Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
3m Good (Good to Soft in places)
held up towards rear, closed from 4 out, went 9 lengths 2nd 3 out, closed 2 out, challenged last, soon led, stayed on well
led, clear 4th, still 9 lengths ahead 3 out, reduced lead 2 out, in tight to last, soon headed, no impression on winner after
held up in mid-division, headway 4 out, lost 2nd 3 out, 3rd and no impression 2 out
chased clear went clear 4th, outpaced 4 out, 6th 3 out, stayed on flat, went 4th close home, no impression
held up in mid-division, not much room 1st, headway when not fluent 10th, mistake 14th, 5th and no impression from 3 out, went 4th before 2 out, lost 4th close home
held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, outpaced in 7th 3 out, never dangerous
held up in mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway before 7th, outpaced 4 out, well beaten 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd 12th until 3 out, weakened before 2 out
always towards rear, well beaten from 4 out
chased leaders, jumped right 1st, lost place when not fluent 13th, blundered and unseated rider next
towards rear, mistake 1st, headway when not fluent 13th, weakened before 3 out, soon pulled up
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | £39.61 (1, 7) |
| Tricast | £435.20 (1, 7, 9) |
| Win | £8.00 (1) |
| Place | £2.50 (1), £2.20 (7), £2.50 (9) |
| Swinger | £7.30 (1, 7), £9.10 (1, 9), £11.40 (7, 9) |
| Exacta | £38.50 (1, 7) |
| Trifecta | £563.10 (1, 7, 9) |
A quality King George and a quantity one as well, this the largest field since Kauto Star beat 12 opponents for the fourth of his 5 successes in 2009. The openness of the contest was reflected beforehand by some pretty open betting, but 2 came clear at the end and both posted high-class performances. The pace was a bit stop-start, though more start than stop, Il Est Francais turning on the gas after the second until being reined back to a degree at halfway, then kicking on again on the home turn, only the winner able to make inroads thereafter. Banbridge’s time from 3 out (2.5f from home) of 35.6s on objectively borderline good/good to soft going was easily the fastest in this race since the track was reconfigured in 2006 and reflects really well on him given that the runner-up was scarcely stopping. The winner’s final 4f of 55.09s translates to a finishing speed of 107.4% of his average race speed.
BANBRIDGE (c172 here and previously) had served notice that something like this might be forthcoming when giving Energumene plenty to think about, conceding that one 10 lb, over 2m at Cork on his return, but the style of this win, if not the win itself, exceeded expectations. Initially in mid-field, he was held up near the back before creeping closer from 6 out under an ice-cool ride, responding magnificently to run down the leader soon after the last, showing a good deal of toe in the process. This looks high-class form, in a sizeable field in which most ran some sort of a race, and there may be even more to come from him. He is very versatile regarding trip (possibly not ground, as has underperformed on soft/heavy), though it can be doubted whether he will stay still further than this.
IL EST FRANCAIS (c171 here, ? previously) was a magnificent sight out in front under a most enterprising ride and more than confirmed the big impression he had made in winning the Kauto Star 12 months before (in a faster time than Hewick managed in the King George), taking off after the second into a 10 to 12 length lead, reined back a bit for the first half of the final circuit then in full flow again after 6 out and looking difficult to be caught turning in. He stuck to his task, as the sectionals show, but was being overhauled by Banbridge when making a mistake at the last, quickly passed and one paced. This looks to be about his limit in terms of trip.
L’HOMME PRESSE (c162 here, 161 previously) is not quite as good as he once was and found himself in a hotter King George than the one he briefly looked like winning in 2022 so deserves plenty of credit in finishing third, a bit wide in mid-field and jumping left at times, improving on the home turn and one paced thereafter. 3m may suit him better than further.
THE REAL WHACKER (c158 here and previously) rallied well at the business end to get back up into a creditable fourth, wide and prominent until badly tapped for toe after 4 out. He has a fair bit to find in a Cheltenham Gold Cup but the test of that may suit him more than the test of this and he has outside place claims.
SPILLANE’S TOWER (c157 here, 168 previously) would have needed to put up a new personal best to mix it with the first 2 as it happens but was bit lacklustre and below his Punchestown form, held up in mid-field and awkward at a couple before making only a little headway then fading late on and untidy again at the last. He is best not judged on this.
CORBETTS CROSS (c155 here, 167 previously) was below form again though not altogether discredited, making a mistake at the fourth and big at the eighth then unable to improve much from mid-to-rear.
JUNTOS GANAMOS (c149 here, ? previously) had plenty on his plate and ran respectably, though never better than mid-field and making a few mistakes.
BRAVEMANSGAME (c148 here, 159 previously) won this in 2022 but has been on a slow decline in the last 12 months and weakened from prominence late on.
GENERAL EN CHEF (c138 here, ? previously)
ENVOI ALLEN (c0 here, 166 previously) looked to be beginning to feel the pinch when blundering and unseating 5 out.
GREY DAWNING (c0 here, 164 previously) went as if all was not right in the end, recovering from a blunder at the first to race in mid-field but quickly beaten after 4 out.
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