Tag: King George VI Chase

Dynaste the value bet in King George VI Chase

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

A top quality field of ten are set to face the starter for the Grade 1 King George VI at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Silviniaco Conti heads the market for Paul Nicholls as he bids to follow up last year’s victory in the Christmas feature event. He came under pressure a long way out that day but the front-running Cue Card finally began to run out of steam in the home straight and Silviniaco Conti powered to a three and a half-length victory.

That victory entitled the gelding to go close in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and he ran a great race to finish fourth, only surrendering the lead on the uphill climb to the finish. He then beat Dynaste at Aintree on ground possibly quicker than he prefers.

He faded tamely first time out this season at Wetherby but was a different proposition in Haydock’s Betfair Chase when gaining his revenge on Menorah by two lengths. He had old rivals Dynaste and Cue Card behind in third and fourth and the pair re-oppose on Boxing Day.

Cue Card did not jump with his usual fluency that day and it would be no surprise to see him bowling along in front at Kempton. Despite being a previous winner of the Betfair Chase, there remains a suspicion that he is not a true three-miler and could be vulnerable in the closing stages.

Dynaste has looked top class when winning at Aintree last year and again at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He ran inexplicably badly in this race a year ago after a similar preparation and there seems no reason why he should not be involved in the finish. He was brilliant when winning over course and distance as a novice and travels well in his races. This could finally be his big day and Tom Scudamore will look to creep into contention as they turn for home.

Al Ferof put up an impressive performance to win the Amlin Chase at Ascot last month. He finished a weary third here last year and certainly did not get home over three miles in heavy ground at Haydock last season. Connections will be hoping that conditions do not deteriorate in order to give him a chance of seeing out the trip.

Champagne Fever was narrowly beaten by Western Warhorse at Cheltenham in March and tackles three miles for the first time here. He won comfortably over two and a half miles in November but this will be the first time he has taken on such a strong field of experienced chasers.

Menorah has run two excellent races for Philip Hobbs but may struggle against race-fit rivals here while Johns Spirit is unproven over three miles.

Dynaste @8-1 William Hill

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3

Kempton Thursday Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Boxing Day racing centres around the King George meeting at Kempton. The card also features an intriguing clash between leading Champion Hurdle hopes My Tent Or Yours and The New One. Both horses are better held up, particularly the latter who has displayed a tendency to pull up in front on a couple of occasions.

With a small field, this could become a game of cat-and-mouse with both horses being asked to quicken up between the last two flights. A couple of seasons ago Rock On Ruby lost out in an almost identical duel against Binocular but reversed the placings at Cheltenham. It is probably best to sit this one out as it is really the toss of a coin, as the betting suggests.

Punters could get off to a good start with Dubai Prince in the opener at 12.50. This horse was a Group 3 winner on the flat for Godolphin when taking York’s Strensall Stakes from Side Glance. The runner-up went on to lift a big prize in Australia and he looked to have carried that class over to the jumps when bolting up at Leicester.

Admittedly the opposition did not amount to much and they crawled early on, but he jumped better the faster they went and did not need to be asked a question. He is more likely to start close to even money than the 15-8 on offer early.

My second selection is Urbain De Sivola for Paul Nicholls and Daryl Jacob. He is running in a handicap chase following a fine seasonal debut in a competitive hurdle at Sandown. He was second to Deep Trouble who almost unseated his rider at the last.

Usually I would be hesitant about backing hurdles form over fences but this is a French-bred and they seem to be able to jump a fence from the age of three! It seems safe to assume that he has been well schooled and could be on a winning mark.

It looks like a poor turnout for the Feltham Novices’ Chase (now named after Kauto Star). Nicholls and Jacob could strike again with Just A Par but he is likely to be odds-on and was not entirely convincing when winning at Newbury. He needed a reminder or two on the first circuit and his rivals contributed to their own downfall with some erratic jumping.

Dubai Prince at 15-8 Coral

Urbain De Sivola at 7-2 William Hill