Polework Clinic with Tracey Fox @Appleton Grange
Tuesday 19 November 2024
The King George VI Chase, scheduled for December 26, 2025, at Kempton Park, remains one of British National Hunt racing’s most anticipated events. As always, the race takes place on Boxing Day, providing fans with a post-Christmas treat with its rich tradition and history. The King George VI Chase is synonymous with elite steeplechasers, showcasing a blend of speed and stamina.
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase that is run over three miles. The race features eighteen fences in total and is open to horses aged four and older. It was first run in 1937 and quickly became the key mid-season target for top chasers. The prize purse attracts top-quality entries every year, and the 2024 edition promises to be no different.
The prestige of the King George VI Chase is rooted in its rich history. The legendary names of horses such as Desert Orchid and Kauto Star, multiple-time winners of the race, have gone down in British racing folklore. Desert Orchid won the race four times between 1986 and 1990, while Kauto Star triumphed five times between 2006 and 2011.
It’s past glories such as these that add extra allure to the 2024 edition, as the competitors all dream of joining the ranks of the legends of the race. Fans and pundits will be keen to see if the 2024 King George VI Chase produces a new superstar, and thanks to King George VI Chase betting, they can make their predictions ahead of the big race.
The 2024 King George VI Chase will feature some of horse racing’s best-known and most prolific steeplechasers. While the field is yet to be confirmed, there’s already talk about who the runners and riders could be and who will be contenders on Boxing Day.
The current joint-favourite in the early betting for the King George VI Chase is Fastorslow, a French horse trained by Martin Brassil and ridden by jockey JJ Slevin. Last seen in May at Punchestown, Fastorslow triumphed over rival Galopin Des Champs, with his chase record now standing at four wins and two seconds from nine runs. His next race is likely the King George VI Chase, and he will be a contender.
The joint-favourite alongside Fastorslow is another French horse in Il Est Francais. Trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm and ridden by James Reveley, this is a horse with a great chase record of four wins from five runs. He made his return in late September at Auteuil, winning by seven lengths after starting as the odds-on favourite. He raced at Kempton last year in the Novice’s Chase and won, which will stand him in good stead this December.
Fact to File is a well-known horse trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Mark Walsh. As a chaser, it’s three wins and a second in four outings, and Mullins will have this J P McManus-trained horse primed for the demands of the King George VI Chase. He was last seen at the Cheltenham Festival in March, where he was triumphant in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
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