Paul Nicholls is saddling 4 runners on this 12 months’s King George VI Chase as he bids to win the race for a outstanding twelfth time. Here are his unique views…
“I can’t split Clan and Cyrname to the point that if you gave me £500 to back one of them I wouldn’t know what to do.”
King George VI Chase
Boxing Day, 15:00
Live on ITV Racing and Racing TV
Clan Des Obeaux – Looks nice and prepared for his hat-trick bid
I’ve received this nice race 11 instances and am hoping to make it 12 on Saturday with 4 contenders which is probably the most I’ve ever run within the King George.
Clan Des Obeaux has received it in type for the previous two years and comes right here with each likelihood of finishing the hat-trick. While it appeared as if he had a tough race in heavy floor when second to Bristol de Mai within the Betfair Chase at Haydock he has come out of it very properly. It was pretty much as good as he has ever run first time up, he appears nice and is certainly able to go.
It’s honest to say Clan had a greater preparation than Cyrname forward of final 12 months’s King George when he beat him by 21 lengths. This time Cyrname has had the higher preparation and the way in which I see it there’s nothing between them going to Kempton.
Cyrname – Had a unbelievable preparation and he is bouncing at house
He wasn’t proper final season in a number of methods after his stirring defeat of Altior of their epic duel at Ascot. Both horses gave their all that day and weren’t the identical afterwards. So this season I was eager to run him on the finish of October to make sure that he had a pleasant break of 9 weeks or so earlier than Kempton. I was thrilled along with his spectacular victory within the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby the place he jumped as straight as an arrow and sprinted up the run in along with his head in his chest.
He has had a unbelievable preparation for the King George in comparison with final 12 months and is a very totally different horse this time. People appear to need to crab Cyrname however I could not be happier with him, he is bouncing at house and he goes to Kempton in high form. He is certain to run a giant race and will definitely not be overwhelmed 21 lengths.
I can’t split Clan and Cyrname to the purpose that for those who gave me £500 to again considered one of them I would not know what to do.
Frodon – Tremendous yard flagship however he has all of it to do right here
He has been a superb flagship for the yard and achieved a profession finest with an outstanding victory at Cheltenham two months in the past. You can put a line by his final run at Aintree as a result of leaping is his best asset and they took out all of the fences within the straight. Although he loves Kempton and appears in good kind I suspect he has all of it to do in opposition to his two steady companions.
Real Steel – Trip needs to be best
I felt he wanted the run at Ascot in November on his debut for us and has improved for it. He ought to benefit from the observe at Kempton and for those who have a look at replays of final 12 months’s Gold Cup he moved up there going in addition to any of them on the run to the final fence earlier than fading out of issues on the hill as his stamina ebbed away. So three miles spherical Kempton needs to be best for Real Steel who might properly run into a spot.