There will be plenty of King George Chase tips flying around in the build-up to the big Boxing Day Kempton race, but the ‘good news’ is this year horse racing punters only have six horses to pick from. You can also bet on our King George tip with BetMGM, who are giving away £40 in free bets for staking £10.
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King George Chase 2023: Quality Over Quantity For The Big Kempton Race This Year
With the Gordon Elliott-trained Gerri Colombe, who had been the King George favourite with the best UK horse racing betting sites, now staying in Ireland. Plus last year’s second Royale Pagaille out with a sore foot.
This means we’ll see a maximum of just six runners for the Boxing Day Kempton race this year.
However, despite the small field it’s still a ‘must-see’ race for National Hunt fans and even though we have a 50/1 outsider in Frodon, he’s still a past winner of the race – and you can make cases for them all.
That said, all the 2023 King George 2023 runners come with question marks to answer too, so this year it really is take your pick, sit back and hope you’ve answered the right questions.
King George VI Chase Race Info
📅Date: Tuesday 26th December 2023
🕙Time: 2:30pm
🏇Racecourse: Kempton (3m)
💰 Winner: £142,375
📺 TV: ITV/ Racing TV
You can also see Andy Newton’s big race King George trends here – see which horses have the best Kempton profile.
The King George Questions The Runners Have To Answer?
Allaho:
Top-rated in the field and the expected King George favourite that has won 8 of his 13 starts. Will be looking to give trainer Willie Mullins only his third King George winner. But is also his first run at Kempton and will the dreaded ‘bounce factor’ kick-in after winning last month after 561-days off?
Bravemansgame:
Last year’s winner but has been beaten four times since. Past winners have a good record though and is trained by Mr King George Paul Nicholls, who has 13 wins in the race. Some are losing faith and questioning if his hard run in the Gold Cup has left a mark. Or will the return to Kempton help, where he’s 2-from-2?
Shishkin:
High class chaser (second highest-rated) but comes with his risks. Loves Kempton – is 4-from-4 at the track – but refused to race at Ascot last time and hasn’t run since April. Will his lack of a recent run cost him, will he even start the race, or will his cracking track record get him over the line again?
The Real Whacker:
Youngest of the seven King George runners at 7 and has only raced four times over fences. Beat Gerri Colombe in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March but was last seen pulling up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. First run at Kempton and will his lack of experience overall cost him?
Hewick:
Former American Grand National winner, but don’t let that fool you as the race is run over 2m5f over hurdles (only in America!). Fell in the Gold Cup in March when running well and has won twice at Sandown. But not been out since August when down the field in the Galway Plate. Does he just lack the class at the highest level?
Frodon:
2020 King George winner that is back for more at the age of 11. Was also 4th in 2021 and 3rd in 2022, so if the race falls apart not without a chase of landing a top three finish at a price. But with only seven runners now the each-way payout if just two places (unless you find an extra place offer). Is also the lowest-rated in the field (156) and that’s a full 20lbs inferior to the top-rated Allaho (176). Will he find some younger legs too good?
King George Chase Tips 2023: Bravemansgame Can Defend His Crown At Beloved Kempton
Taking all the questions into account – it’s last year’s winner BRAVEMANSGAME that gets the vote.
Yes, he’s got a bit to prove having not won a race since winning this 12 months ago (watch below) – winning by an easy 14-lengths. However, he’s hardly been totally disgraced in these defeats, while the return to his beloved Kempton is a big plus.
His second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, at a track many say doesn’t suit, was a top run. He was then third in the Punchestown Gold Cup – beaten just 2 1/4 lengths – and was only a nose behind Galopin Des Champs that day too. Therefore, you could argue it was an improved run, having been beaten 7 lengths by the Mullins horse at Cheltenham.
It’s his runs this season that are more of a worry, including when beaten in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. But again there was an excuse there as he made a bad error late on and the winner – Gentlemansgame – is still a useful horse. It was also his first run back for 192 days.
And finally, his last run at Haydock, when second to Royale Pagaille was again slightly disappointing. However, let’s not forget the winner LOVES the Lancashire venue and is clearly a much better horse there. Especially on his favoured soft ground.
Bravemansgame still had last season’s Grand National winner Corach Rambler 9 lengths back in third and the 2022 winner of the race – Protektorat another 13 lengths behind.
Paul Nicholls Is The Winning-Most King George Trainer
It’s also hard to ignore the King George record of trainer Paul Nicholls with 13 successes in the race, including four of the last 5. The race has also been a good one for past champions, with a massive 17 winners since 1980 coming back to take the race again.
Taking all this into account and the return to Kempton, where Bravemansgame is 2-from-2 at, he gets the verdict as the best of our King George tips.
Hard To Ignore Shishkin’s Kempton Record Too
Of the rest, Shishkin is can do best of the rest (as long as he starts). Yes, this lack of a recent run is the worry, but this is combated by the fact he’s 4-from-4 at Kempton and of the seven runners has the best track record.
With only seven runners, then a chance is also taken on Frodon running into a place – just like he did last year.
He ran well to be third last month in the Badger Beer Handicap at Wincanton with a big weight and with so many question marks about all the runners there is a chance the race could fall apart a bit. Leaving Frodon to come home as he likes in the money.
King George Tips 1-2-3
- BRAVEMANSGAME
- Shishkin
- Frodon
King George VI Chase Betting 2023
See below the latest King George VI Chase betting odds from BetMGM, where you can also get £40 in free bets to use on the race after staking your first £10.
- Allaho 15/8
- Bravemansgame 9/4
- Shishkin 7/2
- The Real Whacker 9/1
- Hewick 11/1
- Frodon 33/1
Note: Odds are subject to change.
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Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
New cust only. 3 days to claim & 7 days to place a qualifying bet to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 Football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply.
New cust only. 3 days to claim & 7 days to place a qualifying bet to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 Football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. |
Claim Offer |
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