King George VI Stakes – Final Field Guide

NOTE: ALL BOOKMAKERS ARE NOW "NON-RUNNER NO BET" SO THIS RACE NO LONGER CARRIES ANTEPOST RISK

The guide below has been published following final declarations, so this is no longer an antepost market. Prices will change continuously in the runup to the race, and these changes should be taken into account when evaluating the chances of each horse. A five-star recommendation implies an extremely attractively-priced horse, a one-star recommendation would be our idea of an extremely unappealing wager.

SPILLANE’S TOWER (Mangan / Walsh)  |  Last 5 runs: 12-112

Took a while to get to grips with the chasing game but has improved relentlessly in his last few races, scooping Group 1 honours at Fairyhouse (2 miles 4 furlongs, heavy) and Punchestown (3 miles 1 furlong) within the space of a month at the backend of last season. Even more impressive on his seasonal debut at Punchestown in mid-November, travelling strongly off the pace in a stacked John Durkan Stakes before coming with a late run (past Fastorslow and Galopin des Champs) to almost beat novice champion Fact to File. That’s the strongest-looking recent form in this lineup, and not impossible he can improve again here in a race that lacks a standout star, but will have to prove himself on an unknown track on ground that may not be quite as soft as he likes. There’s also a question mark over whether he’s a top-notcher away from Punchestown.

Betting observations It seems clear that connections will run him despite their ground concerns (trainer James Mangan intends to walk the course on the morning of the race), so doesn’t stand out as a bet as favourite on his first race outside of Ireland.

Best fixed odds	Price appeal
4/1	★★★

IL EST FRANCAIS (Zetterholm&George / Reveley)  |  Last 5 runs: 11-51P

Talented French novice chaser was arguably the story of the day at the King George meet at Kempton last December, thrashing the ill-fated Hermes d’Allen in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase with a powerful front-running display (form looks questionable but race was run several seconds faster than the King George itself just an hour later). However, he was tailed off in his next race at Auteuil in April (burst blood vessel) and while he was back on the scoresheet with a facile victory at the same track in September (after which he was made favourite for this race), he was then pulled up in the Prix La Haye Jousselin (Auteuil again, 3 miles 3 furlongs) in mid-November. Co-trainer Noel George has expressed his confidence that his charge is ready to fire again and expects Kempton to provide the ideal platform for another huge performance, but after two blowouts in his last three races he’s a questionable proposition. Ground versatile. Betting observations Pretty short in the market for a horse whose claim essentially rests on one outstanding performance at this track a year ago. The worst possible each-way play given his history of breaking blood vessels.

Best fixed odds	Price appeal
9/2	★★

GREY DAWNING (Skelton / Skelton)  |  Last 5 runs: 21-132 

Among the cream of last year’s novices in the staying chaser division, his finest hour coming when beating Ginny’s Destiny in the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March by two lengths. Not so good a few weeks later behind Il Etait Temps at Aintree in April but his Cheltenham effort may have affected the outcome, as might the race flow (winner sat well off a strong pace for first half of race). Much to like about his seasonal return in the G1 Betfair Chase in November, in which he travelled strongly and jumped well, wresting the lead from track specialist Royale Pagaille at the last fence only to be clawed back by that rival on very testing ground. Now in a tougher race but good chance he will improve for that seasonal debut and still unclear where his ceiling lies. A big player on ground that should be just fine. Betting observations Has drifted following the supplementary entries to a price that looks very appealing.

Best fixed odds	Price appeal
5/1	★★★★

BANBRIDGE (J O’Brien / Townend)  |  Last 5 runs: 101-4U 

Talented chaser of distances of between 2 miles and 2 miles 4 furlongs. This years has won the G2 Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton in January and the G1 William Hill Champion Chase at Punchestown in April, but also boasts a string of other high-class efforts over the years. Well beaten on seasonal debut at Navan in mid-November but trainer was clear that he was not fully wound up for that, and much more impressive earlier this month (Cork, 2 miles and half a furlong) against former two-mile champion chaser Energumene: Banbridge unseated at the last but was only a length behind that rival at the time and was giving away a hefty 10lbs. Has met with some of his heaviest defeats when raced on soft ground, being pulled from the Cheltenham Festival in 2023 due to soft ground and tailed off at the same venue when allowed to run in the Ryanair on soft ground last year. With that in mind, the ground here should be just fine for his first try over three miles, which trainer believes is well within his compass. That said, he’s the only runner with stamina to prove over that trip.

Betting observations Has attracted significant support in the run-up to this race (readily available at double figures just a couple of weeks ago when the field was expected to be small). Now looks rather short in the betting for a horse whose last three runs have all been over a mile shorter. Far from impossible, but not attractive at the price.

Best fixed odds	Price appeal
5/1	★★

CORBETT’S CROSS (E Mullins / O’Connor)  |  Last 5 runs: 2-F132-

Seven-year-old with ten chases on his record since being transferred to Emmet Mullins at the start of 2023, the highlight being his runaway win (by 17 lengths) in the National Hunt novices chase earlier this year at the Cheltenham Festival, followed by a close third in the William Hill Bowl Aintree just a few weeks later (less than three lengths behind Gerri Colombe). Clearly a force in the staying division now, and no disgrace in being beaten on seasonal debut over 2 mile seven furlongs in October (winner Heart’s Wood beaten just a neck at G1 level since), but it’s far from clear this sharp three miles on fastish ground will play to his strengths (all best runs on soft or worse, well beaten in an NH flat race on only race with “G” in the going description). Betting observations Looked a dreadful price at 9/2 favourite just a few weeks ago but has drifted steadily and is now only mildly unappealing. Not impossible to pick up the pieces if they go too hard up front.

Best fixed odds	Price appeal
11/1	★★

L’HOMME PRESSE (Williams / Deutsch)  |  Last 5 runs: 1U-124

The leading novice chaser of the 2021/22 season with a string of five victories that culminated in a comprehensive win in the Brown Advisory Novices Chase at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. Well beaten in his final start that year at Aintree, but that may well have been a race too far. Several big performances since, including when unseating at the last in this race two years ago (on terms with winner Bravemansgame at the time, albeit probably booked for second). Comes into this race fresh, which is an interesting angle (form figures first time out read 1111), and very much a player if there’s enough juice in the ground (best form on softer).

Betting observations Has back class, strong course form, and an outstanding record fresh. Slight doubt about the ground but still a big enough price for each-way players on four-place terms (recommended earlier by The AntePoster each-way at 25/1).

Best fixed odds	Price appeal
11/1	★★★★

ENVOI ALLEN (De Bromhead / Blackmore)  |  Last 5 runs: 32-241

Stalwart of the staying scene after more than four years over the bigger obstacles, having notched up a healthy five G1 wins over that period. Was a dismal last (of those that finished) in this race two years ago, beaten a hefty 50 lengths behind Bravemansgame, but trainer De Bromhead believes there were reasons for that subpar display and retains his optimism that another top performance is possible here. Although he surely cannot be improving at the age of ten he still boasts among the best recent form in this race.  Betting observations Clearly getting on a bit, but surprisingly long in the market for a horse of his back class. Not the daftest play at the prices.

Best fixed odds	Price appeal
16/1	★★★★

BRAVEMANSGAME (Nicholls / Cobden)  |  Last 5 runs: 2-56-23

Top-class staying chaser at his best, recording a number of excellent performances between October 2021 and December 2023. Won this race in 2022 and was runner-up to Hewick last year (might well have won but was very badly hampered by the falling Shishkin). In isolation that spread of form makes him a leading player here, but there have been clear signs of a decline since: only 5th in this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup back in March (beaten 19 lengths) 6th of 7 in the Aintree Bowl a month later (beaten 12 lengths), and has performed to the same sort of level on the form book when beaten on both starts this season (most recently 12 lengths behind Royale Pagaille in the Betfair Chase at Haydock). On that basis he comes here with a lot to prove, but if he can turn the clock back anywhere it’s probably here (form figures of 1-1-2, all at G1 level).

Betting observations Purely on his course form 16/1 looks generous, but given the evidence that he is on the downgrade he doesn't appeal.

Best fixed odds	Price appeal
16/1	★★

JUNTOS GANAMOS (Cottin / de Giles)  |  Last 5 runs: 11U-13 

French-trained and the youngest horse in the field at just five years old, but already has a dozen chases under his belt (all at Auteil), including three wins at G3 level. Two bad mistakes last time out probably exaggerated the distance he was beaten into third in the G1 Prix de Haye Jousselin (second favourite behind the pulled-up Il Est Francais), but on ratings he still has plenty to find with most of the principals here. On the other hand, he represents completely different form lines that are not easy to get a handle on, and he’s young enough to improve again in a new environment if he handles ground this fast (never run on better ground than “very soft”, for all that French going descriptions tend to be more pessimistic). Wild card.

Betting observations

Likely to lead or at least run very prominently, but so will a number of others and he doesn’t appeal as a bet.

Best fixed odds	Price appeal
20/1	★★

THE REAL WHACKER (Neville / Sheehan)  |  Last 5 runs: 2P-5U1 

Excellent novice season in 2022/23, the pick of his form being a narrow win from Gerri Colombe in the Brown Advisory Novices Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Has found life much tougher since, with the pick of last season’s form being a fourth place (of six, beaten 10 lengths) in this race and a runner’s-up spot (behind Capodanno) in the G2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham back in January. Back to his best last time out when winning the Charlie Hall Chase at Peterborough, but the only yardstick holding up that otherwise weak-looking form is the runner-up Bravemansgame, who looks to be on the downgrade now.  Would have to run the race of his life and then some to compete in this company.

Betting observations

A case can be made for a number of outsiders to run well in this race, but the fellow looks the hardest sell.

Best fixed odds	Price appeal
33/1	★

GENERAL EN CHEF (Zetterholm&George / Gelhay)  |  Last 5 runs: 13-134

Decent French stayer with 25 chases under his belt but no wins at the top level. However, he has been in the form of his life this year, most notably when third in the G1 Grand Steeple Chase de Paris in May (3 miles 6 furlongs, very soft) and when winning a G3 at Compiegne (2 miles 6 furlongs, heavy) in October. Brought over to the UK for the first time ever in November for the Coral Gold Cup, in which he finished a respectable fourth off a high weight. In that race he looked to be going best of all three out before losing two places in the last half furlong, so the trainer’s theory that the drop back in trip will suit is not implausible, but still looks out of his depth in this company.

Betting observations

Trainer believes he has a “great each-way chance”, and if he is right 66-1 would be very attractive each-way on four-place terms (80-1 available only for three places). The AntePoster is not as bullish, however, as on the form book he has a mountain to climb.

Best fixed odds	Price appeal
80/1	★★