King George big-race preview from Timeform including Cyrname

By Adam Houghton, Timeform

Horse Racing

Wed December 23, 2020 · 4y ago

We've teamed up with Timeform to preview the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton, where Cyrname is fancied to make his class tell.

The Top-Rated

Cyrname (Timeform weight-adjusted rating: 185)

Cyrname produced another top-class performance – the fourth of his career – to win the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on his reappearance, proving his effectiveness over three miles in the process. He was always jumping and travelling well, and, having eased to the front four out, he just needed to be shaken up to assert on the run-in, ultimately beating Vinndication by two lengths.

Admittedly, that effort wasn’t up to the level he showed when ending Altior’s long-standing unbeaten record in the 1965 Chase at Ascot last season, but he looked to have plenty in hand, avoided a hard race and has been given plenty of time to recover since, all of which makes for a much better preparation than he had before disappointing in this race 12 months ago.

He was never travelling with any fluency on that occasion and looked to be feeling the effects of his Ascot exertions, but there is no obvious reason why he can’t run up to his top-class best over three miles on a flat, right-handed track such as Kempton. There is little doubt he’s the most-talented horse in the race if doing so.

The Dark Horse

Waiting Patiently (178)

Waiting Patiently won his first six starts over fences, including a memorable defeat of Cue Card in the Ascot Chase in February 2018, and he’s shown that he is still capable of top-class form in the near-three years since, despite being limited to only four starts due to injury.

His most recent appearance saw him run right up to his best in last season’s Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, putting in some good late work to be beaten less than a length into third behind Defi du Seuil. He was returning from 246 days off the track on that occasion, which wasn’t the first time he’s run well after a break, so the fact he’s returning from another long absence here shouldn’t give his supporters any cause for concern.

The trip might – he is yet to complete in a race beyond two miles and five furlongs – but it’s worth remembering that he was sent off the 4/1 joint-second favourite in this race two years ago, when unseating jockey Brian Hughes, after being badly hampered, before his stamina could be tested.

The Timeform Flag

Clan des Obeaux (178) (Horse For Course)

Clan des Obeaux has established himself amongst the best staying chasers in training over the last couple of seasons, notably recording back-to-back wins in this race. He beat Thistlecrack by a length and a half in 2018 but was most impressive when annihilating the opposition 12 months ago.

Held up in the early stages by Sam Twiston-Davies, he led on the bridle before two out and then cruised clear to beat stablemate Cyrname by 21 lengths in ready fashion. He was below form when eighth in the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival on his only subsequent start last season, but that track doesn’t seem to play to his strengths nearly as well as Kempton, possessing the ideal blend of speed and stamina for this test.

The only concern is whether his reappearance after eight months off and wind surgery in the Betfair Chase at Haydock has left a mark, with that slog behind Bristol de Mai representing a far more gruelling prep race than for either of his previous wins in the King George.

Verdict

The 2020 King George revolves around Cyrname, who has the ability to run to a very high figure and will likely prove hard to beat if bringing his best form. His victory in the Charlie Hall erased the stamina doubts that had dogged him since his defeat in this race 12 months ago, while the ease of that success should ensure that he arrives in much better shape this time.

Stablemate Clan des Obeaux commands respect as he seeks to become only the third horse to win three successive renewals of the King George after Desert Orchid and Kauto Star, while Waiting Patiently makes some each-way appeal at bigger odds. He goes well fresh and remains relatively unexposed for a nine-year-old.