Il Est Francais blew us away twelve months ago with an imperious course and distance victory in the Kauto Star, but stats since of 5–1–P tell their own up-and-down story.
Course winner Banbridge has never been successful over this far, but has only made one Rules attempt at it and is a top-notcher over shorter. Having missed planned runs because of unsuitable ground, the Dan Skelton-trained Grey Dawning, successful in the Festival’s Turners Chase, made his seasonal debut at Haydock, and it might have been a successful one but for losing momentum at the last and giving best to Royale Pagaille, with Bravemansgame third.
L’Homme Presse, a last fence casualty two years ago, has been absent since finishing fourth in the Gold Cup but goes well fresh, and everyone knows the form of the stable. Better can be anticipated by Corbetts Cross after a low-key start to this season, though this will test his jumping.
The ten-year-old Envoi Allen defied his advancing years for a ninth Grade One at Down Royal in November. 2022 winner Bravemansgame hasn’t won any of his subsequent races, but was a slightly luckless runner-up last year, and both recent efforts have been respectable.
The Real Whacker, successful over Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall and fourth in this last year, will enjoy expected conditions and his stable is in great order. Also for France, Juntos Ganamos has excelled over shorter, but General En Chef is a lively longshot judged on his Newbury fourth.
THE WINNER
Spillane’s Tower for me – what about you?
CORN’S QUARTET
In the Christmas Hurdle (1-55), if Constitution Hill is indeed “back” as Team Seven Barrows is convinced, he can see off the mare Lossiemouth and complete a race-hatrick en route to changing the complexion of the jumps season ahead.
At Aintree, Florida Dreams (1-40) catches the eye after finishing fifth over shorter in the Greatwood Hurdle; at Wincanton conditions should be just right for Ike Sport (2-38) as Oisin Murphy fulfils an ambition to race-ride over hurdles.
In Fontwell’s bumper at 3-27, Gentleman Toboot has a tongue-tie as he looks to build on a very promising debut in October.
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