Ladbrokes King George VI Chase: Your essential runner-by-runner guide

It is not often you get four staying chasers rated 170 or higher in the same race but that’s the case in what promises to be a terrific Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Paul Nicholls has also trained the winner a record 11 times and he is a short price to boost that tally with Clan Des Obeaux and Cyrname heading the market, plus Real Steel and Frodon being top performers in their own right.

Fifty years ago the race was lost to snow, and 25 years later it was staged at Sandown early in the New Year after more bad weather. Ten years ago it was delayed until mid-January for the same reason but, whisper it quietly, we should be OK this time despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Swiftly. The King George can be run in under 6 minutes when conditions allow and a good early position can be crucial.

Stablemates Cyrname and Frodon enjoy making the running or at least race prominently.

It will be fascinating to see which of the pair force the issue but I wouldn’t be surprised if Cyrname was allowed to stride on from an early stage after conclusively proving he stays 3m so well at Wetherby.

Ina Preview Evening hosted by Kempton and Ladbrokes on Thursday night, Harry Cobden suggested he would not go out all-guns blazing but, thnking out loud, did wonder whether Frodon would have then pace to lead him.

It's a front-runner's track and Cyrname's jumping is fabulous, so why ride him with restraint and be a hostage to fortune when he can be so lethal at the head of affairs?

Black Op is another who usually races up near the pace, while Nico De Boinville will be anxious not to be too far behind on Santini.

Expect Clan Des Obeaux, Lostintranslation and Real Steel to sit somewhere near mid-division or worse before trying to pick their way through.

Waiting Patiently is habitually held up and Saint Calvados, trying the trip for the first time, is also likely to be anchored. The jockeys on the last two-named horses will be hoping for an overly strong gallop and the opportunity to pick off tiring rivals when it matters most.

Trainer: Tom George. Timeform rating: 159. Ladbrokes odds: 50-1

Positives: Grade One winner over hurdles and was runner-up in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase 12 months ago. The same trainer’s Double Shuffle was runner-up at 50-1 in 2017.

Negatives: His form falls well short and he made little impact in the Ladbrokes Trophy last month. His official rating of 147 points to him having 2st to find with the cream.

Verdict: Difficult to see him making much impression in this company

Trainer: Paul Nicholls. Timeform rating: 178. Odds: 7-4 fav

Positives: Winner of the past two renewals, trouncing Cyrname by 21 lengths on soft going last year. Clearly in his element at the track and looked as good as ever when runner-up in the Betfair Chase on his return last month.

Negatives: Had a tough race on heavy ground behind Bristol De Mai at Haydock and it remains to be seen if it has left a mark. The handicapper reckons he’s 5lb inferior to Cyrname.

Verdict: Top-class chaser at peak of his powers and another huge run on cards

Trainer: Paul Nicholls. Timeform rating: 185. Odds: 15-8

Positives: He’s the highest-rated chaser in training and was brilliant when cruising to victory in the Charlie Hall Chase on his return at Wetherby, proving himself fully effective over 3m. Has had a better preparation than when runner-up to Clan Des Obeaux last year.

Negatives: Wasn’t at his best after a striking comeback last season - fluffing his lines when a weary runner-up 12 months ago and also being well below-par next time at Ascot.

Verdict: Will take some stopping if he brings his A-Game

Trainer: Paul Nicholls. Timeform rating: 175. Odds: 20-1

Positives: He’s won as many races over fences (13) as stablemates Clan Des Obeaux and Cyrname put together. Superb jumper who won the Ryanair Chase in 2019 and defied a mark of 164 in a handicap at Cheltenham on his return.

Negatives: Seems to reserve his best for Cheltenham and jumped left when a workmanlike winner here earlier in the year. Subdued effort at Aintree last time, albeit in a race where plenty of fences were omitted.

Verdict: Admirable customer but needs to bounce and track not ideal

Trainer: Colin Tizzard. Timeform rating: 179. Odds: 8-1

Positives: Won the Betfair Chase last season before finishing a fine third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the end of the campaign. A reproduction of either of those efforts would put him bang in the picture.

Negatives: He ran poorly when pulled up in this race last year (had a wind op afterwards) and did so again in the Betfair Chase on his return. Stable not firing on all cylinders.

Verdict: Risks attached after running stinkers in two of his past three races

Trainer: Paul Nicholls. Timeform rating: 174. Odds: 14-1

Positives: The dual Grade Two winner should be spot-on after his comeback run at Ascot (easy to back) and is unexposed over 3m, his only run beyond 2m5f being when a close sixth in the Gold Cup when one of the last off the bridle.

Negatives: Needs plenty more than at Ascot and, while an eye-catcher in the Gold Cup, his eight runs in Grade One company (hurdles and fences) have all ended in defeat.

Verdict: Could still have more to offer over a bare 3m and each-way claims.

Trainer: Harry Whttington. Timeform rating: 177. Odds: 25-1

Positives: Has age on his side and upped his game when upped to about 2m4f in the second half of the season. Signed off with a career-best neck second to Min in the Ryanair Chase, when arguably unlucky not to win, and he’s won first time out in each of his four seasons.

Negatives: He’s missed intended races this campaign and this would be a much tougher comeback race than he’s previously had, especially upped to 3m for the first time. Also, he’s 0/5 in Grade One races and 8/11 away from the highest level.

Verdict: Needs a PB over a trip he’s not certain to stay after almost 10 months off.

Trainer: Nicky Henderson. Timeform rating: 181. Odds: 11-2

Positives: The fact he has been supplemented points to the wellbeing of the Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up and he clearly will not fail for lack of stamina. Rusty on his return at Aintree this month but that is likely to have put him spot-on for this.

Negatives: The reason why he was not originally entered – the speedy 3m nature of Kempton – remains valid. Can hit flat patches/race lazily and was unable to land a serious blow when third in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase two years ago

Verdict: Thorough stayer but vulnerable to faster rivals.

Trainer: Ruth Jefferson. Timeform rating: 178. Odds: 16-1

Positives: Course winner who reeled off seven wins between early 2016 and early 2018, including in a Grade One, before effectively being brought down in this two years ago when only 4-1. Absent since his close third in last season’s Tingle Creek but has always gone well fresh and promises to stay.

Negatives: He’s only raced three time since his unfortunate exit in this race in 2018 and been off a year. Stamina to prove and equipped with cheekpieces for his past two runs. Also, the only horses nine or older to win since 2004 have been Kauto Star and Cue Card.

Verdict: Remains lightly raced but makes a belated return in a hot renewal.

Clan Des Obeaux is a class act and thumped Cyrname last year but the latter surely did not give his running, having previously dug deep to end Altior’s lengthy winning sequence on his return.

If Cyrname can reproduce his best then I fancy he will turn the tables and the portents are good after he cruised home on his return at Wetherby. This time, too, it is Clan Des Obeaux who has to show a tough race has not left a mark after his Haydock defeat.

Nicholls may just pull off a 1-2-3 because I can see Real Steel leaving his reappearance running behind him and being well served by a flat and relatively easy 3m.