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'He deserves to be in' - Frodon could join Nicholls big guns in King George
Cyrname, Clan Des Obeaux and Frodon could form part of a four-strong team for trainer Paul Nicholls in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Clan Des Obeaux is set to bid for a third victory in the Christmas showpiece, but it is stablemate Cyrname who tops the betting for next month's contest after an effortless weekend victory.
The Nicholls squad was among 24 of the biggest names in jump racing who received entries for the 3m Grade 1 at Christmas alongside the likes of Lostintranslation, Champ, Kemboy, Monalee, The Storyteller and Vinndication.
Despite winning the last two runnings of the King George, Clan Des Obeaux, who is likely to take in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase before heading to Kempton, is overshadowed in the market by the impressive Charlie Hall Chase winner Cyrname, who is 3-1 favourite to turn the tables from last year when he was a distant second.
Frodon and Real Steel complete the potential quartet for Nicholls, with Frodon under consideration for Kempton following a victory under top weight in a handicap chase under Bryony Frost at Cheltenham last month for owner Paul Vogt.
Nicholls said: "I haven't spoken to Paul, the owner, but with his rating he deserves to be in [at Kempton]. There are no definite plans yet but you've got to enter them early and see what happens. He could go for the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree [on December 5] but I haven't discussed that with Paul yet."
Nicholls has saddled a record 11 winners of the King George VI Chase with See More Business, Silviniaco Conti, Clan Des Obeaux and five-time winner Kauto Star taking the prize for the Ditcheat maestro.
Ladbrokes King George VI Chase entries
Cyrname was sent off the 5-4 favourite last year when faltering behind Clan Des Obeaux but the performance the eight-year-old put in at Wetherby, where he confounded pre-race doubts about his ability to stay three miles and show his best racing left-handed, has prompted bookmakers to side with him for King George success.
"Cyrname was beaten by 21 lengths into second by Clan Des Obeaux in the big race last year when favourite but we make the impressive Charlie Hall winner the one to beat again this time and turn that form around," said Coral spokesman Harry Aitkenhead.
"Lostintranslation bounced back from wind surgery to run a huge race in the Gold Cup and is third favourite to win the King George."
Clan Des Obeaux and Lostintranslation are likely to be seen in action at Haydock in the Betfair Chase before tackling the King George, with Bristol De Mai and Santini possible opponents on November 21.
Clan Des Obeaux finished fourth behind Bristol De Mai in the 2018 Betfair Chase before going on to win at Kempton, and Nicholls is upbeat about his prospects at Haydock.
He said: "Physically, Clan seems to have improved on years past. He's working hard and is well on schedule for Haydock.
"Two years ago, we went to the Betfair Chase just to put our toe in the water to see if he could run in Graded races and he ran a really good race. He then went on to win the King George.
"He'll be ready to put up a good performance at Haydock – there's no point going there thinking he's going to need the run. He will be ready and then that is nice timing for him to go to Kempton again on Boxing Day."
Since the 2015-16 season, the Betfair Chase has formed the first leg of the Jockey Club Racecourses £1 million triple crown bonus, but this season the incentive has been shelved as a cost-cutting measure in response to Covid-19.
In previous seasons the Betfair Chase, King George VI Chase and Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup formed the bonus, with only Kauto Star completing the triumvirate of big-race wins in the 2006-07 season, earning a £1m prize from Betfair.
Topofthegame, who features in the Betfair Chase confirmations, and Vinndication, runner-up to Cyrname and a potential runner in the King George, are set to clash in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury on November 28, with Topofthegame 5-1 favourite with the sponsors.
Kim Bailey, trainer of Vinndication, said: "We were pleased with his run last Saturday behind Cyrname and it's good to see he has not gone up too much in the weights. All being well, he will remain on target for the Ladbrokes Trophy at the end of November."
Betfair Chase
Sponsors: 7-4 Lostintranslation, 2 Bristol De Mai, 3 Santini, 6 Clan Des Obeaux, 16 A Plus Tard, 20 Saint Calvados, Topofthegame, 25 Bellshill, 33 Keeper Hill, 50 Lord Du Mesnil.
Ladbrokes King George VI Chase
Coral: 5-2 Cyrname, 3 Clan Des Obeaux, 6 Lostintranslation, 10 Allaho, 12 Champ, Real Steel, 16 Fakir D'Oudairies, Kemboy, Monalee, 20 bar.
Read more if you were interested in this . . .
'It's very surreal' – find out how it felt watching Cyrname in the flesh
Shhh! 'Magnificent' Cyrname silences critics in Charlie Hall demolition
Members' Club: Cyrname at his most serene in Charlie Hall to send out clear King George warning
Everything you need to know to play the £150,000 Tote Ten to Follow
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