Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 6m 10.13s

Aso¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 166

28/1

Headed on the run-in when producing a career-best effort to finish 1¼L second to Frodon in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham (2m4½f, gd/sft) in March; below such form in the Charlie Hall (third) and the Peterborough Chase (fifth) this season.

Form: 1162-35

Clan Des Obeaux⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 169| BF| CD

11/2

Came of age in this race last year, finishing with a strong late thrust to deny Thistlecrack; fifth of 16 to Al Boum Photo in the Gold Cup thereafter; blew up on seasonal reappearance at Down Royal (3m, soft); H.Cobden prefers Cyrname.

Form: 41152-2

Cyrname^t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 177| C

5/4

The top-rated chaser in the country (177); yet to taste defeat in 2019 (3-3); always in full control when taking the prize scalp of Altior in the Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot (2m5f, soft); 2-2 at Kempton (2m-2m4½f); first pick of H.Cobden.

Form: 4/3711-1

Footpad³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: W P Mullins| OR: 165| BF

13/2

Looked a future star when bounding clear in the 2018 Arkle at Cheltenham (2m, hvy); suffered an overreach when falling at Naas in Nov 2018 & troubled thereafter; on-song on seasonal reappearance at Thurles (2m6f, soft); is feared if stamina lasts.

Form: 11/F28-1

Lostintranslation³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 173

15/8

Massively progressive chaser with a high cruising speed; hasn't looked back since being mugged late on by Defi Du Seuil in the JLT at Cheltenham (2m4f); out-battled Bristol De Mai on his own manor in the Betfair Chase at Haydock (3m1½f).

Form: 1221-11

Non-Runners

Thistlecrack²⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 11

T: C L Tizzard J: T Scudamore

Forecasts

Cyrname (5/4), Lostintranslation (15/8), Clan Des Obeaux (11/2), Footpad (13/2), Thistlecrack (16/1), Aso (28/1)

The 2019 King George VI Chase promises to be the most thrilling since the brilliant Kauto Star took the prize for a record breaking fifth time in 2011. Unbelievably, the 2016 winner Thistlecrack and the 2018 winner Clan Des Obeaux are viewed by many as the respective second-string representatives of Colin Tizzard and Paul Nicholls. Tizzard saddles the smooth travelling Lostintranslation who has made a seamless transition to the very top level, while Nicholls is responsible for the top-rated chaser in the country CYRNAME who toyed with the mighty Altior at Ascot. Furthermore, with a rejuvenated Footpad thrown into the mix a festive treat looks guaranteed.