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Clan Des Obeaux and Cyrname feature in nine declared for King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day
Get the latest on all the key runners and riders for the top-class action on Boxing Day, including a nine-strong field in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.
Clan and Cyrname head KG nine
Stable companions Clan Des Obeaux and Cyrname are two of nine runners declared for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.
Clan Des Obeaux proved much too strong for Cyrname when successfully defending his crown in the Kempton showpiece 12 months ago and is on course to complete the hat-trick under Sam Twiston-Davies.
However, Cyrname looked back to his best when making an impressive start to the current campaign in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and appears set to make more of a race of it for the rematch. As last year, Harry Cobden takes the ride.
Frodon (Bryony Frost) and Real Steel (Daryl Jacob) complete a four-pronged assault for trainer Paul Nicholls as he bids to add to his record haul of 11 King George victories.
Nicky Henderson is represented by Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Santini (Nico de Boinville), who was a surprise addition to the race after being supplemented on Monday.
The Colin Tizzard-trained Lostintranslation (Robbie Power) failed to fire in last year’s King George and again has something to prove, after finishing a well-beaten third in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last month.
There were fears Power would miss the ride after travelling to Ireland last weekend, but despite a change in travel restrictions between the two countries, he is set to return to Britain.
Joe Tizzard, assistant to his father, said: “I was worried for no more than two seconds as I spoke to Robbie and he said he had sorted it. Jonjo O’Neill Jnr would have probably been re-routed, but we never had to cross that bridge.”
Power is hopeful Lostintranslation will show his true colours, saying: “I’m looking forward to riding Lostintranslation in the King George and The Big Breakaway in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase – they’re two good rides to have.
“Lostintranslation has got to bounce back, but it won’t be the first time he’s had to bounce back – he bounced back to finish third in the Gold Cup last year.
“I think the ground is the key to him and it looks like we’re going to have some nice ground in Kempton. He was probably a bit flat going into the race last year on the back of running at Carlisle and Haydock.
“He’s got to put a disappointing run at Haydock behind him this year, so hopefully he can do that.”
Ruth Jefferson’s long-absent stable star Waiting Patiently (Brian Hughes), Tom George’s Black Op (Tom Scudamore) and Saint Calvados (Gavin Sheehan) from Harry Whittington’s yard complete the field.
The only horse not declared was Henry de Bromhead’s Monalee, who is unable to make the journey to Kempton.
Epatante headlines Christmas hopes
Epatante will face four rivals as she bids to join an elite band of dual Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle winners at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Nicky Henderson’s brilliant mare took this prize in 2019 on her way to landing the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
The six-year-old made a successful reappearance in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle last month and now goes for back-to-back victories – a feat achieved by such stars as Binocular and Faugheen.
Among the opposition are Evan Williams’ Silver Streak and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Ballyandy, who filled the places in this race 12 months ago.
Henderson has also declared Newbury winner Floressa, while Paul Nicholls’ Diego Du Charmil completes the quintet. Goshen and Sceau Royal were the two withdrawals at the final declaration stage.
Smart Kauto Star field assembled
Grade One-winning hurdler If The Cap Fits is among a field of seven declared for the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.
The Harry Fry-trained eight-year-old won his first race over fences but was beaten at odds-on by Pym on his only other subsequent start.
The Big Breakaway also has to bounce back from a surprise reverse at Exeter, although that was over an inadequate trip. Colin Tizzard’s charge will be more at home on his return to three miles, having impressed on his chasing debut at Chepstow.
The Dan Skelton-trained Shan Blue has looked a bright prospect with two wins at Wetherby.
Nicholls, who trained the mighty Kauto Star, relies on Enrilo to give him a fifth victory in the three-mile contest. Golan Fortune, Kalooki and One For The Team are the other contenders.
Felix Desjy and Darver Star rematch
Felix Desjy and Darver Star will renew rivalry in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Saturday.
The Grade One contest is the feature event on the first of four days that make up the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, with a six high-class novices set to go to post.
Gavin Cromwell’s Darver Star finished runner-up in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and third in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last season, and made a successful start to his career over fences at Punchestown in October.
However, he was no match for Felix Desjy in a Grade Two affair at the same venue the following month and Gordon Elliott’s charge is again in opposition this weekend.
Willie Mullins saddles both Blackbow and Franco De Port, with Henry de Bromhead’s Benruben and Embittered from Joseph O’Brien’s yard completing the sextet.
The main supporting race is the Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle, in which Elliott’s Zanahiyr is the star attraction.
The Nathaniel gelding was hugely impressive in winning a Grade Three contest at Fairyhouse last month and will be well fancied to give weight and a beating to six rivals at Grade Two level.
His opponents include Mullins’ Fairyhouse runner-up Saint Sam, his stablemate Ha D’or and the Jessica Harrington-trained Autumn Evening.
Elsewhere on the card, Mullins unleashes high-class Flat performer Micro Manage over obstacles in the “Join tote.ie With A 10 Euro Risk Free Bet” Maiden Hurdle.
The champion trainer also has several big chances on day at the Dublin track, with Chacun Pour Soi the undoubted headline act in the Grade One Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase.
The eight-year-old is the odds-on favourite off the back of winning the Hilly Way Chase at Cork, with Annamix a second string for both Mullins and owner Rich Ricci.
Henry de Bromhead runs both Notebook and Arkle heroine Put The Kettle On, Pat Fahy saddles stable star Castlegrace Paddy and O’Brien is represented by Le Richebourg.
The Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle throws up an intriguing clash between the Mullins-trained Appreciate It, runner-up to currently-sidelined stablemate Ferny Hollow in last season’s Champion Bumper, and Elliott’s Royal Bond winner Ballyadam.
Klassical Dream makes his chasing debut on the undercard for the Mullins team, while Castlebawn West heads a maximum field of 22 for the 150,000 euro Paddy Power Chase.
Asterion Forlonge takes Limerick challenge
Asterion Forlonge is one of three runners for Willie Mullins in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick on Saturday.
The Closutton handler has saddled five of the last 10 winners of the Grade One contest, with Faugheen himself bringing the house down when getting the better of Samcro 12 months ago.
Asterion Forlonge appears the stable’s first string this time around, with champion jockey Paul Townend travelling to Limerick for the ride.
The Grade One-winning hurdler impressed on his chasing debut at Punchestown last month and is favourite to follow up.
Mullins also saddles the JP McManus-owned Janidil and the only mare in the field in Colreevy.
Gordon Elliott’s Pencilfulloflead and Assemble from Joseph O’Brien’s yard complete the line-up.
The feature event on day two of Limerick’s Christmas meeting is the Grade Two Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar Land Rover Novice Hurdle, a race that has Faugheen, Penhill and Fury Road among those on the roll of honour.
Elliott fires a twin assault, with Farouk D’alene and Ragnar Lodbrok both declared. That pair are two of three representatives for Gigginstown House Stud along with Henry de Bromhead’s Baptism Of Fire.
Previous course winners Costalotmore and Carrolls Cottage are also in contention for what promises to be an attritional affair run over the best part of three miles.