King George VI Chase Tips, Odds and Runners 2025

The King George VI Chase needs little introduction to racing fans. Here are the runners and odds of this year’s runners in the big race, as well as our leading team’s tips.

2025 King George VI Chase Odds

King George VI Chase Tips

Horse racing fans know that the Christmas period brings with it the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day. One of the races whose reach goes far beyond a mere festive treat, the 3m chase, run at Kempton on 26th December every year, is not only a treasured prize, but often has huge bearing on the rest of the National Hunt Season.

Kempton’s flat track makes the King George one of the speedier staying chases of the season. In the past, horses like Desert Orchid and One Man have excelled in the King George without ever enjoying the Gold Cup at Cheltenham nearly as much (even though Dessie still won it!). However, some names appear multiple times on both roll-calls, such as the imperious Arkle and majestic Kauto Star.

This year’s race brings together the best of British and Irish once again, with a fiercely contested prize awaiting them. Here are who our tipsters will be backing alongside their leftover Christmas sandwiches.

Tips to follow

King George VI Chase Favourites Runners & Form

Three horses have emerged to contest favouritism for the King George VI Chase, with one Willie Mullins-trained runner particularly popular with punters.

Gaelic Warrior

Possibly unfairly labelled enigmatic, Gaelic Warrior is nevertheless immensely talented, having now won three on the bounce since stepping up to 2m4f-3m1f. His first win in that stretch saw him land the Bowl at Aintree over a staying trip and a flat 3m going right-handed represents his ideal conditions. A sensational front-running performance in the John Durkan at Punchestown saw him down stablemate Fact To File and is form that puts him at the top of this field.

Jango Baie

Last season’s Arkle winner Jango Baie was outpaced for much of that 2m Grade 1 contest, but it was a measure of his talent and guts that he overcame that to beat a set of talented rivals who have franked the form this season. Nicky Henderson’s charge returned with a cosy victory in the Grade 2 1965 Chase at Ascot over 2m3f and promises to be very well-suited by this test.

Fact To File

Imperious when winning the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival back in March, Fact To File could head to Kempton on Boxing Day and looks a huge player for Willie Mullins. Runner-up in the John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown on his comeback, he’s sure to strip fitter for that run and looks a major contender, if taking his chance here.

King George VI Chase Racecourse 

Apart from abandonments and redevelopments, the King George VI Chase is run every year at Kempton Park in Surrey. The jumps track at the venue is one of the sharpest in jumps racing, meaning the King George often throws up a great clash between those with the stamina to win Gold Cups, and those with the pace to claim Champion Chases.

Competitors must be aged four and upwards, although it is very rare to see runners of the youngest age group. Despite the small six-runner field two years ago in 2023, there was still a spread of ages between seven and 11 in the race.

There is very little by way of pace bias in the race. Front-running can often be a positive style, especially if a horse gets into a jumping rhythm. However, in three of the last four years, the winner has benefitted from a pace collapse by running on powerfully from the back. The patient tactics used aboard Tornado Flyer, Hewick and Banbridge can be a supreme asset.

Betting Strategies for the King George VI Chase

Even with a small field, the King George VI Chase is a fun race to bet on, and sees plenty of once or twice-a-year punters have a wager on Boxing Day.

Each Way

Banbridge rewarded many an each-way backer in 2024 at 7/1, while most bookies would have offered an each-way extra bonus 12 months ago, as it was a big race with a double-figure field. Should ten or more horses be attracted to Kempton in 2025, there could well be as many as four places on offer.

Non Runner No Bet

Many prospective runners do not make it to the start line for the King George, as there are other attractive engagements at a similar time of year. As such, betting with Non Runner No Bet terms, often shortened to NRNB, can ensure you do not lose any money, and have your bet refunded if your horse does not run in the race.

Without the Favourite

No favourite has won the race since 2017, but that was a year in which those who backed the runner-up would have secured a big win in without the favourite markets. Double Shuffle finished second at 50/1, and would have paid out to a decent amount for without the favourite bettors.

Are There Any Specific King George VI Chase Betting Offers?

Betting offers will start to come out for the King George VI Chase around the festive period. Check out the best King George betting offers with GG to claim free bets, each-way extra deals, and more.

King George VI Chase Trends & Historic Data

It is a surprise that no favourite has been victorious in seven years. When Kauto Star was in his pomp he would be a nailed-on certainty for favourite backers in this race, while the market leaders also scored in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017. That is not so much the case anymore, with four of the last six winners going off at 12/1 or bigger.

With the King George often featuring small fields, it can still be worth seeking out value. Similarly, even with the dominance of Irish stables, namely Willie Mullins, in recent seasons, backers could still easily follow Paul Nicholls blind in this contest; he has won it 13 times in all, including four times since 2018.

Mullins, on the other hand, has only won the race twice, with Tornado Flyer in 2021 his first King George hero since Florida Pearl in 2001. The last-named was a nine-year-old when scoring that year, though only one horse that old has won since 2012, that being Cue Card in 2015. Only he and Clan Des Obeaux in 2018 have not been aged seven or eight among the list of winners in that time, while the veterans aged 10 or above to have won this since 1960 have tended to  be greats of the game: Wayward Lad, Desert Orchid, Edredon Bleu and Kauto Star.

Who are This Year’s King George VI Chase Underdogs?

The 2025 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.

Such runners who could make an impact for British trainers include Djelo, who won on his reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase and stays 3m well for Venetia Williams, and Fastorslow, a two-time conqueror of Galopin Des Champs, who made his comeback when third in the John Durkan before a likely tilt at this race.

Last Year’s King George VI Chase Odds

Banbridge landed the 2024 King George VI Chase at 7/1 for Joseph O’Brien, ensuring the run of losing favourites continued.

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.

King George VI Chase Past Winners