King George VI Chase Betting Odds
The King George VI Chase is a post-Christmas treat for racing fans. Every year, December 26th trumps the day before, with the 3m chasing spectacle throwing up thrills and spills and crowning a mid-season champion of the staying chase scene. The odds are beginning to take shape with the 2024/25 National Hunt season underway; here is how they bet:
Odds to follow
Who are This Year’s King George VI Chase Favourites?
Sometimes there is a clear favourite for the King George even many months out, but so many potential participants from England, Ireland and France make the picture as open as ever before.
Brilliant Cheltenham Festival winner Fact To File is just one of a number of stellar chasers in Willie Mullins’ stable. Given that Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs won at Leopardstown at the same time last year and is better going left-handed, the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase hero is the likelier Mullins entrant in the race.
The Closutton maestro could also choose to send the Rich Ricci-owned Gaelic Warrior to the race. He won the Arkle over 2m at Cheltenham, but is very versatile when it comes to distance, and is far better going right-handed traditionally. A quirky character, he could be joined on the ferry across by Gordon Elliott’s Gerri Colombe, beaten just once against horses not named Galopin Des Champs in his career, and/or two-time Punchestown Gold Cup winner Fastorslow.
The hosts could rely upon former winner Bravemansgame among their ranks; Paul NIcholls’ charge was also runner-up to Hewick a year ago. Meanwhile, there are hints that Jonbon could step up to 3m for Nicky Henderson having won the Melling Chase over 2m4f at Aintree.
However, the most fascinating challenge may instead arise from France. Il Est Francais won in phenomenal style at the meeting last year, claiming the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novice Chase in spectacular fashion over course and distance. A repeat of that display would likely leave racing fans awestruck once again.
Who are This Year’s King George VI Chase Underdogs?
The 2024 King George VI Chase could at this stage contain a very deep field, so even some top class horses in recent seasons may be considered underdogs.
One of those is defending champion Hewick, the horse who cost just E800. He swooped late to conquer the field last season, but while he is a plucky contender for a place once again, the class of his rivals may simply be too great this time around.
Two star British novices from last term were Ginny’s Destiny and Grey Dawning, who filled the first two places from the front in the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham. Both then found the diminutive Il Etait Temps too good, and the grey may be another supplementary chance for Willie Mullins.
Last Year’s King George VI Chase Odds
Hewick scooted in at 12/1 last year, upsetting the favourites in Allaho and Bravemansgame. He was the fourth winner in six years to go off at a double-figure price.
Betting Strategies for the King George VI Chase
The King George VI Chase often attracts numerous punters on one of racing’s biggest days due to the wider public attention. Here are the ways you can bet on the race.
Outright Winner
Finding the winner is the dream of any punter in a big race, and King George usually boasts a small and select line-up of runners. As such, it can sometimes be difficult to bet in any other way, and selecting a horse on the nose for victory can be the most fruitful way of winning.
Each Way
Hewick ended up winning at 12/1 last year, but even had he been beaten into second, plenty of punters would have been rewarded on each-way terms. That was also the case when Royale Pagaille and Frodon were placed in the race at 12/1 and 18/1 in 2022.
Track Biases
Due to its relatively flat and quick nature, Kempton had been seen as a front-runner’s paradise, especially in the King George, with the likes of Silviniaco Conti, Thistlecrack and Might Bite making all in the early stages of the last decade. However, both Tornado Flyer and Hewick benefitted from much more patient tactics within the last three years, so a good judge of pace is more important than going hell for leather from the front.
King George VI Chase Odds of Past 10 Winners
Many surprises have been caused in recent renewals, with no favourite victorious in the King George since 2017. Four horses have gone off at 12/1 or higher since 2018, with only one winner atr shorter than 5/1 in that timespan.
| Year | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
| 2023 | Hewick | Shark Hanlon | Gavin Sheehan | 12/1 |
| 2022 | Bravemansgame | Paul Nicholls | Harry Cobden | 11/4 |
| 2021 | Tornado Flyer | Willie Mullins | Danny Mullins | 28/1 |
| 2020 | Frodon | Paul Nicholls | Bryony Frost | 20/1 |
| 2019 | Clan Des Obeaux | Paul Nicholls | Sam Twiston-Davies | 11/2 |
| 2018 | Clan Des Obeaux | Paul Nicholls | Harry Cobden | 12/1 |
| 2017 | Might Bite | Nicky Henderson | Nico De Boinville | 6/4F |
| 2016 | Thistlecrack | Colin Tizzard | Tom Scudamore | 10/11F |
| 2015 | Cue Card | Colin Tizzard | Paddy Brennan | 9/2 |
| 2014 | Silviniaco Conti | Paul Nicholls | Noel Fehily | 15/8F |