Might Bite ahead of Bristol De Mai in King George VI Chase betting
Published:
Nine runners set to go to post
The King George VI Chase from Kempton on Boxing Day is one of the highlights of the racing calendar.
This year’s renewal looks set to be one of the most competitive in a number of years. Might Bite currently leads the pack in the ante-post market ahead of Bristol De Mai and Thistlecrack.
The Coral News Team run the rule of those three fancies and the rest of the pack and this King George preview.
Nicky Henderson’s charge is the ante-post favourite – and with good reason. The eight-year-old was highly impressive as a novice chaser last season and looks destined for even greater things this time around.
The son of Scorpion looked to have plenty in the tank when landing a Listed contest at Sandown on his reappearance. With the quirks and kinks that blighted his win in the RSA Novices’ Chase in March seemingly ironed out, it’s hard to argue with the jolly in Kempton’s showpiece.
For a horse that won so impressively in the Lancashire Chase, Bristol De Mai is available at quite a price. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ stable star blitzed the field that day to claim a 57l win from Cue Card in the first leg of the Chase Triple Crown.
With rain forecast over the next few days, the six-year-old mudlark could get the rub of green once again. And with an unbeaten record over 3m to defend, you can be sure that the French-bred raider will be there or there abouts when push comes to shove.
The big gamble of the day could come with Thistlecrack. After landing this contest so confidently last year, much was expected of the then novice chaser. Defeat to the late Many Clouds in the Trial Cotswold Chase proved a setback before injury cut short a season which promises so much.
On his reappearance last month at Newbury, Colin Tizzard’s star could only trundle home in fifth, 13l behind eventual winner and 33/1 shot Beer Goggles. After such a long time away, a poor run on his seasonal bow was perhaps to be expected.
At Kempton, one year on from one of the finest jump performances in modern times, it’ll be interesting to see whether the nine-year-old can get back to his best. The Coral News Team are hoping for a big run from last year’s King George winner.
The Tizzard-Power combination brought some fruitful winners last season. With Fox Norton, connections will fancy their chances again on Tuesday. Victory in the Shloer Chase in November was followed up by a close second to the fast-improving Politologue in the Tingle Creek last month.
Here, he’ll be upped in trip to 3m for the very first time. It could prove a smart move for the French-bred raider after he handled 2m4f comfortably in the Melling Chase last April. The ground also looks to be in the seven-year-old’s favour.
Whisper is a horse the Coral News Team like. But after successive defeats to ante-post favourite Might Bite last season, it’s hard to see him taking the honours here.
However, his seasonal reappearance does provide grounds for optimism. Henderson’s second-runner was beaten by a neck in the Ladbrokes Trophy at the start of the month. It was an impressive staying performance from a consistent nag who is always there or thereabouts. It’ll be tough for him to win at Kempton, but you can bet he’ll push the main fancies close.
Rest of the pack
The remainder of the field is headed by Tea for Two at 16/1. Nick Williams’ charge was soundly beaten in the Lancashire Chase and won’t be in contention against even tougher opposition here. Outlander could provide an interest each-way alternative at 28/1, ahead of Double Shuffle and Traffic Fluide, both at 50/1.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
