15:05 Kempton
Tuesday 26 December 2017
All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40
32red King George VI Chase (Grade 1)
- 4YO plus | Class 1 | 3m | Soft (Good to Soft in places) | 8 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 6m 11.8s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Romped home in last month's Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock by 57L. Will be a tough nut to crack should it come up soft, and respected on any going given improved form this season for yard enjoying fine time of it.
Thoroughly likeably performer, second on both starts this term including when 8L adrift of impressive Top Notch at Ascot (2m5f, good to soft) last month. Won a C&D handicap at this meeting a year ago but in deeper water now.
Dual Grade 1 winner up to 2m4f last season, also second in Queen Mother Champion Chase. Solid second in Tingle Creek already this month and a lively contender here if taking to this new trip. Wasn't stopping over 2m4f at Aintree in the spring.
Ended last season with Grade 1 novice successes at Cheltenham and Aintree, has some quirks at times but would have been most impressive winner of the novice chase over this C&D a year ago but for final fence demise. Major player now.
C&D winner in 2015 at this meeting in the Feltham, honourable 3½L fourth in this contest behind Thistlecrack last year (sole defeat in four runs around here). Loves this track and liable to outrun his price again.
Most impressive winner of this race 12 months ago, seemingly had the world at his feet before tendon problem sidelined him. Went out like a light on return over hurdles at Newbury and has questions to answer as a result. Huge player at his best.
Just short of being top class, no match for Bristol De Mai at Haydock on testing ground that would have suited last month and hard to see how that form gets reversed now.
Yet to finish out of the first two in seven starts over fences, agonisingly collared in the ultra-competitive Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft). Closely matched with stablemate Might Bite on runner-up finishes at spring festivals.
Forecasts
Might Bite (6/4), Bristol De Mai (3/1), Thistlecrack (5/1), Whisper (7/1), Fox Norton (7/1), Tea For Two (20/1), Double Shuffle (50/1), Traffic Fluide (66/1)
The moment of truth for MIGHT BITE arrives as he looks to make amends for his last-fence fall in the Kauto Star here 12 months ago. He was running a massive race then and would have set a very fast time had he stood up. His RSA Chase win at Cheltenham was full of drama but there were no quirks at Aintree or in the reappearance at Sandown. This C&D is tailor-made for Nicky Henderson's would-be star and he can justify the hype. Bristol De Mai comes here on the back of a romp in the Betfair Chase but must prove he can he achieve anything like that form on better ground and away from Haydock. He is respected, but the walking pace of those behind him on Merseyside surely flattered the grey and this isn't set up to bring out his best. Whisper is very interesting off the back of an excellent second in the Ladbrokes Trophy and has yet to run a bad race over fences. He's closely matched with stablemate Might Bite on spring form and should get involved again here. The imponderables are headed by last year's brilliant winner Thistlecrack, who faded too quickly on his return over hurdles to be confident he retains all his ability after injury. Equally, Tingle Creek second Fox Norton is very interesting upped to 3m, he wasn't stopping in the Melling Chase at Aintree and may well get this trip on this track. The admirable Tea For Two will surely give his running again on a track he loves and may outrun his odds.
- Might Bite
- Fox Norton
- Whisper
Prize Money
1st: £128,138.002nd: £48,082.003rd: £24,075.004th: £11,992.005th: £6,030.006th: £3,015.00
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