Greg Wood's report
Clan win raises more questions than answers
That King George may have raised more questions than it answered. Clan Des Obeaux was a deserving winner but is only 12-1 for the Gold Cup with an incident-strewn race muddying the waters in the staying-chasers division. Something has clearly gone amiss with Might Bite; Native River (this year’s Gold Cup winner) clearly needs a tougher test of stamina and both Bristol De Mai and Waiting Patiently exited the race too early for any firm conclusions. Paul Nicholls was talking up the chances of his winner today at the horserace writers’ lunch and clearly rates his winner - I wish I had listened now. That’s all for now – see you on the live blog beat when Cheltenham rolls around!
Clan wins tenth King George for Nicholls
Clan Des Obeaux provided provided Paul Nicholls with a 10th win in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.
In an incident-packed renewal, for a brief moment it looked as if the 2016 winner Thistlecrack was about to roll back the years when he hit the front, but he ultimately had no answer after the last to a rival four years his younger.
Harry Cobden - in his first full season as stable jockey to former champion trainer Nicholls - was determined not to hit the front too soon and had the confidence to take a pull alongside Thistlecrack. Full report here.
Updated
King George VI Chase (3.05) result
1 Clan Des Obeaux (H Cobden) 12-1
2 Thistlecrack (T Scudamore) 15-2
3 Native River (R Johnson) 9-2
10 ran
A new jumping star emerges as Clan Des Obeaux gives Paul Nicholls a 10th victory in the @32Red King George VI Chase #WinterFestival pic.twitter.com/U7k2QtIlnL
— Kempton Park (@kemptonparkrace) December 26, 2018
Updated
King George VI Chase (3.05)
And they’re off ... Coneygree takes the lead and Bristol De Mai is not foot perfect ... Native River being pushed along ... Might Bite is prominent in second ... Waiting Patiently being ridden patiently at the back ... Bristol De Mai falls and Waiting Patiently is brought down! ... Thistlecrack is making ground on the inside ... Native River still being pushed along ... Coneygree still leads, Might Bite makes a mistake and Thistlecrack continues to make ground ... Thistlecrack takes the lead on the home turn ... Clan Des Obeaux comes with a late challenge ... and takes it up after the last to go clear and beat Thistlecrack.
Updated
Verdana Blue shocks Buveur D'Air in Christmas Hurdle
Verdana Blue ended the long unbeaten run of dual champion hurdler Buveur D’Air in the Unibet Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Both horses are trained by Nicky Henderson, and they had it between them from the second-last, where it looked like 1-4 favourite Buveur D’Air was always just going to do enough to hold on.
He had made a terrible blunder at the third-last, hardly taking off, although it barely checked his momentum and Barry Geraghty seemingly had everything under control as he took up the running from Global Citizen. However, Nico de Boinville had yet to ask the mare Verdana Blue (11-2) for everything and she was gaining with every stride after the last.
Buveur D’Air had not been beaten over hurdles since the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2016, and while he continued to respond for Geraghty, Verdana Blue had too much speed for him this time, providing Henderson with an eighth win in the race.
Henderson said: “It is a little bit (strange feeling). You don’t want him beaten. Barry is very good. You say you are sorry and I mean that, I will say that to JP (McManus), too. But I know he will say all is fair in love and war.
“Thank goodness it was one of our own. Barry didn’t think it made a whole lot of difference (mistake at third-last). It didn’t stop him. He galloped merrily on. It is the second time he has gone through a hurdle. He said ‘no excuses’.
“She is a very good mare and she always has been when you get her on decent ground, as she is no good on soft ground. Unless you can promise it will be good to firm it will be a waste of time (training for Champion Hurdle). The plan was to go for the 200,000 stayers’ race (on the Flat) at Lingfield on Good Friday, as my jockey that day (when winning on the Flat at Kempton), Luke Morris, said that is what she will win.”
He added: “Buveur will go to either Sandown (Contenders Hurdle) or Wincanton (Kingwell) as they are the only two you have got. Barry is not worried as he said he has won his race. Round here on that ground she is very good.” PA
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King George VI Chase (3.05) preview
As any schoolboy ought to know, Cheltenham and Kempton are very different tracks and horses which prosper at Prestbury are by no means certain to succeed in Sunbury. Still, it is odd indeed to see the reigning Gold Cup winner, Native River (3.05), being so cold-shouldered in the betting for this King George VI Chase.
At the time of writing he is only sixth in the list with some firms, bigger in places than his stablemate Thistlecrack, who has not won for two years. He may not be the fastest or the flashiest in a fascinating field but Native River may very well be the toughest of them and represents excellent value at 6-1 or bigger.
Some are put off by the memory of his third place behind Tea For Two in the novice chase on this card three years ago, when he jumped left at some fences and ran way below the level that will be required here. This will be his first time round a right-handed circuit since then.
But he was only a novice and ran to a similar level that day as in his other races around then. Two things made Native River the horse we now know and both came at the end of that season: the switch to more aggressive, pace-pushing tactics and the employment of Richard Johnson as his jockey. Had both been in place when he ran at Kempton in 2015, he might have fared better. There is no shame in being bested by Bristol De Mai around Haydock, as Native River was last month. He will be fitter now and the grey, of course, is playing away from his favourite venue.
Excuses are available for Might Bite’s Haydock flop and a much improved performance is expected here. Still, his odds are hardly generous in the circumstances and the memory persists of his being outbattled by Native River at Cheltenham. His chance rests on having too much pace for his rival on this drier surface.
It looks like a King George in which stamina will be tested, which could be a problem for Politologue and Waiting Patiently. Thistlecrack was running on at the end of the Betfair and has a chance to get involved if that has brought him on.
Buveur D’Air made a bad mistake three out, going right through the hurdle. Maybe that took something out of him but that is a huge shock. Nico De Boinville rode an excellent race on the winner, stalking the hot favourite, and pouncing late, only having to push out the winner to get past the dual Champion Hurdle winner.
'What a gutsy Mare, I was just riding to pick up the pieces there'
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 26, 2018
Nico De Boinville on Verdana Blue pic.twitter.com/nsXd6aHRml
Unibet Christmas Hurdle (2.30) result
1 Verdana Blue (Nico de Boinville) 11-2
2 Buveur D’Air (B J Geraghty) 1-4 Fav
3 If The Cap Fits (N D Fehily) 7-1
5 ran
Unibet Christmas Hurdle (2.30)
And they’re off ... Global Citizen leads in the early stages ... Boite is getting tailed off ... Boite is second ... Buveur D’Air getting warmed up and into second but makes a serious mistake ... and needs to catch Global Citizen ...Buveur D’Air now travelling well ... Takes the lead but Verdana Blue is closing in ... Verdana Blue may have caught him ... PHOTO-FINISH RESULT: Verdana Blue wins!
Wow! An upset @kemptonparkrace! 😮
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 26, 2018
Verdana Blue gets up close home to beat dual Champion Hurdler Buveur D'Air in the @unibet Christmas Hurdle! #WinterFestival pic.twitter.com/IPUd3PhoFd
Updated
Unibet Christmas Hurdle (2.30) preview
Depth of competition has been sorely lacking in recent Christmas Hurdles and Buveur D’Air is surely going to be a fourth odds-on winner in the space of five years. His third place in Altior’s Supreme remains the only time he has been beaten over hurdles and his demolition of Samcro at Newcastle this month stands as a mighty deterrent against the very idea of taking him on here.
32red Kauto Star Novice Chase (1.55) result
1 La Bague Au Roi (R Johnson) 8-1
2 Topofthegame (H Cobden) 5-1
3 Santini (Nico de Boinville) 11-10 Fav
7 ran
Updated
32red Kauto Star Novice Chase (1.55)
And they’re off ... nothing very clever over the first ... but at least Topofthegame has set off in good time unlike at Exeter ... The Worlds End is jumping a little too deliberately ... The Worlds End still struggling and at the back of the field ... Red Indian leads from La Bague Au Roi ... Santini goes well behind the leaders ... No Hassle Hoff falls ... La Bague Au Roi takes the lead, jumping well ... Santini looks flat footed ... La Bague Au Roi now taken on by Topofthegame ... great race ... La Bague Au Roi jumps better and pulls clear after the last.
Updated
Santini much the most interesting runner in this 1.55 race.
Runners are out for the G1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase @kemptonparkrace.
— Great British Racing (@GBRacing) December 26, 2018
Favourite SANTINI looks fit an well as he takes the prelims nicely in his stride.
Can he announce himself as a major player with a win here? pic.twitter.com/egGLNv8aOW
Mister Fisher on course for Dovecote
Mister Fisher underlined his potential after casting aside a number of smart rivals in impressive fashion in the 32Red Casino Novice Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day. Having met with defeat went sent off favourite on his hurdling debut at Newbury last month, the Nicky Henderson-trained four year-old made up for that reversal in the two-mile prize.
Ridden close to the pace, the 7-2 shot took command of matters between the final two flights before defeating early pace-setter Rouge Vif by two and three-quarter lengths. Henderson said: “He ran a good race at Newbury (when second on debut), but we just thought we would ride him more aggressively. He has enjoyed his work up front, so we let him do his own thing. They were trapping most of the way, too. He jumped very well and quickened up well.”
Paddy Power cut the winner to 14-1 from the 33-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, and Henderson said: “You would have to think so (Supreme class). I’ve been lucky, with Angels Breath and a few others lurking in there.” Looking to more immediate plans, the Seven Barrows trainer said: “There is the Dovecote (at Kempton). I don’t think we will go to Musselburgh, as we got a lot of bloody noses up there last season.” PA
Updated
Kauto Star Novice Chase (1.55) preview
Nicky Henderson fields Santini here and victory for the hugely promising sort would surprise nobody. But at the likely odds a chance is taken on Topofthegame, who ran a huge race to chase home Defi Du Seuil at Exeter after blowing the start and losing 20 lengths. A useful hurdler always supposed to become a chaser, this chestnut has a big race in him.
32red.com Handicap Chase (1.20) result
1 Glen Forsa (J J Burke) 7-1
2 Glen Rocco (G Sheehan) 12-1
3 Carlos Du Fruitier (David Bass) 16-1
13 ran
32red.com Handicap Chase (1.20)
And they’re off ... Storm Home is already about ten lengths behind after a series of sloppy jumps ... Warthog leads as they go into the home straight for the first time ... Storm Home is pulled up ... seven left to jump and Warthog makes a bad blunder and Glen Forsa takes over ... Warthog now no chance after that mistake ... Glen Forsa kicks clear ... Glen Forsa leads with Dell Oro giving chase ... Glen Rocco is second with Carlos Du Fruitier third but Glen Forsa had already kicked clear and goes past the post the winner. On a day when football looms large that’s a winner for the trainer and ex-England and Southampton player Mick Channon.
Updated
Nicky Henderson won the opener with Mister Fisher - he has the favourite for the next in Lough Derg Spirit and that’s before we get on to the treble of Santini, Buveur D’Air and Might Bite!
The start of a good day for Nicky Henderson?
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 26, 2018
Mister Fisher gets off the mark over hurdles at the second attempt in the @32Red Casino Novices' Hurdle @kemptonparkrace.👏 #NiceProspect pic.twitter.com/My23m4Bgw5
Updated
32red.com Handicap Chase (1.20) betting
7-2 Lough Derg Spirit, 11-2 Turtle Wars, Glen Forsa, 8-1 Warthog, 10-1 Awake At Midnight ... full odds here.
32red.com Handicap Chase (1.20) preview
There was market support for Lough Derg Spirit when he made his fencing debut at Wetherby in October and he justified that with a comfortable success. The handicapper could have edged him up the ratings but opted to leave the six-year-old where he was, on a mark which could prove quite lenient for this former point winner. He comes from the Nicky Henderson yard that has won this three times in the last eight runnings.
Matt Chapman on ITV Racing says “no one knows” if Might Bite will start favourite now for the King George. He’s drifted out to 4-1 joint-favourite with Waiting patiently. “My gut feeling is it will be Might Bite” says Chapman ...
Showtime! Boxing Day King George VI Chase @kemptonparkrace plus @WetherbyRaces on @ITV @itvracing from 1pm. Enjoy people. Yeeehaaa with bells on! 🎁🎅🎄 pic.twitter.com/F1bHlFysVO
— Matt Chapman (@MCYeeehaaa) December 26, 2018
Updated
As any yule fule know, the going is the most important single variable in horse racing. The official going is good to soft, good in places. Mister Fisher won the opener at Kempton and times experts Simon Rowlands reckons the clock suggests it’s good to soft at the Sunbury track.
3m 50.5s for the opener at Kempton from passing starter (22yds added, looks G/S on that).
— Simon Rowlands (@RowleyfileRRR) December 26, 2018
Updated
The King George is always among the top betting events of the year and according to bookmakers.tv is now No4 in terms of amount the British public bet on the race behind only the Grand National, the Gold Cup at Cheltenham and the Derby. Apparently that’s partly down to the football with that and racing the two sports which take centre stage over Christmas. A spokesman said: “Racing and football betting go hand in hand on days like this and bookmakers are going overboard to compete for business in one of the busiest windows of the year away from Aintree.”
Packed to the rafters @kemptonparkrace today! pic.twitter.com/iUCnzz5sBE
— Great British Racing (@GBRacing) December 26, 2018
I wrote that article about the King George in 2002 and it’s interesting to note from Tom Segal in the Racing Post that the last winner priced longer than 9-2 was back in 2003, underlining that this is a race for classy runners. This year’s contest is more wide open than normal as Greg Wood had highlighted and there will no doubt be as huge a crowd as usual at Kempton. That’s replicated elsewhere on a busy Boxing Day programme:
Queuing for fish and chips after the first race at @WetherbyRaces pic.twitter.com/UaL41Mwl16
— David Carr (@wikiwikiwheels) December 26, 2018
The King George is the best jumps race of the year and the contest which almost always decides who is the supreme staying chaser. Since the 1960s the roll call of winners has been littered with the names of champions and multiple winners. I argued here many years ago about its superiority over the Gold Cup in revealing the best chasers. The best of them all, Arkle, won the race by a distance from Dormant in 1965 but a year later he was beaten by the same horse in a race in which he suffered a career-ending injury. That 1966 King George was on Pay TV so we only have this silent video of one of the most dramatic King Georges of all time:
Boxing Day tipping guide
Chris Cook has been scouring the form book for the winner and if you click here you will find his Talking Horses briefing on racing at Kempton plus his tips for the other seven meetings. Spoiler alert: he’s gone for Native River in the King George.
The view from the last fence @kemptonparkrace on 32Red King George VI Day!
— Great British Racing (@GBRacing) December 26, 2018
Who’ll be leaping this in front come 3.10?
Get set for a Boxing Day cracker! pic.twitter.com/3SUHq9DYbL
Scene-setter
A crowd of around 20,000 racegoers – four times as many as for any other meeting so far this year - is beginning to squeeze itself into the bijou surroundings of Kempton Park racecourse ahead of the King George VI Chase at 3.05 this afternoon, and it promises to be one of the most open renewals of the big race for many years after steady support for Ruth Jefferson’s Waiting Patiently over the last 48 hours.
Might Bite, last year’s winner, was a clear favourite on Christmas Eve at around 3-1 while Waiting Patiently, unraced since February, was a 5-1 chance with Politologue on 11-2. Might Bite has been friendless over Christmas, however, drifting out to 4-1 this morning, while everyone has been eager to get with Waiting Patiently, who is attempting to defy a couple of very dauting statistics this afternoon. No horse has won the King George on its seasonal debut, while Desert Orchid, in 1986, was the last to win on its first start at three miles.
Politologue is also attempting to defy the latter trend, but has been the pick of quite a few tipsters this morning and is also very solid in the market as a result. As things stand, the King George now has joint-favourites at the best prices available, with Might Bite and Waiting Patiently both on 4-1, while Politologue is 6-1 in a place but more generally an 11-2 or 5-1 chance. Native River, the Gold Cup winner, is 6-1 with Bristol De Mai and Thistlecrack, the brilliant winner in his novice season two years ago, at 8-1 and 9-1 respectively.
So that means there are six horses in a 10-runner field at a single-figure price and it is very difficult to think of a King George over the last 30 years that offered so many possibilities. With Buveur D’Air, the Champion Hurdle winner, also in attendance for what is likely to be a stroll to victory in the Christmas Hurdle and Santini, the RSA Chase favourite, lining up for the Kauto Star Novice Chase, it is an outstanding King George card even by Kempton’s normal standards and the action will get underway in just under an hour.
