King George VI Chase Betting Tips: Who Wins This Christmas?

Steve Mullington

December 19th, 2019

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Quick Tips

• Lostintranslation to win the King George at 2/1 with Black Type

Everybody has a favourite thing about Christmas. The roast, the turkey, the presents or the movies in front of the TV. Some just like the lie-ins, the sherry, or the extra tasty food. Some even like the sales, would you believe it. We love the horse racing most of all though, and the best race of the Christmas season is surely the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

What Are The Trends?

With a race like the King George, much of the form is extremely well known. The winners tend to be already established Grade 1 horses that arrive in good form, and indeed repeat winners of this race are fairly common, with Kauto Star to name just one who made the race his own.

The market usually is a reasonable guide, although this has been skewered by Kauto Star beforehand. Clan Des Obeaux was a slight surprise last year, but he’s the only winner in double figures since 2003 and Edredon Bleu. That said, it’s worth thinking about a strategy around big prices and then placing each-way bets, and there should be three places up on offer for those having a wager.

Who Are The Favourites?

Cryname, a 7/4 shot with BetHard, took the jumps world by storm when he followed up his wide margin handicap win at Ascot with a 17 length thumping of Waiting Patiently in the Ascot Chase last year.

Any doubts as to if those performances were the real deal were swept aside when he got the better of Cheltenham Festival winner Altior in a brilliant front running performance when winning the 1965 Chase. That level of form is probably the strongest in the field and his favouritism on that basis is deserved, but he must answer one key question; how good is he over 3 miles? All three of his amazing performances have come at Ascot over 2m5f – will he be as good at Kempton over 3?

Lostintranslation (2/1 with Black Type) has quickly become one of the top staying chasers in training, relishing the step up to 3 miles to slam RSA Chase winner Topofthegame at the Grand National meeting. That suggested a big future as a stayer and after a deeply impressive win in the Colin Parker Chase at Carlisle, he travelled best and then found more to beat Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. The amount he found in a battle there, given Bristol De Mai’s impeccable record at the track, was seriously impressive and he looks easily adaptable regarding pace and track.

Last year’s winner, Clan Des Obeaux, went just as well as Road To Respect in the JN Wine Champion Chase at Down Royal before the home contender’s superior fitness told, but he made an excellent return. In fact, one could argue that it was a superior return compared to his first appearance last season (fourth, and well beaten in the Betfair Chase) and it would be dangerous to underestimate him. Kempton clearly is his course of choice – he was fifth in the Gold Cup, and fairly well beaten) and there’s an argument to suggest that he should perhaps be shorter odds to win this. 4/1 with 888Sport is an interesting price.

Who Are The Other Contenders?

Bristol De Mai has been racing at the top table for several seasons now, and the two-time Betfair Chase winner was still going well when he fell in last year’s renewal. He couldn’t travel or finish as well as Lostintranslation in the Betfair Chase, but shouldn’t be discounted on that basis only if he does somehow show up, for all that it’s harder to suggest he’ll improve from his first run given his good record fresh.

Thistlecrack (16/1 with Coral) was a dominant winner in the 2016 renewal of this who retains a lot of his ability since injury judged on his second in this last year, and his good second in the Long Walk Hurdle. He can go well here, but there’s a fear that he doesn’t quite have the same finish that he used to, especially at the age of 11.

Footpad, a 10/1 shot with SportNation, entered the reckoning with a brilliant reappearance in the Boomerang.ie Chase at Thurles; putting aside some of his poor performances last season at 2 miles. Footpad was a disappointment in the Ryanair but perhaps the small injury he gained when falling on his debut last season had more of a long term effect than was suggested. He could easily improve for going to 3 miles over fences but will have to; his novice form doesn’t look as strong on paper as it used to.

La Bague Au Roi (40/1 with Bet365) would have a better chance on her novice form, including her defeat of the RSA Chase winner Topofthegame in the Kauto Star Novice Chase. That was followed by a win in the Flogas Novice Chase and then a good second at Aintree, but this season she’s been pulled up in the West Yorkshire Hurdle before finishing a well beaten third in the Peterborough Chase. She doesn’t appear to be the horse of last season.