The entries for the 2024 edition of the King George VI Chase were announced on Tuesday, with 24 potential runners for Boxing Day’s annual treat. They include the previous two winners of the race, with both Bravemansgame and Hewick among these entries, although neither of them are close to battling for favouritism.
That honour belongs to two horses challenging from nations either side of the UK. For France, Il Est Francais will seek to back up the enormous impression he left when winning the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase over Kempton’s 3m course and distance last season, while Gaelic Warrior could spearhead the challenge for Willie Mullins from Ireland. He has a penchant for his best performances coming right-handed.
Dual Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs is also in the mix, while Mullins could also rely on Blue Lord, Capodanno, Ferny Hollow, Grangeclare West, Il Etait Temps and Minella Cocooner, thereby ensuring his runners make up one third of the initial prospective participants.
Home hopes look thin on the ground according to the bookies, although Grey Dawning is fourth on the list at current betting. The Turners Novices’ Chase winner would be the first winner of the King George for Dan Skelton, as may Protektorat if taking up his option, while 13-time King George winning trainer Paul Nicholls has entered Ginny’s Destiny as well as Bravemansgame.
Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm have also added General En Chef to the race for France, with Scotland’s Ahoy Senor adding to the clash of nations. However, it is all about Ireland’s potential challenge overall: Joseph O’Brien has entered Banbridge, Henry De Bromhead has put forward Envoi Allen and Jungle Boogie, Emmet Mullins Corbetts Cross, and Gordon Elliott Found A Fifty.
The only other English-trained runners are L’Homme Presse, who would have been runner-up in 2022 but for falling at the last, stablemate and defending Betfair Chase champion Royale Pagaille, and former Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Ga Law for Jamie Snowden.
King George VI Chase 2024 Entries
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Ahoy Senor | Lucinda Russell |
| 2 | Banbridge | Joseph O’Brien |
| 3 | Blue Lord | Willie Mullins |
| 4 | Bravemansgame | Paul Nicholls |
| 5 | Capodanno | Willie Mullins |
| 6 | Corbetts Cross | Emmet Mullins |
| 7 | Envoi Allen | Henry De Bromhead |
| 8 | Ferny Hollow | Willie Mullins |
| 9 | Found A Fifty | Gordon Elliott |
| 10 | Gaelic Warrior | Willie Mullins |
| 11 | Ga Law | Jamie Snowden |
| 12 | Galopin Des Champs | Willie Mullins |
| 13 | General En Chef | Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm |
| 14 | Ginny’s Destiny | Paul Nicholls |
| 15 | Grangeclare West | Willie Mullins |
| 16 | Grey Dawning | Dan Skelton |
| 17 | Hewick | Shark Hanlon |
| 18 | Il Est Francais | Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm |
| 19 | Il Etait Temps | Willie Mullins |
| 20 | Jungle Boogie | Henry De Bromhead |
| 21 | L’Homme Presse | Venetia Williams |
| 22 | Minella Cocooner | Willie Mullins |
| 23 | Protektorat | Dan Skelton |
| 24 | Royale Pagaille | Venetia Williams |