Galopin Des Champs taken out of King George at Kempton

Bravemansgame and Hitman dominate the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase betting for Paul Nicholls after the well-supported Galopin Des Champs was taken out of the race at the latest acceptance stage.

The Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs, an unlucky last-fence faller at the Cheltenham Festival back in March, had been the subject of support earlier in the month, despite his trainer stating it was an unlikely option for his charge.

Galopin Des Champs, along with stablemate and defending champion Tornado Flyer, were two notable absentees on Tuesday as 13 horses were left in the race – headed by Nicholls impressive Charlie Hall scorer and Coral’s 5-4 favourite Bravemansgame.

“Earlier this month some punters seemed convinced that Galopin Des Champs would be heading to Kempton at Christmas, as his odds tumbled down to 3-1 second favourite, but unfortunately for those backers, connections have removed the King George as an option for their Gold Cup favourite,” said Coral’s David Stevens.

Hitman stated his case with a wide-margin win at Haydock earlier in the month and he gives part-owner Sir Alex Ferguson a second potential interest in the race as Dan Skelton’s Betfair Chase hero Protektorat is also still in the mix.

Nicholls also has 2020 winner Frodon and outsider Pic D’Orhy amongst the remaining entries.

Saturday’s Rehearsal Chase winner L’Homme Presse could yet represent Venetia Williams while Henry de Bromhead supplies the leading Irish hope in Envoi Allen, who roared back to form with Grade One success at Down Royal last month.

Grand National winner Noble Yeats, another Williams-trained runner in Royale Pagaille and Ahoy Senor, who is set to run at Aintree on Saturday also feature, along with Eldorado Allen, Millers Bank and Red Happy.

Joe Tizzard believes Eldorado Allen has a “serious each-way chance” in the Christmas showpiece.

The eight year old has flourished over three miles so far this term, producing two stellar efforts to place in both the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and when finishing closest to leading Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Protektorat in the Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock Park this month.

Tizzard said: “He’s come out of Haydock really well. He ran a really nice race up there and we’re chuffed to bits with him.

“He’s produced two lovely runs so far this season and what he’s shown me is that he gets the trip really well now and both times he’s galloped through the line. I think those two runs were right up there with his best ever which means he’s capable of having serious each-way chances in these kinds of races.

“We’ve given him the option of Kempton and we won’t make a full decision until right up to the day, but he seems really well and we’re keeping an eye on it.

“His run in the Betfair Chase looked the better run of the two to me than the one at Wetherby, so he’s taken a step forward there. I don’t know how much improvement is left in him, but if he gets into a nice rhythm he’s a threat. Now we know he goes through the line nicely we can get more and more aggressive with him riding wise and see how we get on.”

This is Tizzard’s first season with the licence in his name after taking over from father Colin back in May and the King George is a race he has enjoyed plenty of success in the race as his dad’s assistant, twice winning it with Cue Card (2015) and Thistlecrack (2016).

He continued: “We’ve had a really nice time in the race over the years and we’re trying to have horses to run in the top races. It’s lovely that we’ve got a horse who’s good enough and will have a good chance in it.

“It’s been a lovely start to the season for us. We had a cracking summer and the winter horses are going well. We’ve just got to keep it up now, it’s still early days so we just want to keep the horses happy and healthy and running well.”

Latest Ladbrokes Odds for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase: Bravemansgame 5-4; Hitman 7-2; L’Homme Press 4-1; Envoi Allen 5-1; Protektorat 12-1; Eldorado Allen, Frodon 20-1; Ahoy Senor, Noble Yeats, Royale Pagaille 25-1; Millers Bank 40-1; Pic D’Orhy 50-1; Red Happy 150-1.