Bravemansgame Can Give Paul Nicholls a 13th King George
If the bookmakers are correct, Paul Nicholls has an outstanding chance of claiming a 13th King George VI at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. 13 horses have been declared for the second most prestigious chase in the British Isles. In stature, it is surpassed only by the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The reigning champion trainer is responsible for four of the entries in the three-mile contest. Amongst those are ante-post favorite Bravemansgame and the six-year-old Hitman. Part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, this youngster is 7/2 in the early betting.
Bravemansgame took last season’s Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park. It means the big race favorite has King George VI Chase course and distance winning form. ©GettyImages
Ireland’s record in the King George VI Chase is uninspiring. The Willie Mullins-trained Tornado Flyer did land the contest for the country last season. But he was the first Irish-trained winner since Kicking King in 2005.
In 2022, the country’s hopes lay with Envoi Allen and Grand National hero, Noble Yeats. Scotland does have a horse among the current entry. Lucinda Russell’s Ahoy Senor is 33/1 in the early betting. But leading trainers Nicky Henderson, Gordon Elliott, and Willie Mullins are not represented in the £250,000 contest.
Be Brave or Go for a Big Price in the King George?
During the first decade of the century, this race was a favorites playground. But King George VI bookmakers have enjoyed the rub of the green in recent times. 2017 scorer, Might Bite, was the last winning favorite. The last two scorers, Frodon and Tornado Flyer, started 20/1 and 28/1.
So, who will win the famous steeplechase in 2022? Here is our ante-post betting guide to Kempton Park’s Christmas cracker…
Bravemansgame 5/4
The clear favorite in the ante-post betting lists, Bravemansgame took his chase record to five wins from six starts when landing the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby at the end of October. The Paul Nicholls-trained horse was visually very impressive.
The chief concern is few horses have won that contest and claimed the King George later in the season. Cue Card did take both races in 2015.
👀Far too good!
Bravemansgame jumps and travels all over his @bet365 Charlie Hall Chase rivals to win the day’s feature @WetherbyRaces for @PFNicholls and @CobdenHarry pic.twitter.com/6roQ2kmn4B
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 29, 2022
Post-race, giving his thoughts to Betfair, Nicholls reflected: “He [Bravemansgame] hadn’t had an away day, he had no racecourse gallop, that was his first run of the season off the back of just working at home, so he’s bound to improve. Our target is to have him at his best on Boxing Day.”
Given Nicholls’ outstanding King George record, this Grade-1 winning hurdler – who has jumped well in all his career starts over fences – will surely be very difficult to beat.
Hitman 7/2
A remarkably short price for a horse that went 18 months and six runs without winning over fences – ahead of three rivals at Haydock in mid-November – Hitman will tackle three miles for the first time in his 14-race career.
Nevertheless, Hitman’s trainer, Paul Nicholls, is upbeat and said after his chaser’s most recent win: “He’s got an entry for the King George and I’d say that’s where we’re heading. This horse is massively improving and I also think three miles will bring out more improvement.”
Envoi Allen 5/1
Winner of the Champion Bumper and Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, this Irish-trained horse is unbeaten in eight national hunt flat races and hurdle starts. But his chase career has been checkered and often disappointing.
Under superstar Rachael Blackmore and stepped up to three miles, this eight-year-old won Down Royal’s Champion Chase on his seasonal debut beating a small but select field. Envoi Allen is yet to win back-to-back starts over fences, but he is a classy individual whose chances cannot be ignored.
L’Homme Presse 5/1
The winner of five consecutive races culminating in a Grade-1 success at the Cheltenham Festival like Bravemansgame, he met defeat on his final start of the season at the punters’ graveyard known as the Aintree Grand National meeting.
But L’Homme Presse shot up the Gold Cup betting lists – he is now 7/1 second favorite – following easy success in Newcastle’s Rehearsal Handicap.
What a performance!
L’Homme Presse wins the Betfair Exchange Rehearsal Chase at @NewcastleRaces… pic.twitter.com/URkYzaGLBP
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 26, 2022
L’Homme Presse gave at least 13 pounds to all rivals that day but his rider, Charlie Deutsch, said afterward: “I don’t know (where he goes next) but it would have to rain a lot to go to the King George.” 5/1 will quickly vanish should trainer Venetia Williams confirm her seven-year-old is to be aimed at the King George.
Protektorat 12/1
Third, beaten 17 lengths, in last season’s Gold Cup, this Dan Skelton-trained horse impressively won the Betfair Chase at Haydock in mid-November. It was a career-best effort, but Gold Cup winner and defending champion, A Plus Tard, was never traveling and was pulled up in the contest at odds of 1/2.
Whatever the form is worth, connections have conceded Protektorat needs a left-handed track and have only entered their star in the King George in the hope the race is frosted off and re-routed to Cheltenham.
Like L’Homme Presse, should not be supported unless connections indicate the King George has become a confirmed target.
Eldorado Allen 25/1
Beaten three lengths at Wetherby by Bravemansgame (conceding three pounds) and 11 lengths by Protektorat at Haydock, Eldorado Allen has something to find with the best chasers in the UK. But he is a tough and consistent sort. His yard – the Tizzards – won the King George in 2015 with Cue Card and in 2016 with Thistlecrack.
With uncertainty about the participation of horses above him in the King George betting, Eldorado Allen appears a fine each-way bet at an attractive price.
Royale Pagaille 28/1
Beaten 22 lengths into second by A Plus Tard in last season’s Betfair Chase and a similar margin by the same rival in the Gold Cup. Like Eldorado Allen, Royale Pagaille is just short of the best chasers. But this Venetia Williams-trained horse excels on soft going. His price will collapse should the heavens open on Kempton Park on Christmas eve/day.
Frodon 28/1
The 2020 King George winner finished fourth in this contest last year. A popular front-runner, Frodon did take a Wincanton handicap on his return to action at the start of November. Has lengths to find with Protektorat and Eldorado Allen on Betfair Chase form and his best days look behind him.
Ahoy Senor 33/1
Enjoyed an outstanding novice chasing campaign and is closely matched with Bravemansgame on last season’s form. But jumping errors persist. It should not be forgotten this Lucinda Russell-trained horse was an even-money favorite when clashing with Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall Chase at the end of October.
That rival is now 5/4 to win the King George … so 33/1 about this old adversary will tempt value seekers.
Noble Yeats 33/1
Overcame novice status to win the 2022 Grand National as a 50/1 shot. Remarkably he is only a seven-year-old and could have much more to come. Soft or heavy going would appear to be his preferred surface, but he has already proven enigmatic and should not be dismissed on any ground.
Best King George Bets
It is not easy to look beyond Bravemansgame, but the best betting value probably resides amongst some of the bigger-priced entries. The best King George VI chase betting sites offer each-way terms of positions 1-2-3 (1/5th odds), and it is conceivable the race will ultimately feature eight or fewer runners.
The reliable Eldorado Allen – placed in 11 of his 14 chase starts – is our idea of a sound each-way investment. If the weather forecast appears bleak in the week leading up to Christmas, Royale Pagaille would be another to support each-way at tasty prices.
