King George VI Chase Runners & Riders
Christmas presents do not come any more fulfilling for racing fans than the start of the King George VI Chase at 3pm on Boxing Day. The 3m Grade 1 is the biggest prize on offer before the Cheltenham Festival in March and the runners and riders are beginning to shape for the 2024 renewal.
Runners and riders to follow
Who are the Top Three Favourites to Win this Year’s King George VI Chase?
Horses must be aged four years old and upwards to contest the King George VI Chase, but it is very rare for horses younger than six to compete. Nevertheless, a decent field is likely to assemble, and these are the three favourites according to the early betting.
Fact To File
One of the outstanding novices from last season, Fact To File would arrive here as Willie Mullins’ best chance of adding a third King George to his ever-expanding trophy cabinet. The seven-year-old is improving at a rate of knots, and should take very high ranking in the staying chase scene this season.
Runner-up in the 2023 Champion Bumper, Mullins sent the JP McManus-owned star straight over fences. Despite a reverse on his chase debut, he then won three on the bounce, culminating in a comfortable 3¾-length victory in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
He is slightly less exposed on ground quicker than soft, but that may well prove no barrier come Boxing Day. Should this be his destination, his smooth travelling and easy jumping technique will prove valuable assets.
Il Est Francais
There has not been a King George winner trained on the continent since 2000, but the hopes of France will be feverish this year due to the likely presence of Il Est Francais. He is their best prospect of winning the race since First Gold’s triumph and looks an even more impressive front runner.
Still only a six-year-old, he had risen to prominence with some top class performances in France. However, few would have foreseen what he achieved in last year’s Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, his first Grade 1 over fences.
He routed a talented field with a breathtaking display of power jumping, galloping his rivals into submission. His margin of victory come the line was 11 lengths, and if he could get into a similar rhythm over the same course and distance, he may take some stopping even by the talented Mullins battalions.
Gaelic Warrior
One of the most erratic jumps performers, but undoubtedly brilliant on his day, Gaelic Warrior, would be another on the ferry across for Willie Mullins if taking his chance. He has won three of his five races over fences, but that does not tell the whole story.
Going right-handed at Punchestown and Limerick, he cruised to two opening successes, but he came unstuck behind Fact To File at Leopardstown when journeying anticlockwise. Then. just to confuse us more, he stormed to victory in the Arkle at Cheltenham going left-handed…only to lose his unbeaten clockwise record at Punchestown to Il Etait Temps.
He is definitely an enigma, but possesses enormous talent. If he arrives at Kempton on song, few may be able to live with him.
King George VI Chase Horse Entries & Selections
The King George attracts a small field, but never does it fail to gain a classy one. Six ran last year, but there have been bigger fields for each-way purposes in recent years too.
Though four-year-olds can enter, it is very rare to see a horse run in the King George so early in their careers.
Which Trainers Have Historically Had the Most Success in the King George VI Chase?
By far the most successful trainer in the King George VI Chase’s history is Paul Nicholls. Handler of the supreme Kauto Star, who won this on no fewer than five occasions, Nicholls has secured 13 wins in the race in all. A 14th will be on his to-do list for the season too.
No other current trainer has more than three King George crowns in their cabinet, with French trainer Francois Doumen and mid-20th century great Fulke Walwyn a long way behind Nicholls in second place with five victories each.
Runners & Riders Past Winners
| 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 |