King George VI Chase: James Flaherty’s massive race horse-by-horse information

James Flaherty analyses each runner in a mouth-watering renewal of racing’s Christmas characteristic at Kempton Park on Boxing Day on Friday.

1) Banbridge

Jockey: Sean Bowen | Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

It simply reveals the standard of the race in prospect that final 12 months’s winner is a double-figure worth to retain his crown. He was spectacular in getting the higher of Il Est Francais a 12 months in the past, because the pair pulled a great distance away from a powerful discipline. That is well Banbridge’s finest effort of current, and he has been relatively disappointing in reality since.

Kempton can very a lot be a “Horses for Courses” observe although, with the runner-up final 12 months one other prime instance. A repeat of final 12 months’s heroic efficiency would undoubtedly see him concerned once more, even when it might fall brief this time round. He does must return to type although and his prep run at Cork was a great distance in need of his effort final 12 months, even when it was his seasonal reappearance.

2) Djelo

Charlie Deutsch | Miss V Williams

Djelo is a candidate for one of many largest improvers in National Hunt Racing over the previous three years. Three seasons in the past, he improved a stone in handicap hurdles and adopted that by enhancing an extra 19lbs in his novice chase marketing campaign. One might need thought that was his ceiling, however he nonetheless managed to enhance one other 15lbs final season, regardless of being dropped 4lbs for his closing run of the marketing campaign.

He continues to be comparatively unexposed over staying journeys, having solely run over three miles on three events and successful two of them. His solely defeat over the journey got here at Aintree final season behind Gaelic Warrior, however I’ll all the time forgive a horse a poor run on the finish of an extended season. He’s totally likeable and the seven-year-old should still be going the proper approach, however I’ll be shocked if he would not discover a couple too good right here.

3) Fact To File

Mark Walsh | Willie Mullins

Will he, will not he? Initially, final 12 months’s Ryanair winner was in direction of the highest of the betting for this race, however that modified when the suggestion was that he was more likely to keep in Ireland. The 10-1 obtainable in the course of December rapidly evaporated when the rumours surfaced that he could certainly journey to Kempton and he’s now difficult his stablemate (and John Durkan conqueror) Gaelic Warrior for favouritism.

Fact To File seemed like a blatant non-stayer to me on the top-level final season, earlier than a scintillating show within the Ryanair over shorter. His ending effort there was in stark distinction to that of a 12 months earlier within the Brown Advisory and his two makes an attempt at three miles final season. Was he outstayed at Punchestown or did he want the run and get drained? It could also be a little bit of each, however I’m not so positive he’ll reverse that type.

4) Gaelic Warrior

Paul Townend | Willie Mullins

I’ve all the time been an enormous fan of Gaelic Warrior, who’s as enigmatic as he’s proficient. He clearly would not like Leopardstown, however his common type away from the Foxrock observe is of a really excessive normal. His solely defeat over fences away from Leopardstown was by the hands of Il Etait Temps in a Grade 1 novice over the sharp two miles at Punchestown.

He is unbeaten over three miles due to a pair of Grade 1 wins, the newest of which was a powerful success at Aintree final season when simply getting the higher of Grey Dawning. A really likeable success within the John Durkan on return when he bravely battled again to get the higher of Fact To File in a thriller. The techniques on him can be fascinating.

5) Il Est Francais

Harry Cobden | Tom George

Il Est Francais clearly struggles together with his consistency however there may be little doubt that he has introduced his A-game on his two earlier visits to Kempton Park. Two years in the past he was devastating within the Kauto Star as a novice and he was solely narrowly denied on this race final 12 months by the late thrust of Banbridge, who was the recipient of an excellent trip from Paul Townend.

He has been extra hit than miss since and whereas I count on him to depart his seasonal return nicely behind right here, it’s in all probability honest to say that even his absolute best could come up brief on this firm. This seems like a greater renewal, and a repeat of final 12 months’s effort could not even be adequate for the primary three, whereas he additionally faces extra competitors for the lead this time.

6) Jango Baie

Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson

A outstanding winner of final 12 months’s Arkle (type understanding nicely), when he grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat, Jango Baie has all the time promised to be a greater horse when getting a stiffer check. His newest effort was even higher than his Arkle win. Even if the race did collapse just a little, visually it seemed excellent.

This can be his first try at three miles and for all that he seems as if he’ll thrive for it, there may be nonetheless some component of doubt till he truly goes and does it. I believe he’ll keep, and the doubtless robust tempo ought to swimsuit his hold-up fashion with a number of in right here more likely to be distinguished. He is among the potential improvers, however there may be an argument that he might want to on this exalted firm.

7) Master Chewy

Sam Twiston-Davies | Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies

With all due respect to Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies, Master Chewy faces a giant activity right here on this firm. On the constructive aspect, he was spectacular on his sole earlier go to to Kempton Park, however that was in Grade 2 novices’ chase over the minimal journey.

On his newest begin, he was crushed a great distance by Jango Baie at Ascot and it’s troublesome to see him touchdown a blow right here. This is his first begin at three miles, however he would not appear like one which has been in search of a stamina check. He might be the one one of many eight that may be safely dominated out.

8) The Jukebox Man

The apple of Ben Pauling’s eye, The Jukebox Man arrived on the scene on the highest stage with a powerful win within the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase right here a 12 months in the past. A setback meant that was the ultimate run of his novice marketing campaign and we had been left questioning initially of the season the place he actually stood within the second-season chaser’s pecking order.

His defeat of Iroko on return confirmed he nonetheless retains his means and even when the shape was franked final weekend to an extent, it’s troublesome to establish with certainty what he achieved at Haydock. My intestine tells me he has loads to search out with the primary contenders right here and I really feel he’s far too brief on what he has achieved so far. Time will inform simply how a lot of his means we’ve but to see.

James’ verdict

This is a deep renewal with six of those rated 163 or larger, and it’s possible to make the case for all of them, in addition to The Jukebox Man who’s the least uncovered, even when he has a bit to search out on scores.

While Banbridge could also be a contact over-priced, backing him requires one thing of a present of religion given his present type. Similar feedback apply to Il Est Francais, whereas I really feel Djelo and The Jukebox Man want to enhance to become involved.

I really feel just like the winner will come from one of many “big three” and of these, Fact To File has inquiries to reply over three miles for me. The type of his Brown Advisory win seems bang common (these behind are winless in 28 begins since) and his ending effort there did not impress me, regardless of successful simply sufficient. He has been soundly crushed in his two begins on the journey in open firm and I’m inclined to concentrate on the opposite pair.

Jango Baie is the unknown, as he may simply enhance additional for this stiffer check on his first begin on the journey. However, I’m going to aspect with GAELIC WARRIOR, who has gained each of his begins at this journey in Grade 1 firm, over hurdles and fences.

He has nothing to show stamina smart on these grounds and his excessive cruising pace means he has the right mix of tempo and endurance for this distinctive check. His type final time is nearly as good as something in right here and I count on him to uphold that.

While Fact To File made up numerous floor, I believed Gaelic Warrior outbattled and outstayed him. Given how free he was within the early a part of the race, it shocked me how powerful he was within the end. Away from Leopardstown, his general report is high class, and he’s truly extraordinarily constant. I believed two-and-a-half miles final time favoured Fact To File, however Gaelic Warrior is confirmed at this journey. Jango Baie is taken into account an even bigger hazard, however as he has it to show on the distance, Gaelic Warrior is the choice and I truly suppose 3-1 is greater than honest.