If you are a horse racing fan in the south of England, all roads on Boxing Day lead to Kempton for the King George VI Chase. The mid-season championship in the UK for staying chasers, it also forms the second leg of the Jockey Club Racecourses’ £1 million bonus offered to any horse who completes the 2018-19 chasing triple crown.
King George VI Chase History and Trends
The King George VI Chase was first run in 1937. Apart from a couple of years in which it was transferred to Sandown Park, it’s always been staged at Kempton, which is why there has been such opposition to the racecourse’s plans to abandon jumping in favour of more all-weather meetings. The race was named in honour of the new King, who himself was an enthusiastic National Hunt follower. But despite this, the race did not immediately catch the public’s imagination with the first two runnings only attracting fields of four runners.
However, after Halloween and the great Mandarin won in the Fifties, the race took off in terms of prestige. It’s now viewed as a mid-season championship for staying chasers, sandwiched between the Betfair Chase at Haydock and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Bristol De Mai is still on course having won the first leg of chasing’s new triple crown.
The roll of honour is a who’s who of British jumping with past multiple winners including Wayward Lad, Silver Buck, Desert Orchid and Kauto Star.
- Trainer Paul Nicholls has won it nine times since 1997 and Nicky Henderson has trained the winner three times in the last seven years. Colin Tizzard has won it twice in the same period.
- It’s usually worth noting any French-bred as they have been successful in nine of the last 13 years.
- Most recent winners had already won a Grade 1 over the larger obstacles but Thistlecrack did buck that particular trend in 2016.
- Only one of the last 14 winners has been aged older than nine.
- None of the last 11 winners have started at bigger odds than 9/2.
Might Bite (11/4 with 888sport) justified favouritism last year, beating Double Shuffle, Tea For Two and Thistlecrack with Bristol De Mai (7/1 with 888sport) only sixth, though that form has probably been devalued since. Connections of the latter will be hoping for better luck this year after the grey won the Betfair Chase at Haydock for the second time last month, putting him on course for that million-pound bonus. However, he arrived with similar credentials last season.
NATIVE RIVER and Thistlecrack filled the places at Haydock behind Bristol De Mai and that signalled a return to form for the latter (also a best 7/1), who won this in 2016. That was the last time he won a race but he’s had his problems since and raced only four times. Aged 10, however, the stats are now against Tom Scudamore’s mount.
Native River (a general 7/1) has only raced at Kempton once before, finishing third behind Tea For Two (40/1 with Boylesports) when favourite for the Kauto Star as a five-year-old in 2015. However, he’s improved out of all recognition since then, winning the Gold Cup at Cheltenham last season when bravely holding off Might Bite in a race that was run at a frantic pace. He’s a thorough stayer and there are some who think that 3m around Kempton won’t suit but he’s a terrific jumper and that attribute should keep him in contention. A fast pace is guaranteed and Richard Johnson will have him handy, he may well outstay his rivals with that pipe-opener at Haydock under his belt.
Politilogue’s owner has been very bullish since the grey gave the smart Charbel 6lb and a beating in a Grade 2 at Ascot. If he is going to stay 3m it will be somewhere like Kempton but he’s now only a best 5/1. So is Waiting Patiently (888sport), another stepping up in trip having shown top-class form up to 2m5f. Ruth Jefferson’s seven-year-old has already won at Kempton and is unbeaten in six starts over fences but this year’s renewal looks even more competitive that usual.
32Red King George VI Chase Current Best Odds
Might Bite 11/4, Waiting Patiently and Politologue 5/1, Bristol De Mai, Native River and Thistlecrack 7/1, Clan Des Obeaux 16/1, Coneygree and Double Shuffle 33/1, Tea For Two 40/1
(Odds correct at 11.00am December 23)
