King George VI Chase Kempton 26/12/15

akelly02

The King George. Second only to the Gold Cup in terms of prestige. Personally my favourite race of the year, mainly due to King Kauto Star winning it a record breaking 5 times. What an animal he was.

Who do ye fancy for this years renewal? Leaning towards Don Cossack myself, as i think Vautour isnt the same animal away from Cheltenham, especially on soft ground. Vautour was also beaten this day last year.

Any time i back Cue Card he loses. Anytime i dont he wins, really cant catch him right.

paddy no 11

Going for cue card, though the 2 young guns look to be exceptional.

danganabu

Cue Card is interesting, while he has looked rejuvenated the last two times and both were visually impressive, I'm not sure how strong the bare form of beating Dynaste et al really is, that added to the fact that he has failed in three previous attempts at this particular race puts me off at the price. Tizzard has never really filled me with confidence either although he seem to have Cue Card and Thistlecrack in great nick at the moment, Paddy Brennan is certainly a plus as well imo.

With regard to Vautour I wouldn't be worried about the ground at all and with regard to the course, I would be far more confident of him seeing 3M around Kempton that I would around Cheltenham, last years run in the JLT would be considered one of the best ever by a novice if Coneygree hadn't come out and trumped it 24 hrs later, some of Willie's can need their first run and that is my only concern, however I think if race fit he will be too classy for these.

Don Cossack is race fit and has improved beyond recognition but for me has no where near the scope for improvement that Vautour has, Cossack was rated 151 after his novice season whereas Vautour is rated 171 after his, I have no doubt what so ever that Vautour will go on to be the better horse over the season, the only question is whether the King George will e when we see this.

At the prices and the possibility he may drift further Vautour is the bet for, but whatever happens it should be an intriguing race.

The Mig

Vautour

paddy no 11

danganabu wrote: »

Cue Card is interesting, while he has looked rejuvenated the last two times and both were visually impressive, I'm not sure how strong the bare form of beating Dynaste et al really is, that added to the fact that he has failed in three previous attempts at this particular race puts me off at the price. Tizzard has never really filled me with confidence either although he seem to have Cue Card and Thistlecrack in great nick at the moment, Paddy Brennan is certainly a plus as well imo.

With regard to Vautour I wouldn't be worried about the ground at all and with regard to the course, I would be far more confident of him seeing 3M around Kempton that I would around Cheltenham, last years run in the JLT would be considered one of the best ever by a novice if Coneygree hadn't come out and trumped it 24 hrs later, some of Willie's can need their first run and that is my only concern, however I think if race fit he will be too classy for these.

Don Cossack is race fit and has improved beyond recognition but for me has no where near the scope for improvement that Vautour has, Cossack was rated 151 after his novice season whereas Vautour is rated 171 after his, I have no doubt what so ever that Vautour will go on to be the better horse over the season, the only question is whether the King George will e when we see this.

At the prices and the possibility he may drift further Vautour is the bet for, but whatever happens it should be an intriguing race.

Good point, but I think its fair to say that Don, never lived up to the hype/potential in his novice season, think he'll be a lot closer than 20lb to vatour but yeah I wouldnt disagree on vatour being a better animal.

kfallon

Gutted Coneygree won't make this so will back Vautour instead!

Cue Card won't be winning imo

mdwexford

Real pity Coneygree isn't in alright to see how last years novices shape up to him.

I'm finding it very hard to forgive Don Cossack last years festival run even though he's been faultless since. Think he might find things happening a bit fast for him here again.

If Vautour is in top form and gets a good positive ride then he could do a number on them. Hopefully him and Cue Card won't cut each other's throats up front.

Didn't even mention SC who is a beast around here going for three in a row. Also likes to lead, tactics are going to be very interesting here.

Jake Stiles

Don Cossack myself - he may be able to sit in behind the leaders and hopefully pick them off in the home straight.

Like the way he won at Aintree last year, over a shorter distance.

It's a good un to look forward too.

lemush

mdwexford wrote: »

Real pity Coneygree isn't in alright to see how last years novices shape up to him.

I'm finding it very hard to forgive Don Cossack last years festival run even though he's been faultless since. Think he might find things happening a bit fast for him here again.

If Vautour is in top form and gets a good positive ride then he could do a number on them. Hopefully him and Cue Card won't cut each other's throats up front.

Didn't even mention SC who is a beast around here going for three in a row. Also likes to lead, tactics are going to be very interesting here.

Vautour and CC will be dropped in behind, oodles of pace on with Smad Place now a highly likely runner.

mailburner

14s on smad look pretty good value to me

supremenovice

mailburner wrote: »

14s on smad look pretty good value to me

Surely he wont be turning up. All the comments Ive heard from King are pointing to the Cotswold Chase.

akelly02

supremenovice wrote: »

Surely he wont be turning up. All the comments Ive heard from King are pointing to the Cotswold Chase.

hes turning up alright, cant see him even placing though to be honest

Hulk Hands

Cue Card ive been thinking has been the most interesting one for a while. Looking at the BF market there however, he does seem extremely short now. Had it in my head that Vatour was there to be taken on, but between 7/2 Vatour and only 4/1 CC in the morning, would probably have to go with the former if I was forced to make a choice. Will stay away from the front end now. Sivianco at a likely 9s or 10s with 1/4 odds ew looks worth a play, or even 66/1 Irish Cavalier. Can't wait to see what happens though just from a fans point of view. I do believe Vatour is a step ahead of these, just concerning that hes only produced those real top notch performances at the festival. Dont see this trip being an issue whatsoever though. If you added 3f onto last years JLT, he'd probably have won another 30l. Glad Smad Place is running, to get a sense of that hennessy form in relation to the top boys

pugw

There was a special on CC @5s in one of the betpack bookies there at the weekend! As a CC fan I got on at that! Think he's no value at anything shorter though! Hopefully the ground doesn't get too bad!

Gringo180

Fast track like Kempton at a frentic pace wont help Cue Card, it will be a carbon copy of 2 years ago when he emptied before jumping the last. Ill take Conti at the prices, 8/1 is the value of the race.

HarshOstrich

I was very impressed with al ferof the last day, wishful thinking went off really fast and jumped super and fell in the end but al ferof had him well beat at the time, he looked better than ever through that race and I think he will run well again for the in form skeltons

Gringo180

HarshOstrich wrote: »

I was very impressed with al ferof the last day, wishful thinking went off really fast and jumped super and fell in the end but al ferof had him well beat at the time, he looked better than ever through that race and I think he will run well again for the in form skeltons

Is Al Ferof not out of the Paul Nicholls yard?

Earendil

Gringo180 wrote: »

Is Al Ferof not out of the Paul Nicholls yard?

Went to Skeltons before the start of this season I think.

madmoose

Yeah he is at skelton now. Time for the new guard to take the mantle in this race so its between the front two for me. I cannot get away from the monster Vautour, in that JLT it looked as though he could of went round again and will have no problem staying for me, i just hope the ground doesnt become too soft for him but dries. Tactics will be interesting who will make all and will it be Ruby or will he tuck Vautour in?

Shemale

This is from memory as dont have time to review:

I am not convinced Cue Card emptied when SC beat him, he seemed to hit a flat spot at the wrong time but picked up again, Brennan is proving himself to be the right man for Cue Card, there was always a question mark about him not being able to cope with being taken on up front but that was empathically quashed.

Vautour is the best horse in it, he hasnt run a lot right handed and while he has won running that way with the limited amount of runs he has had he looks less imperious, again very limited data but could see him beaten.

Don Cossack has been very good since Cheltenham, I dont feel he likes it there and given his liking of Punchestown he mght be seen to best effect going right, granted Kempton and Punchestown are different types of track but that might just bring him to the fore. Can be a sketchy jumper so could be his downfall in a King George, Uxizandre had him under a lot of pressure in March and his jumping wasnt vintage.

Very hard to nail down but slight doubt over Vautour going right, toss of a coin between CC and DC

Earendil

I'll have the Don in some multiples and a decent bet on Vatour with one of the firms doing a money back special.
My e/w will go on Road to Riches. I know there is ground concerns about him, but i think 25s is good value for such a class animal.

danganabu

Shemale wrote: »

I am not convinced Cue Card emptied when SC beat him, he seemed to hit a flat spot at the wrong time but picked up again

To be fair to the horse he suffered a fractured pelvis in that race.

Shemale

danganabu wrote: »

To be fair to the horse he suffered a fractured pelvis in that race.

Forgot about that, he is some tool

Wicklow Brave

Net D'Eccosse runs in the Feltham to give Cooper a spin around Kempton before the big one. Net D'Eccosse owned by Gigginstown of course but trained by WPM.

Copper_pipe

Are we gonna use this thread for all the Racing on the 26th?

I'll be posting a preview to the King George at some stage either today or tomorrow.

The Mig

Earendil wrote: »

I'll have the Don in some multiples and a decent bet on Vatour with one of the firms doing a money back special.
My e/w will go on Road to Riches. I know there is ground concerns about him, but i think 25s is good value for such a class animal.

He's not even declared

Earendil

The Mig wrote: »

He's not even declared

He was scratched shortly after i posted.

The Mig

Earendil wrote: »

He was scratched shortly after i posted.

Shocked if he doesn't turn up to the Lexus!

prettyboy81

It's King George Day....giddy up!

superfurry1

This is the year for al ferof ew 20-1 gl all

Gringo180

Absolute stomper of a race. Cue Card got tha imo

Itziger

Great race. Loved that, just a shame that DC fell.

paddy no 11

paddy no 11 wrote: »

Going for cue card, though the 2 young guns look to be exceptional.

Just love this horse

paddy no 11

Put him away for the GC now

I said

Did vautour stay?

uxiant

I said wrote: »

Did vautour stay?

Yes, they went a proper gallop and he was beaten a proper horse. I expect he would come on for that and improve on better ground at Cheltenham.

But unfortunately they'll go for the Ryanair.

Wicklow Brave

Brennan gets 11 days and a 5k fine for the whip. Walsh gets 2 days. Vautour's connections got to feel hard done by.

I said

uxiant wrote: »

Yes, they went a proper gallop and he was beaten a proper horse. I expect he would come on for that and improve on better ground at Cheltenham.

But unfortunately they'll go for the Ryanair.

That's what I thought GC without a doubt

Wicklow Brave

Wicklow Brave wrote: »

Brennan gets 11 days and a 5k fine for the whip. Walsh gets 2 days. Vautour's connections got to feel hard done by.

I must take this back. Brennan's offense was raising the whip above his shoulder, not excessive use. Deserved winner. Delighted for him and Tizzard. The whip rules are a bit of shambles though.

Edit: raising whip above shoulder in addition to using it excessively that should read.

yaboya1

The only horse that ran in the King George today that has any chance in the Gold Cup is one that didn't finish, Don Cossack. The rest are wasting their time showing up.

The winner runs on Monday.