Five things we learnt at the King George launch: Sizing John big price for Leopardstown

Andy Stephens was at the 32Red King George launch in Lambourn on Tuesday and reveals the key learnings from Sizing John missing out to the awkward moment Paddy Brennan was asked about Cue Card.

Sizing John a big price for Leopardstown:

It is no great surprise that Sizing John, the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, will be missing from 32Red King George VI Chase field.

Jessica Harington cited three factors not to travel over - the 16-day gap between his winning return at Punchestown and the race, the travelling involved and the fact he would be taking on rivals competing on their own patch.

She did not commit him to running in the Christmas Chase (formerly the Lexus) two days later at Leopardstown, either, but the language she used seemed to suggest it would be a distinct possibility - making the 3-1 with SkyBet very attractive.

“We will probably decide (about the Christmas Chase) in a week’s time,” Harrington said via telephone at a media event held in Lambourn to promote the two-day Winter Festival at Kempton.

“He’d have a couple of extra days (compared to Kempton) and I would not have to travel him. That is a plus going just up the road.”

Willie Mullins revealed that Yorkhill is a possibility for that race and has been installed at 2-1 favourite with Sky Bet.

Brennan would ride Cue Card:

The most awkward moment of the media event came when Oli Bell interviewed Paddy Brennan, an ambassador for King George race sponsors 32Red.

Things began smoothly enough with Brennan talking about what was required to win the race. “You need to have a fast horse,” he said. “It’s a great test of everything - speed and stamina - and there is no let up from start to finish. The cream rises to the top.”

The conversation turned a little when Bell asked Brennan, given the choice, what he would ride in the race.

“Cue Card,” he said, without hesitation.

Bell then asked Brennan what he made of Cue Card’s remote second to Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase, when beaten 57 lengths in the hands of Harry Cobden after he had been replaced on him.

He paused and then said: “You’ve seen it, didn’t yer?”

The room fell silent for several seconds and then Bell asked: “Do you think he will get back to his very best?”. To which Brennan replied: “Next question.”

Team Tizzard target trio at big race:

Colin Tizzard is renowned for his attacking policy with his horses and it now seems that he will run three challengers in the 32Red King George Chase with Thistlecrack, the defending champion, joined by Cue Card, who won the 2015 running, and Fox Norton, runner-up in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday.

“If you throw enough mud, some sticks,” Joe Tizzard, assistant to his father, said.

Thistlecrack has apparently not missed a day’s work since his disappointing return over hurdles at Newbury last month and Tizzard Jr is adamant that reverse was because of lack of condition.

“I put my neck on the line and said he was fit but I don’t think he was," he added.

"He looked to travel and jump like he can but from the back of three out he just got a bit tired. He looks a lot tighter and we are confident you will see a fitter horse at Kempton.”

Tizzard Jr said Cue Card had been added to the Peterborough Chase possibles at Taunton on Thursday but he seems unlikely to run.

“I’m not sure 2m5f around Taunton would be ideal for him nowadays. It was just to have a look, see what was in it. I think (owner) Mrs Bishop is keen to have another crack at the King George.”

Of Fox Norton, he added: “He will be left in at the five-day stage. He has come out of the Tingle Creek very well and probably his best form last season was over two and a half.”

Which of the trio has the best chance? He said: “There would not be much between Fox Norton and Thistlecrack.”

Nigel Twiston-Davies only has eyes for jackpot:

Bristol De Mai is the one horse still able to win the £1 million bonus offered by the Jockey Club for winning the Triple Crown - the Betfair Chase, King George and Gold Cup.

When Nigel Twiston-Davies was asked how much he was focused on the the seven-figure sum he smiled and said with emphasis: “Absolutely blinkered on it - it’s a very exciting idea."

Some have labelled Bristol De Mai nothing more than a mud monster after his demolition job in the Betfair Chase on desperate going at Haydock last month and Nicky Henderson observed: “I’m a huge respecter of his but I do think he has one weapon and that’s his ability to go in very, very soft ground.”

However, Twiston-Davies believes his stable star is versatile regards the ground.

“I don’t subscribe to that view that he’s a heavy ground specialist. I just think he’s a very good horse,” he said.

“He’s a young, improving horse with a good action.”

The trainer is also not concerned about the Haydock slog leaving its mark. “He won on the bridle and it didn’t seem to take anything out of him. Obviously you’d be a fool to say it hasn’t but at home he’s in the form of his life.”

Nicky Henderson out for count with Whisper:

Nicky Henderson is delighted with the wellbeing of Might Bite, the general 6-4 favourite for the 32Red King George VI Chase, and might also run Whisper, a general 16-1 chance, at Kempton on December 26.

Henderson believes his options with the latter are limited after the handicapper raised him 8lb to 169 for his valiant near-miss behind Total Recall in the Ladbrokes Trophy, formerly the Hennessy, this month.

“What are going to do with Whisper - the handicapper’s nearly going to force him, isn’t he?” Henderson said.

“He’s given him the most almighty clobbering.

“It was brutal enough getting a bruised eye when beaten in the race, and then to get a left hook from the handicapper as well was pretty phwoar, phwoar.”

He added the Cotswold Chase was a possible alternative and that he needed to discuss plans with owner Dai Walters.

Top Notch is priced between 16-1 and 25-1 for the Boxing Day showpiece but will not be running because he is in the same ownership of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede's Bristol De Mai.

“We are not going to be able run Top Notch for the very obvious reason that Isaac and Simon have Bristol De Mai in there and they are sitting on the first leg of the £1million bonus,” the trainer said. “It would be awful silly to go and beat your own horse.”