26 King George Vi Tips

King George VI Chase betting ideas: why Cyrname will get our vote

Check out the newest King George betting odds and news following the surprise addition of Cheltenham Gold Cup second Santini to the entries

The King George VI Chase is the highlight of a busy Boxing Day racing programme. Six runners have been declared for this year’s edition of the three-mile chase, which promises to be a Christmas cracker.

There is nothing to separate Cyrname and Lostintranslation at the top of the betting, whereas final year’s winner Clan Des Obeaux is subsequent best. Former winner Thistlecrack can also be in the area and will once more have his supporters.

Odds correct on the time of publishing and are topic to change

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Cyrname could make it win No eleven for King Nicholls

Paul Nicholls has dominated the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Kempton 3.05) since the late-1990s, winning the race 10 times, including five successes for the nice Kauto Star.

The 11-time champion trainer could presumably be set for an additional success within the race with Cyrname. The seven-year-old returned to motion final month for the first time since February to land the Christy 1965 Chase, inflicting a first defeat over fences on Altior.

Cyrname recorded his first Grade 1 win in the Ascot Chase in February, when he blew the sphere away by 17 lengths. He missed the 2019 Cheltenham Festival as connections weren’t satisfied he was as effective round a left-handed track.

Kempton appears the proper course for the chaser to sort out three miles for the first time. He stayed on strongly last time at Ascot, which suggests this new journey is properly within his attain.

Regular pilot Harry Cobden has opted for Cyrname over last year’s winner Clan Des Obeaux whom he partnered to victory in final year’s King George. That speaks volumes for the horse, as Cobden would have schooled each back at home.

Cyrname is 11/8 favorite at the time of writing and he gets the vote over Lostintranslation in what should be a brilliant race between arguably the two leading horses in this division.

Former winner Thistlecrack cannot be ruled out again

The 2016 King George winner Thistlecrack heads to Kempton and given how nicely he ran on his return to action at Newbury he can’t be discounted.

Colin Tizzard’s runner beat a area that included Cue Card and Silviniaco Conti three years ago but has not tasted success since then, with numerous injuries hampering his form.

Thistlecrack ran a cracker in this race 12 months in the past when he finished second behind Clan Des Obeaux after going off at 15/2. He was staying on strongly within the final stages of the race, beating the likes of stablemate Native River, Politologue, Might Bite and Bristol De Mai.

The 11-year-old made his seasonal reappearance over hurdles in the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month, when he was only a size behind the celebrity Paisley Park. 

That race was getting used to fine-tune him ahead of the King George as he was slightly late returning to action, which means he missed the Betfair Chase.

Given what he has achieved around this course and that he still looks to have the urge for food for racing, Thistlecrack shouldn’t be ignored on this small field. 

He will have to be again to his finest once more to match what Cyrname and Lostintranslation have achieved recently over fences but at 16/1 he is price taking a chance on.