King George VI Chase Archives - SportsNewsIreland

The King George VI Chase

Breandán Ó hUallacháin — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 21:01:47 +0000

The Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on St Stephen’s Day is the feature of a six-race three-Grade 1 card next Tuesday.

Origin of the race

The King George VI Chase has its origins in the Manor Selling Chase, a three-mile contest staged at Kempton Park in February. The course executive had planned to honour the incoming British monarch, Edward VIII, with a new feature contest run in his honour. Edward VIII ascended the throne in January 1936 but in December of the same year he abdicated in order to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson.

To celebrate the accession to the throne of King George VI, Edward VIII’s brother and grandfather of King Charles III, the Manor Selling Chase became the King George VI Chase at the February meeting of 1937. The King George VI Chases of 1937 and 1938 were relatively modest contests and from 1939 to 1945 there was no racing at Kempton Park while it was used as a POW camp during World War II.

Increasing stature of the race

On the resumption of racing in 1946, the King George VI Chase was transferred to become the highlight of the Boxing Day programme. The move proved highly successful with large crowds and the race’s stature improved beyond recognition.

Staged over three miles, the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase is the mid-season highlight in the three-mile chase category and is a Grade One contest. It forms the second leg of The Jockey Club Chase Triple Crown, sandwiched between the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park in November and the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

Multiple Winners of the King George VI Chase

5 WINS

Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)

4 WINS

Desert Orchid (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990)

3 WINS

Wayward Lad (1982, 1984, 1985)

2 WINS

Captain Christy (1974, 1975)

Clan des Obeaux (2018, 2019)

Kicking King (2004, 2005)

Long Run (2010, 2012)

Mandarin (1957, 1959)

One Man (1995, 1996)

Pendil (1972, 1973)

See More Business (1997, 1999)

Silver Buck (1979, 1980)

Silviniaco Conti (2013, 2014)

Most Successful Jockey in King George VI Chase

Ruby Walsh is the most successful jockey with five wins, which were all achieved on Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011).

Harry Cobden is the only current jockey to have been successful more than once, riding Clan des Obeaux (2018) and Bravemansgame (2022) to victory.

Leading King George VI Trainer

Paul Nicholls is the most successful trainer with a remarkable 13 victories – See More Business (1997, 1999), Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011), Silviniaco Conti (2013, 2014), Clan Des Obeaux (2018, 2019), Frodon (2020) and Bravemansgame (2022).

Irish-trained winners

Irish-trained horses have won the race eight times with the first victory coming with Cottage Rake in 1948.

Horses trained in Ireland hold the distinction of having the short-priced winner of the race [Arkle at 1/7f in 1965] and the longest priced winner of the Grade 1 contest, with Tornado Flyer winning at 28/1 in 2021.

Cottage Rake (1948), Arkle (1965), Captain Christy (1974, 1975), Florida Pearl (2001), Kicking King (2004, 2005), Tornado Flyer (2021).

The oldest winners are 11 year olds Desert Orchid (1990), Edredon Bleu (2003) and Kauto Star (2011), while the youngest horse to succeed is five year old Manicou (1950).

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Kempton Park runners on St Stephen’s Day

Breandán Ó hUallacháin — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 21:00:57 +0000

Runners and riders have been confirmed for the opening day of the Ladbrokes Christmas Festival at Kempton Park on St Stephen’s Day.

Action will get underway at 12.45pm with the final race going to post at 3.40pm.

The six-race card will feature three Grade 1 contests: Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (1.20pm), Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (1.55pm) and the day’s feature the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at 2.30pm.

12:45pm Ladbrokes Boost Your Odds On Racing Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 2m 4f 110y

Blow Your Wad (IRE) 5 Mr Jerry Hinds & Mr Ashley Head Tom Lacey Stan Sheppard

Es Perfecto (IRE) 8 Mrs Liz Prowting Alan King

General Medrano (IRE) 6 Elite Racing 003 Emma Lavelle

Idalko Bihoue (FR) 5 Anne-Marie & Jamie Shepperd Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies

Kotmask (FR) 5 Aura Racing Gary Moore

Martator (FR) 6 Camilla Norton Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch

Off To A Flyer (IRE) 6 Mrs Mary-Ann Middleton and Mr J P Romans Joe Tizzard Brendan Powell

Outlaw Peter (IRE) 7 The Stewart Family,Dench,Ferguson&Mason Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden

Persian Time 5 McNeill Family & Stone Family Nicky Henderson

Russian Ruler (IRE) 6 Unique Financial Racing Partnership Nicky Henderson

Supreme Gift (IRE) 6 Sir T. Pilkington & Mr R. A. Pilkington Henry Daly

1:20pm Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (In Memory of Nigel Clark) (Grade 1) 3m

Giovinco (IRE) 6 Thunder Holdings Ltd & The Young Ones Lucinda Russell Stephen Mulqueen

Grangeclare West (IRE) 7 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland

Hermes Allen (FR) 6 Sir A Ferguson G Mason J Hales & J Diver Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden

Il Est Francais (FR) 5 Kelvin-Hughes & Haras De St Voir N. George & A. Zetterholm France James Reveley

Imagine (FR) 5 Caldwell Construction Ltd Gordon Elliott Ireland

Kilbeg King (IRE) 8 M.R.Chapman, E.Jones & H.Kingston Anthony Honeyball Sam Twiston-Davies

Klassical Dream (FR) 9 Mrs J Coleman W. P. Mullins Ireland

Marble Sands (FR) 7 DL Adams, JA Adams & G McPherson David Killahena & Graeme McPherson Brendan Powell

Tightenourbelts (IRE) 6 Salvo & Alex Giannini, A Gemmell Emma Lavelle

1:55pm Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m

Black Poppy 7 West Coast Haulage Limited Kerry Lee Liam Harrison

Constitution Hill 6 Mr Michael Buckley Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville

First Street 6 Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford Nicky Henderson

Nemean Lion (GER) 6 Mr Will Roseff Kerry Lee

Rubaud (FR) 5 Chris Giles & Brendan McManus Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden

Sceau Royal (FR) 11 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Alan King

2:30pm Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1) 3m

Allaho (FR) 9 11 10 Cheveley Park Stud W. P. Mullins Ireland

Bravemansgame (FR) 8 11 10 Bryan Drew Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden

Frodon (FR) 11 11 10 Mr P. J. Vogt Paul Nicholls Bryony Frost

Gerri Colombe (FR) 7 11 10 Robcour Gordon Elliott Ireland

Hewick (IRE) 8 11 10 Mr T. J. McDonald John Joseph Hanlon Ireland

Royale Pagaille (FR) 9 11 10 Mrs S. Ricci Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch

Shishkin (IRE) 9 11 10 Mrs J Donnelly Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville

The Real Whacker (IRE) 7 11 10 Neville, Mann, Duffus, Dennis-Price Patrick Neville

3:05pm ladbrokeslive.co.uk To Win Free Music Tickets Maiden Hurdle 2m

Arthurian Fable (IRE) 6 Mrs Perle O’Rourke Richard Bandey

Balhambar (FR) 4 Peter Trainor Michael Bell

Court In The Act (IRE) 4 Heart of the South Racing 132 Harry Derham Paul O’Brien

Dancing In Brazil 4 James & Jean Potter Ltd Alan King

Gentleman’s Relish (IRE) 4 Lindsey Nash & The Famous Five Nicky Henderson

King of The Road (IRE) 4 Rocco’s Rebels Ben Pauling

Kotari (FR) 4 Heart of the South Racing 134 Gary Moore

Moon Chime 5 DL Adams, JA Adams & G McPherson David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Onethreefivenotout (IRE) 7 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls

Sea Invasion (IRE) 5 Mr Richard & Mrs Carol Cheshire Chris Gordon

Seattle King 4 Mr Trevor Johnson Phil McEntee Jack Quinlan

Selwan (IRE) 4 Andy Bell & Fergus Lyons Alan King

Soir de Gala (FR) 4 Mr John P. McManus Paul Nicholls

Support Act (IRE) 5 The M Team Toby Lawes

Thank You Ma’am 4 The Posh Pundit Syndicate Limited Georgina Nicholls

Too Much Hammer (IRE) 4 Mr Jerry Hinds & Mr Ashley Head Tom Lacey Stan Sheppard

Wee Tony (IRE) 5 Mr S Reddin & partner Ben Pauling

3:40pm Ladbrokes Get Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f

Artistic Endeavour 5 Mrs L.Bowtell & Mr P.Bowtell Tim Vaughan

Bear Ghylls (IRE) 8 Bradley Partnership Nicky Martin

Chance A Tune (FR) 8 Mr N. A. Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies

Classic Lord (GER) 5 Mr R Cox & The Pant Wilkin Partnership Tim Vaughan

Emailandy (IRE) 5 The Brooks & Stewart Families Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden

Fable (FR) 8 Owners Group 078 Nicky Henderson

Kitty’s Light 7 R J Bedford & All Stars Sports Racing Christian Williams Jack Tudor

Mahons Glory (IRE) 7 C Nightingale & Hold My Beer Partnership Patrick Neville

Mark of Gold 6 Stevie Fisher & Friends Gary Moore

Mary (IRE) 4 Eventmasters Racing Ian Williams Charlie Todd

Pounding Poet (IRE) 7 Mrs T. P. James Tom Lacey

Will Carver (IRE) 8 Owners Group 064 Nicky Henderson

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