Horse racing fans attention will be focused on Kempton on Boxing Day for the Christmas racing highlight, the King George VI Chase. The race named after The Queen’s father is steeped in history and can count national hunt racing legends such as Kauto Star, Desert Orchid, Best Mate and See More Business as previous winners.
The King George VI Chase is often seen as the mid season race for the season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup hopefuls, and this year is no different. With four of the first five in the betting for the 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup set to take their place in the line up, we are in for a top class renewal.
Although the King George is run over 3 miles, it is popular belief that the race doesn’t require much stamina to win. This is due to Kempton being a very flat track compared to the likes of Cheltenham which is undulating and takes plenty of getting. However, this said, the race is run differently to other staying chases as they often go a very hard gallop from the outset and kick for home a long way out. This increases the emphasis on stamina, and while it may not be the war of attrition that the Cheltenham Gold Cup represents, recent running’s have shown that you still have to be able to stay the 3 mile trip. Indeed, the stats back this up as 14 of the last 16 winners had previously won over 3 miles before winning the King George.
Our friends at Betopin.com have created this infographic with the history of the race, and what this years race looks like.
King George VI Chase Betting
Might Bite – 3/1
Waiting Patiently – 5/1
Politologue – 6/1
Native River – 7/1
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Thistlecrack – 7/1
Bristol De Mai – 7/1
2018 King George VI Chase Preview
The 2018 renewal of the King George VI Chase looks full of class. All of the top staying chasers in the UK are entered and expected to take their place in the line up, this includes the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup first and second, Might Bite and Native River.
The Contenders
Might Bite – Last years winner and a gallant runner up in the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Might Bite disappointed on his seasonal reappearance in the Betfair Chase, he jumped well but when Nico De Boinville asked him for his effort there was very little in the tank. Nicky Henderson has said that there was no excuse for this but that he expects him to come on for the run and all roads lead to the King George. If returning to form his is the one to beat, however, you have to put a line through his last run to do that and it is hard to ignore how quickly he stopped that day.
Native River – Colin Tizzard’s likeable front runner out stayed Might Bite to win last seasons Cheltenham Gold Cup and he made a solid reappearance behind Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase. He is the solid option having never been out of the first three in any of his chase starts. The one glitch may be that he has only had one run at Kempton Park when he was beaten in the Feltham at 6/4 favourite. He may prefer an undulating staying track.
Thistlecrack – The 2016 winner of this race has been significantly held back by injury in the past two years and has only had three runs since January 2017. His comeback also came in the Betfair Chase and in our opinion he ran a stormer to finish third. He got slightly outpaced and was nursed into the race by his regular pilot Tom Scudamore, once over the last he ran on under a second wind to be beaten 5 lengths and only 1 length behind Native River. If he can come on for that run then we think he’ll be bang there on Boxing Day.
Bristol de Mai – The winner of the last two renewals of the Betfair Chase at his beloved Haydock Park, Nigel Twiston-Davies’s grey has yet to produce that form at other courses. His only run at Kempton was in last season’s King George VI Chase in which he was soundly beaten by Might Bite. Haydock obviously suits him and although he beat most of these rivals that day we would be surprised if he could turn the form around.
Waiting Patiently – The dark horse is Waiting Patiently. Ruth Jefferson’s 7 year old is unbeaten over fences and slammed Cue Card on his last start in a Grade 1 at Ascot. That race was over 2m 5f and that is the furthest distance he has raced over, which would be a concern, even though he showed no sign of stopping that day. He has an official rating of 170 which would put him right up there with the best staying chasers in the country and if he’s fit enough first time out then he could cause some surprises.
Betopin Verdict
If all of the intended runners line up then we are in for a treat on Boxing Day! All of the contenders mentioned have great chances of winning this race, bet we loved the way Thistlecrack ran in the Betfair Chase on his reappearance. He looked to blow up and then run on again after the last. If he can come on for that run he has a great chance of winning this race for a second time.
