There have been many well-known King George Chase winners over the years, with the big Boxing Day Kempton race being first run in 1937. So, with the 2023 renewal looming let’s look at some of the past winners, while many Christmas ‘once-a-year’ punters might also be asking – who won the King George Chase last year?
King George Chase Winners List: Some Big Names On The Kempton Roll Of Honour
With 86 years of history there has been 72 King George Chase winners, with some seasons seeing no race due to either the Second World War or weather issues.
The first ever King George Chase winner was a horse called Southern Hero in 1937, who won as a 12 year-old and to this day remains the oldest ever winner of the Boxing Day Kempton race.
However, that opening race wasn’t run over Christmas, but in February, and it wasn’t until after the war in 1947 that the King George was moved to its current Boxing Day slot.
During World War II (1939-1946) Kempton Park was used as a prisoner-of-war camp.
The King George VI Chase is now a regular Christmas race, which is run over 3m, that is always held on the 26th December (Boxing Day) – no matter what day of the week that falls on. And has now worked it’s way into many Christmas traditions for families as they gather round the TV to try and find the big-race winners.
While the winner of the King George VI Chase often then has the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is run 2 1/2 months later in March, as a target. The last horse to win both the King George and the Gold Cup in the same season was the Nicky Henderson-trained Long Run. Who won each race in the 2010-11 season.
That year, the King George was also run in January (15th) with the original Boxing Day date called off with bad weather.
The King George Chase Has Produced Many Repeat Winners
Since the first King George Chase in 1937, we’ve seen many multiple winners – including Halloween in 1952 and 1954 as he scared off his rivals to become the first horse to win the race twice.
Equine greats like Mill House (1963) and Arkle (1965) graced the hall-of-fame in the 60’s too, but the first back-to-back King George winner was Pendil in 1972 and 1973. He was ridden both times by Richard Pitman and trained by Fred Winter.
It was after this double win that the repeat winners came in their droves – including Captain Chirsty (74-75), Silver Buck (79-80) and Wayward Lad (82-83).
This theme in the King George Chase has continued ever since with the Christmas ‘once-a-year’ punters welcoming back horses year-after-year to help pay their festive expenses.
Desert Orchid A Four-Time King George Chase Winner
One of the most famous multiple King George Chase winners in the history of the race was Desert Orchid.
This popular grey mopped up four King Georges between 1986 and 1990 – winning three on the spin during that period.
Dessie was ridden twice by Richard Dunwoody and twice by Simon Sherwood and trained by David Elsworth. His last Kempton win in the race came aged 11 in 1990 (watch below) and along with Edredon Bleu and Kauto Star is the joint second oldest King George Chase winner.
Kauto Star Is The Most Successful King George Chase Winner
Desert Orchid held the King George crown for many years as the most successful horse in the race with those four wins. However, his reign came to an end between 2006 and 2011 when the Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star managed to win the race five times.
The first of Kauto Star’s wins came in 2006 as a 6 year-old, with his last in 2011 aged 11 (watch below). He was ridden by Ruby Walsh each time and this winning spree also made Walsh the most successful jockey in the race with five wins.
Paul Nicholls Has Trained The Most King George Winners
Kauto Star’s trainer Paul Nicholls is the man dubbed Mr King George as this title was given to the Ditcheat handler after racking up an incredible 13 King George Chase wins over the years – and counting.
The first King George win for Nicholls came in 1997 with See More Business and his most recent in 2022 with Bravemansgame.
Paul Nicholls King George VI Chase Winners
- See More Business (1997, 1999)
- Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- Silviniaco Conti (2013, 2014)
- Clan Des Obeaux (2018, 2019)
- Frodon (2020)
- Bravemansgame (2022)
Which Horse Won The King George Chase Last Year (2022)?
Bravemansgame won the 2022 King George VI Chase (watch below) and is back for more in 2023 as one of favourites with the best UK horse racing betting sites.
Trained by Paul Nicholls, the 8 year-old was ridden by Harry Cobden, who had won the King George in 2018 on another Nicholls chaser Clan Des Obeaux.
We can expect Bravemansgame to be popular with the once-a-year betters again as soon as they remember his name from winning last year. Plus, the top record in the race by past winners.
When winning the 2022 King George, Bravemansgame won £142,375 in prize money.
King George Chase Winners List (Since 2000)
- 2022 – Bravemansgame (11/4)
- 2021 – Tornado Flyer (28/1)
- 2020 – Frodon (20/1)
- 2019 – Clan Des Obeaux (11/2)
- 2018 – Clan Des Obeaux (12/1)
- 2017 – Might Bite (6/4 fav)
- 2016 – Thistlecrack (11/10 fav)
- 2015 – Cue Card (9/2)
- 2014 – Silviniaco Conti (15/8 fav)
- 2013 – Silviniaco Conti (7/2)
- 2012 – Long Run (15/8 fav)
- 2011 – Kauto Star (3/1)
- 2010 – Long Run (9/2)
- 2009 – Kauto Star (8/13 fav)
- 2008 – Kauto Star (10/11 fav)
- 2007 – Kauto Star (4/6 fav)
- 2006 – Kauto Star (8/13 fav)
- 2005 – Kicking King (11/8 fav)
- 2004 – Kicking King (3/1 fav)
- 2003 – Edredon Bleu (25/1)
- 2002 – Best Mate (11/8 fav)
- 2001 – Florida Pearl (8/1)
- 2000 – First Gold (5/2)
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