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2024 King George VI Chase: the runners, the odds, the verdict
It's time for the big one. The Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (2.30) on December 26 is the race of the festive period, and a field stacked with the top staying chasers from both sides of the Irish sea – as well as a strong French challenge – are set to go to post at Kempton.
Can Grey Dawning fly the flag with a victory for Britain? Or will the progressive Spillane's Tower put his older rivals to the sword? It's time to make the turkey butties, crack open the Quality Street and put the kettle on – Christmas really starts here.
Here is the lowdown on all of the King George contenders, including their trainers and jockeys plus big-race odds, in our comprehensive runner-by-runner guide.
2024 King George VI Chase: the full list of horses for Kempton
1 Banbridge
The big question is whether he'll stay (well beaten over hurdles in April 2022 on sole rules attempt at this sort of trip); however, there's stamina in his pedigree and he was strong at the finish to win the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti here (2m4f, good to soft) in January; secured second Grade 1 win in April on the only occasion he wore these cheekpieces, and looked in very good heart at Cork recently (final-fence unseat); considered.
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Jockey: Paul Townend
Forecast odds: 5-1
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2 Bravemansgame
Won this two years ago (soft) and second in the Gold Cup next time; hasn't hit the same heights since and has to produce more than he's managed on his two runs this term, but those were still fair efforts and he ran creditably when second in this 12 months ago (good); each-way chance back here.
Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Jockey: Harry Cobden
Forecast odds: 16-1
3 Corbetts Cross
Bolted up in Grade 2 NH Chase at Cheltenham (3m6f, heavy) in March before good third in Grade 1 Bowl at Aintree (3m1f, soft); highly likely he needed his October comeback run; the hood worn on last three runs is left off; some improvement is probably needed and he's unproven on the forecast good ground, but he's only seven and is in excellent hands; no surprise to see a big run.
Trainer: Emmet Mullins
Jockey: Derek O'Connor
Forecast odds: 9-1
4 Envoi Allen
Runner-up at Cheltenham in March when bidding to win the Ryanair Chase for the second consecutive season, and landed his ninth Grade 1 win in the Champion Chase at Down Royal (3m, good to yielding) last month; this 10yo was tailed off in this race in 2022 but is not ruled out each-way today.
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Jockey: Rachael Blackmore
Forecast odds: 11-1
5 General En Chef
Trained in France (stable also runs Il Est Francais); has done well this year having changed stables and he travelled well and was bang there jumping the final fence in the competitive Coral Gold Cup Handicap at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft) last month, only to fade into fourth; there's a firm suspicion he'll be vulnerable now back up in grade; wears a reapplied hood and first-time cheekpieces.
Trainer: Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm
Jockey: Benjamin Gelhay
Forecast odds: 66-1
6 Grey Dawning
Highly progressive novice chaser last term, winning the Grade 1 Turners at the Cheltenham Festival (2m4f, soft); effective on good to soft, unraced on good, and won here over hurdles on this day in 2022; had a very hard race on his reappearance when creditable second in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock (3m1f, soft) 33 days ago but could play a leading role if that hasn't left its mark.
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Jockey: Harry Skelton
Forecast odds: 4-1
7 Il Est Francais
Trained in France; has flopped at Auteuil on two of his last three starts (pulled up there last month); arrives with something to prove but he won a Grade 3 at Auteuil (2m6f, heavy) in September and could be tough to beat if in the same brilliant form that saw him make all by 11l in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase over C&D (good) on this card 12 months ago.
Trainer: Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm
Jockey: James Reveley
Forecast odds: 9-2
8 Juntos Ganamos
French-trained; has won eight of his 14 races, including Grade 1 4yo chase in May 2023 and three Grade 3s since; this 5yo could have more to offer and his yard had a Grade 2 novice hurdle winner at Cheltenham this month, but a sizeable chunk of improvement is needed in this illustrious field.
Trainer: David Cottin
Jockey: Felix de Giles
Forecast odds: 16-1
9 L'Homme Presse
Jumped to the left in this two years ago (soft; in second when unseating at final fence) and soundly beaten fourth in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham (3m2f, soft) this March when last seen; however, has an excellent record when fresh and landed a quality chase at Lingfield (2m6f, soft) on last season's comeback; won two Grade 1 novice chases in 2022 (good to soft/soft) and not ruled out for yard with tremendous big-race record in recent months.
Trainer: Venetia Williams
Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
Forecast odds: 11-1
10 Spillane's Tower
Completed Grade 1 double in the spring (2m4f/3m1f, heavy/yielding), the second leg in the Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown, and he improved again to finish a close second in a red-hot running of the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial at Punchestown (2m3f, soft) last month; this exciting 6yo could continue to progress now back up in trip; appealing claims.
Trainer: Jimmy Mangan
Jockey: Mark Walsh
Forecast odds: 100-30
11 The Real Whacker
Made all in Grade 1 novice chase at the Cheltenham Festival (3m, soft) in March 2023 and, having drawn a blank last season (10l fourth in this), he returned to winning ways in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby (3m, good) last month; his stable is flying and he could make another bold bid but a career best is needed if he's to follow up now back up in grade.
Trainer: Patrick Neville
Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Forecast odds: 20-1
The verdict: our top 2024 King George VI Chase tip
By Ben Hutton
Il Est Francais could blow all of these away if producing the same brilliant form he showed 12 months ago when easily winning the Grade 1 novice chase on his card. However, his subsequent fortunes have been mixed and he was pulled up at Auteuil last month. Preference is for fellow six-year-old SPILLANE'S TOWER, who won the Grade 1 Champion Novice Chase over 3m1f at Punchestown in April and reappeared with an excellent second there in a thrilling and top-notch running of the John Durkan Memorial. Second choice is Banbridge, who needs to prove his stamina but finished powerfully for a Grade 2 win over 2m4f here in January. Betfair Chase runner-up Grey Dawning could also be a key player if that gruelling race hasn't left its mark.
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Read these next:
'The 7-4 available is massive' - your Christmas racing questions answered
Confirmed runners and riders for the King George VI Chase at Kempton
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