KING GEORGE CHASE
Tuesday 26th December, 2:30pm
Allaho @ 6/4
Bravemansgame @ 2/1
Shishkin @ 7/2
The Real Whacker @ 15/2
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
RACE
Kempton’s King George VI Chase (2-30) was inaugurated in 1937 to celebrate the coronation of the new racehorse-loving sovereign, since when it has become steeplechasing’s mid-season championship, staged, in complete contrast to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, over a flat, right-handed three miles. With four successes, Desert Orchid was for years the record-breaking winner before the Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star claimed a fifth.
MARKET
Paul Nicholls seeks to extend his own record of thirteen King George victories with 2022 winner Bravemansgame and race-regular Frodon, successful in 2020. Twelve months ago Bravemansgame saw off all-comers in style – with Frodon third – before putting in sound efforts at Cheltenham (2nd) and at Punchestown (3rd). In two runs this season, things have not gone quite right for the eight-year-old, most recently when he suffered a comprehensive defeat in second behind Royale Pagaille at Haydock, a result that was more puzzling than a pretty honourable runners-up spot in the Charlie Hall. The veteran Frodon will run his race but looks up against it.
Allaho, which enjoyed a sparkling 2021/22 season (notably when stepped back up to three miles at Punchestown), made a welcome – if understandably rusty – return at Clonmel in November after a long absence because of a serious internal issue. He brings the most scintillating form to the table, and the betting has spoken firmly in his favour. At his best Shishkin, the winner of nine chases, is a massive player, however he knows how to chuck in a curiosity – most famously when refusing to race at Ascot – and supporters must factor that in.
The Real Whacker, a rising star of last season, disappointed on his return, though to be fair he finished lame and the stable was very quiet at the time. Hewick, racing for the first time since August, adds a lot of extra spice to the mix under jockey-of-the-moment Gavin Sheehan, especially considering likely conditions.
CORNELIUS’ QUARTET
The Kempton programme – also featuring Constitution Hill – gets underway with a smashing novices’ handicap chase (12-45) in which you can make a case for almost everyone, certainly Blow Your Wad which made a more than satisfactory chasing debut at Sandown against an experienced and talented opponent; leading Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (1-20) lights Giovinco, Hermes Allen and Il Est Francais make the race a riveting prospect, and I know I’m not the only one getting caught up in the franglais challenge of Il Est Francais after two polished displays at home in France.
There are a total of eleven Boxing Day (St Stephen’s Day) fixtures across Britain and Ireland – including Leopardstown where Facile Vega tops the bill – and all programmes require close attention to avoid missing anything, like (in my case) long-distance traveller Imperial Measure at Sedgefield (12-15); at Chepstow on the 27th, Iwilldoit would be only the fourth horse in the modern era to win a second Welsh Grand National (2-50), but the vibes are positive from a stable that continues in good form, and that was a promising comeback at Aintree in November.
THE WINNER
Team Henderson has a remarkable record turning around runners from unpromising positions – like race-refusenik Shishkin – so I’m taking a chance in the King George with him against Allaho.
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