King George VI Chase Odds

The King George is one of the premier races of the jumps season in the UK with some of the best staying chasers in training clashing at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

King George VI Chase Tips

The field for the King George will be finalised in the days before the race on the 26th December and we will make our tip for the race once the field is known.

What is the King VI Chase?

Aside from the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the King George VI Chase is widely considered as the most important staying chase of the season and it is a race that has been won by some legendary horses. A Grade One race run over a trip of three miles at the London venue, the King George is the highlight of Christmas for many racing fans with the race a huge contest in its own right as well as being a key trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup later in the season.

What happened in the 2018 King George VI Chase?

The 2018 edition of the King George was once again hotly anticipated as we saw a number of stellar chasers head to Kempton to clash at the famous venue and it didn't disappoint.

There were a number of interesting angles going into the race with defending champion Might bite starting as the favourite ahead of Gold Cup winner Native River and a host of horses with plenty of class. including Bristol De Mai who had recently won the Betfair Chase and Waiting Patiently who was another one who went into the race with plenty of hype.

In the end though, there was a clear winner in the form of Clan Des Obeaux who followed up a solid run in the Betfair Chase to scoot clear of the field and give Paul Nicholls yet another win in the King George. Thistlecrack rolled back the years to finish second but he was no match for the six-year-old winner.

The history of the King George VI Chase

Few races can match the King George for history and prestige in the horse racing world and that means it is a race with a long and varied past. First run in 1937, the King George was of course names after the new British King at the time and was first run on Boxing Day in 1947, where it has remained ever since.

The first ever winner was Southern Hero who remains the oldest ever winner at the age of 12, while the youngest ever King George hero was Manicou in 1950 who just five when he claimed the victory for trainer Peter Cazalet.

Who is the most iconic winner of the King George VI Chase?

The King George roll of honour is among the most famous in the sport with the list of past winners like a whose who of equine legends.

The big names just roll of the tongue with Mill House, Arkle, Pendil, Wayward Lad and Desert Orchid just four of the names to enter into the legendary winners category but there is only one horse who tops the tree. The great Kauto Star lit up when he entered Kempton on Boxing Day with his five wins in the race fresh in the minds of racing fans who were lucky enough to witness equine greatness. The Paul Nicholls trained horse was unbeatable during his golden period with his last win in the race, at the age of 11 in 2011, one of the great moments in the history of the sport as rolled back the years to claim the legendary fifth win.

Are there any trials for the King George VI Chase?

There are are a host of races for punters to follow in the lead-up to the King George with the Betfair Chase in November the first place for punters to start. Any horse that wins at Haydock will have the possibility of a £1million bonus on the cards if they can win at Kempton and then the Gold Cup so we can be sure the winner of the first race will head to London at Christmas.

Other races to follow include the 1965 Chase at Ascot which gives horses used to campaigning at shorter distances the chances to run over 2m3f before stepping up in trip at Kempton and the Peterborough Chase, which can offer a similar option at the start of December at Huntingdon. 

Who is the most successful jockey in the King George VI Chase?

Plenty of the great riders have won the King George during their careers but it us Ruby Walsh who is top of the tree thanks to hiss association with the great Kauto Star. The Irish jockey was on-board the Paul Nicholls trained horse for all five of his wins at Kempton and that leaves him clear at the top of the record for most wins in the race.

Who is the most successful trainer in the King George VI Chase?

There is no surprise to see Paul Nicholls as the most successful trainer in the history of the King George with his five wins with Kauto Star fresh in the memory. Nicholls has dominated the race over the past 20 years with See More Business (1997 + 1999), Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 + 2011), Silviniaco Conti (2013 + 2014) and Clan Des Obeaux (2018) all winning the Kempton race for the Ditcheat handler.