King George VI Chase
All eyes will be on Kempton Park on Boxing Day when the King George VI Chase gets underway and with previous Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Long Run and Kauto Star still entered, this year’s running of the King George looks to be a very competitive race. Can Long Run bounce back from his defeat to Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last month or will the Paul Nicholls horse prove too strong and go on to claim a record fifth King George VI Chase title?
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase for four-year-olds and upwards. It’s run over three miles and with 18 fences to overcome it’s a true test of a horses ability and stamina.
We’ll start by looking at each horse individually and then try and pick the first three home.
Long Run
Nicky Henderson is having a great season so far and with Long Run primed for his return to Kempton, the 6-year-old looks a rock solid favourite at the top of the market. He won this race last year and despite losing out to Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase, Long Run is expected to reverse the placings. If anything his seasonal reappearance at Haydock last month would have done him the world of good and if he can have a more fluent round of jumping, it’s hard to see the Henderson hotpot being stopped from claiming his second King George VI Chase title. You have to remember that Long Run was beaten first time out last season in the Paddy Power Gold Cup before going on to win the rearrange King George.
Kauto Star
Everybody would love to see Kauto Star win a record fifth King George VI title but at the age of 11 it would take a massive effort from both horse and rider. His performance in the Betfair Chase was a true credit to himself and if the former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner can dominate the race early on like he did at Haydock and put in a sound round of jumping there could be an upset on the cards.
At odds of 4/1 Kauto Star looks an each-way bet to nothing but remember to check your bookmakers place terms as some bookies are offering a 1/5 of the odds on the King George whilst other are 1/4 the odds a place.
Master Minded
Master Minded will be stepping up to three miles for the first time in his career when he tackles the King George VI Chase so with questions marks about whether he’ll stay the distance others could look a better betting proposition.
The Nicholls horse comes into the race though in great form and having won over 2m 3f last time out you know the horse is fit and ready. The one positive for the dual Champions Chase winner is that Kempton is a flat track so there will be no better place for the 8-year-old to get the three mile trip.
Captain Chris
Captain Chris is one of the more interesting runners in this year’s King George VI Chase and if he can put his fall in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last month behind him, the Philip Hobbs horse could be the value in the race. His record at Kempton speaks for himself with 3 wins from 3 races (one chase and two hurdle races) and with an overall record over the bigger obstacles of three wins, three seconds and one unseated when looking primed to win the race, the 7-year-old is expected to run a very big race.
Somersby
Somersby is like Master Minded and will tackle the three mile distance for the first time in his career. He disappointed many when losing out to Gauvain last time out at odds of 5/4 but with trainer Henrietta Knight saying the he will improve with a true test of stamina, he could run into the places.
The other negative for anybody wishing to back Somersby is that he looks to be held by the Nicholls horse Master Minded after he lost out to the Champion Chaser two runs ago in the Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot last month.
Diamond Harry
Following his fourth place in the Betfair Chase in November Diamond Harry will be hoping to reverse the placings with both Kauto Star and Long Run but with questions marks over whether the horse will be suited to a right-handed course others are preferred in the King George VI betting.
Trainer Nick Williams doesn’t expect the course to cause any problems for the 2010 Hennessy Gold winner and if he can improve from his seasonal reappearance in the Betfair Chase, he could be one for each-way backers. One thing that is worth nothing is that Diamond Harry will want the going to be on the soft side so if there isn’t any rain, the 16/1 quoted will almost certainly drift on the day.
Golan Way
It’s very hard to see Golan Way winning a race of this calibre despite having put in a great performance to win last time out at Sandown. The one good thing for the Sheena West charge is that he’ll be suited to the Kempton track having already won five races from seven when going round right handed but with question marks around his jumping, others look a better value bet.
Nacarat
This is a huge test for the Tom George horse Nacarat and if there’s any further rain then it’s hard to see the 10-year-old finishing in the first three. He was very disappointing at Aintree last time out and this is a much harder test. The one main positive for anybody wishing to back Nacarat is that there will be no doubts whether the horse will stay the trip.
King George VI Chase Race Trends
- Trainer Paul Nicholls has a great record in this race having won it 6 times (4 Kauto Star and 2 See More Business)
- Ruby Walsh has ridden four King George VI winners
- Since 1980 only four horse that have won the race have been in double figures
- 6 out of the last 8 races have been won by the favourite
- 7 out of the last 10 winners won last time out.
- 7 out of the last 10 winners were trained in England
- Haydock has been a good pointer towards this race with 4 out of the last 6 winners having run there
- 9 of the last 10 winners had run in the past 40 days
- 10 of the last 10 winners had won 2 or more grade 1 chases
- 7 of the last 10 winners had finished 1st or 2nd over the course and distance.
King George VI Chase Prediction
1st Long Run
2nd Kauto Star
3rd Captain Chris
After looking at all the stats available on the King George VI Chase is very hard to steer away from Long Run. The 11/8 does look a decent price and we would recommend people to get on early as we think the Henderson horse will be a shorter on the day.
King George VI Chase Betting
| Horse | Odds | Top Price |
| Long Run | 11/8 | Paddy Power |
| Kauto Star | 4/1 | Ladbrokes |
| Master Minded | 6/1 | Coral |
| Captain Chris | 8/1 | Ladbrokes |
| Somersby | 14/1 | Betfred |
| Diamond Harry | 16/1 | Victor Chandler and Totesport |
| Golan Way | 66/1 | Victor Chandler and Boylesports |
| Nacarat | 66/1 | Paddy Power |
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