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15:05 Kempton

Wednesday 26 December 2018

All12:5013:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

32Red King George VI Chase (Grade 1)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 6m 4.6s

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Selected odds by:

Bristol De Mai³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: D A Jacob| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 169| D

8/1

The King of Haydock, taking his record at that track to 4-4 when readily fending off plenty of these rivals (including Native River) in the Betfair Chase last month; bombed out in this race in 2017 (fencing exposed); reportedly in excellent shape.

Form: 11632-1

Clan Des Obeaux³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 160

12/1

Useful performer with time on his side at the age of six. However, has plenty of improvement to find in order to trouble the likes of Bristol De Mai (Betfair Chase) and Might Bite (Betway Bowl) based upon past evidence; unlikely.

Form: 4/2123-4

Coneygree^t³⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: M Bradstock| OR: 160| CD

20/1

Besieged by training troubles since making all to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2015; most likely will be remembered as a horse who was unable to fulfil his true potential; 1-1 at Kempton; fairy tale story should he bounce back in this company.

Form: 123/PP-3

Double Shuffle^h¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 157| CD

40/1

Career best effort when finishing runner-up (50/1) to Might Bite in this race in 2017; considerably below that level of form since, albeit should be stronger for what was effectively his seasonal reappearance at Aintree 18 days ago; unlikely.

Form: 2274-F2

Might Bite³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 172| BF| CD

3/1

Gold Cup runner-up who flopped on seasonal reappearance in the Betfair Chase (3m1f+ Haydock); ability not in question but certainly has a few foibles; 2-3 at Kempton (unfortunate not to be 3-3); defends his King George VI crown from 2017.

Form: 1/1121-5

Native River^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: R Johnson| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 176| D

9/2

Rock-solid stayer; gamely edged out Might Bite when landing the Gold Cup (3m2f, soft) in March, and a fair second to Bristol De Mai on his seasonal return (Haydock); effectiveness at this sharp right-handed track the major doubt; vulnerable.

Form: 113/11-2

Politologue^h,t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 168| C

5/1

Developed into a top-class chaser last season taking both the Tingle Creek (2m) and the Melling Chase (2m4f) along with other prestigious races; has kicked off the new season in similar form and should stay 3m here; 2-2 at Kempton (2m-2m4f).

Form: 11241-1

Tea For Two¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Lizzie Kelly| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 157| CD

33/1

Talented performer when on song (mainly as a novice); well suited by this flat right-handed track (3-5), albeit with the clear caveat that he's came up short in the last two renewals of this race (third in 2017); unlikely on that basis.

Form: 3P76-P3

Thistlecrack³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 165| CD

15/2

Has endured an injury curtailed career since creating a striking impression when winning this race as a novice in 2016; although finishing 5¾L third to Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase, he demonstrated more verve; dangerously dismissed.

Form: 112/54-3

Waiting Patiently³¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 170| C

4/1

Northern challenger who has excelled over fences (6-6); blew away strong opposition in the Ascot Chase (2m5f, soft) when last seen in action (February); 1-1 at Kempton (2m4f+); arrives off the back of a racecourse gallop at Hexham on December 13th.

Form: 111/111-

Forecasts

Might Bite (3/1), Waiting Patiently (4/1), Native River (9/2), Politologue (5/1), Thistlecrack (15/2), Bristol De Mai (8/1), Clan Des Obeaux (12/1), Coneygree (20/1), Tea For Two (33/1), Double Shuffle (40/1)

A stellar renewal of the King George VI. Young pretenders Politologue and Waiting Patiently are both on a sharp upward curve and retain masses of potential for the future, but against gnarly rivals such as Native River, Thistlecrack, Might Bite and BRISTOL DE MAI could conceivably fall short. The selection probably has his flaws, but so do the majority of his rivals. As a Haydock specialist, the basic assumption is that the Betfair Chase winner is far less effective elsewhere. However, in his defence this clearly hasn't been truly tested post wind surgery, so at the current odds he rates as a value based selection.