Preview
This year’s renewal of the King George is the best in years. We have the Gold Cup 1-2 in Native River & Might Bite, the dual winner of the Betfair Chase Bristol De Mai, the unbeaten chaser Waiting Patiently & the winner of last year’s Tingle Creek Politologue. We’re not done there either, as 2016 King George winner Thistlecrack is in the field as well as last year’s 2nd & 3rd Double Shuffle & Tea For Two. 2015 Gold Cup winner Coneygree and the 6yo Clan Des Obeaux make up the 10 strong high class field.
Betfair Chase
Finding the winner looks an impossible task but let’s start by looking at the 5 who contested the recent Betfair Chase at Haydock. Bristol De Mai, for the Twiston-Davies yard, was a good 4 length winner following up his wide margin win in the same race 12 months previous. He was disappointing in this race last year when a distant 6th to Might Bite. I suspect similar will happen here as he’s nowhere near as good a race away from his favourite track, Haydock. He’s currently a 7/1 shot but isn’t one for me.
New Customers can get Might Bite at an enhanced 50/1 the win the King George Chase. Max Stake £1. Winnings paid in free bets. Full T&Cs Apply. 18+|Gamble Aware.
Favourite
Last year’s winner of the King George was Might Bite and he’s favourite to follow up. However, he was plumb last in the Betfair Chase after being eased once his chance had gone. This track suits his style but there are some nagging doubts about his jumping & it’s hard to forgive a poor run last time out. If he puts it all together, he looks the most likely winner but 3/1 is too short in a race full of high class alternatives.
Outsider
Native River, the winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup when outstaying Might Bite, was 2nd in that Haydock race but finds himself trading at around the 7/1 mark here. There are question marks over whether he’s as good going right handed & whether this flat track suits but the price is crazy for a Gold Cup winner who’s won 5 of his last 7. Admittedly he’s a dour stayer & will undoubtedly be one of the first off the bridle but they will go a gallop so stamina is still a positive. He’s the highest rated runner in the race so cannot be left out of calculations especially at such a backable each way price.
The Rest
Thistlecrack won this race in 2016 but he’s an iffy jumper who did well to finish 3rd up at Haydock, where he made up lots of ground in between fences. I’d love him to go well but he isn’t quite the force of old and, at 7/1, I much prefer the chances of Native River. Clan Des Obeaux is the final horse to come from that Haydock race; he ran a career best in 4th and will have to improve again to be in the mix here. He looks to be Paul Nicholls’ 2nd string.
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Main Bet
Nicholls has won this race 9 times, with 5 time winner Kauto Star accounting for over half those wins, and he has a great chance to make it 10 here with 7yo speedster Politologue. He’s never been over this far but he’s bred to stay the trip & Kempton is as easy a 3 miles as you’ll get, albeit the King George is usually run at a good clip. He’s won 5 of his last 7 chases with superstar Altior being the reason for his 2 defeats. Along the way, he’s won the Tingle Creek, the Desert Orchid & the Melling Chase. He travels well, jumps efficiently & loves going right handed after winning all 7 chases going this way round. Admittedly, he needs to prove he stays but I think he will, as does his shrewd trainer, so he’s got to rank as a super each way bet.
Dark Horse
Waiting Patiently is the dark horse of the race, winning all 6 chase starts. He’s been off the track for almost a year and could be anything. This is his big test and I don’t really know what to expect. Connections must fancy him to pitch him in this but the value has gone in his price.
Remainder
Coneygree, Double Shuffle & Tea For Two are all big prices & should run good races at a track that suits but they really don’t look a match for the main contenders here.
Tips
Back Politologue (e/w) for a 2/10 stake at 6.00 Bet365 (¼ odds 1-3)
PLACED – Back Native River (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 8.00 Betfred (⅕ odds 1-3)
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