King George VI Stakes: Side with the “Man in a Hurry”

Édouard Molinaro’s 1977 film “The Man in a Hurry” (FR: “L’Homme Pressé” – you can presumably see where this is going), featuring Alain Delon and off-screen partner Mireille Darc, is a study in impatience. The lead character, always furiously busy and chasing the next positive outcome, be it in the world of antique dealership, courtship or paternity, just cannot relax and enjoy the moment. Like Paul Morand’s 1941 novel on which the screenplay is based, the film is a commentary on a fast-paced modern world (yes, even in the 1970s) that lends itself to such freneticism: By always trying to save time and hurry things up, the hero of the piece fails to actually live in any meaningful sense.

By contrast, top jumps trainer Venetia Williams has had to cultivate a very patient approach with her own lead character. The equine L’Homme Pressé is a French-bred who started his career under the tutelage of Chantilly-based Mickael Seror. When moved to Britain in the autumn of 2021, this son of Diamond Boy soon took top rank among the novice chasers, racking up five straight wins that included the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2022. He disappointed a month later at Aintree in the Mildmay Novices Chase, beaten 18 lengths by the horse he had beaten comfortably at Cheltenham (Ahoy Senor), but the CV remained outstanding. He was duly put away for the summer with the stable optimistic that he would prove himself to be a serious force as a second-season chaser.

Truncated but eye-catching second season

As it turned out, he would have just two runs in the 2022-2023 season, his second as a staying chaser. His debut came in Newcastle’s Rehearsal Handicap in November, in which he edged home by a length from a horse at the end of other end of the weight scale (received almost two stone). With that prep run successfully negotiated and his stellar novice record there for all to see, he was then backed down to 9/4 favouritism for the King George at Kempton in December 2022, but the greatest prize of the Christmas season in the National Hunt world was not to fall his way. Following a furious tussle with Bravemansgame between the last two fences (the pair well clear), L’Homme Pressé pecked on landing after the last, shooting jockey Charlie Deutsch from the saddle. It seems likely that Paul Nicholls’ horse had his measure by then, but there is no doubting it was a huge performance. Unfortunately, that was it for the season.

Early 2024 – talent still burning bright

It would be more than a year before L’Homme Pressé would see a racetrack again. He returned in January this year, apparently a little ring-rusty after such a long absence but still classy enough to see off Protektorat – who would go on to win the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival – in the Fleur de Lys Chase at Lingfield. He was then second to Pic d’Orhy in the Ascot Chase in February, a farce of a race in which the winner stole multiple lengths at the start and was never headed. But as this race was run on ground plenty fast enough and at a trip that was short of L’Homme Pressé's best, there was nothing to put connections off going for this year’s Gold Cup at Cheltenham, for which he started at 16/1. The bare form of that race shows that he ran fourth, beaten 15-plus lengths. But closer analysis makes it clear it was another classy performance: He was only collared by eventual winner Galopin des Champs at the second last, at that point going as well as any horse but the winner. True, he lost two more places over the last furlong and a half, but this was his first ever attempt at the Gold Cup trip, and he was in no way disgraced.

Back to the King George after “niggles”

Following another eight months away from the racetrack, co-owner Peter Pink announced on 13 November that L’Homme Pressé was in fine fettle – following a few niggles and a light bout of colic – and would be sent straight to Kempton to have a second crack in the race he ran so well in two years ago. The AntePoster is surprised to see Williams’ stable star still at 25/1 to put up another cracking effort in the Boxing Day showpiece. Quite aside from his course and distance effort two years ago, he will go there a fresh horse this year, which is a very appealing angle: Since arriving in Britain from France, his record after a significant break reads 1111. This is quite clearly a horse who can perform to a very high level when fresh. And as a nine-year-old with relatively few miles on the clock, there is every reason to believe this talented chaser is still in his prime.

There are specific risks involved with this wager.  For one thing, this horse has had his injuries (including recent “niggles”), so presumably hasn’t been the easiest to keep fit and healthy. As a further question mark, there is the possibility of him not running at all in the event of the letter “S” not appearing in the going, as some cut is essential to his chances.

Antepost market has holes everywhere you look

But overall, the punter looks to be well compensated for these risks. Quite aside from the price of 25/1 being attractive in and of itself (he is as short as 16/1 elsewhere), the appeal is magnified by a multitude of horses above him in the betting having significant doubts over either their participation or their suitability for this challenge. Specifically:

·         Il Est Francais (3/1): Favourite for this primarily on the basis of his highly impressive novice chase win on King George day last year. However, that form doesn’t impress with hindsight, and he has suffered two heavy defeats in his last six races.  The market appears to have priced in the “potential” over the “actual”. Runs at Auteuil this weekend.

·         Gaelic Warrior (5/1): Will the second-favourite for the two-mile Champion Chase really come over for the three-mile King George? The idea has been floated, but he has been beaten on the two occasions he has raced over 2.5 miles, and it’s not his trainer’s M.O. to send his best to this. Also not the best jumper, so the more fences he has to jump, the bigger the question mark.

·         Galopin des Champs (10/1: As his price suggests, the back-to-back Gold Cup winner will surely be campaigned domestically in Ireland this Christmas, as in previous years.

·         Il Etait Temps (12/1): No confirmation that the King George is his target. Never run over further than 2.5 miles. Strong suspicion that key rivals Ginny’s Destiny and Grey Dawning underperformed as a result of their Cheltenham battle when he waltzed away with Close Brothers Novice Chase at Aintree (was also ridden much more efficiently).

·         Grey Dawning (14/1): No confirmation that the King George is his target. The Betfair Chase is his primary goal as things stand.

·         Banbridge (14/1): Meteorological doubts, will run only if the ground is decent. Has dramatically underperformed (or been withdrawn) when the ground is testing.

·         Envoi Allen (16/1): A “likely” target rather than certain. Ran dreadfully when he last contested the race and may be on decline at the age of 10, despite recent Down Royal win.

·         Protektorat (20/1): Has only once run right-handed in the last five years (beaten favourite at 1/2, jumped left throughout). Deliberately bypassed this race last year.

In summary, the composition of the King George field come December is likely to look very different to the current antepost market. With this in mind, it’s not difficult to see L’Homme Pressé going off at half his current price when they line up at Kempton in six weeks’ time. Appeals on an each-way basis as 5/1 for the place part looks very attractive.

Recommendation: Back L’Homme Pressé to win the King George VI Stakes on 26 December each-way @25/1 with Ladbrokes, Coral or Unibet.