King George VI Chase 2017 Tips

It’s King George day at Kempton and a classy field of eight look set to go to post for the annual highlight of the first half of the jumps’ season.

King George VI Chase     

The race looks tailor-made for Might Bite who was in the process of putting together one of the best efforts in recent memory by a novice chaser when falling in the Feltham here exactly a year ago. He put things right with a subsequent win in the RSA Chase, but as we saw that day this is a horse with his quirks and there always seems to be some sort of drama whenever he runs.

That doesn’t make him the most convincing of short priced favourites from a punting perspective and there is a chance he could be taken on for the lead here by Bristol De Mai.

When Nigel Twiston-Davies’ grey is good he is very good, including when winning the Betfair Chase last time out. If this race was on heavy ground at Haydock he’d be an odds on favourite, but he still has to prove he can re-produce his best form on quicker tracks and on quicker ground.

A dual for supremacy with Might Bite early on here won’t suit him either, and if the race does fall apart in the closing stages the two we think can pick up the pieces are FOX NORTON and WHISPER.

We highlighted Fox Norton’s chances in this race before his run in the Tingle Creek as we think he has been crying out for a step up in trip. He has the same profile as previous winners like One Man, Best Mate, Kicking King and Edredon Bleu in that he has proven he has the speed and class to win over two miles at the top level. If he can find enough reserves of stamina he looks the one to beat.

Whisper has seen plenty of stablemate Might Bite in the past and hasn’t been able to beat him yet, but he never runs a bad race and put up a massive performance when second in the Hennessy (now the Ladbroke) last time out under a monster weight. That effort again showed his toughness and this race might just fall into his lap.

It is hard to fancy defending champion Thistlecrack based on his comeback effort over hurdles, whilst Tea For Two looks the pick of the outsiders.

For those fancying an unusual bet try a reverse trifecta on Might Bite, Whisper and Fox Norton (or even Fox Norton, Whisper and Two For Two if you fancy trying to land a monster dividend!!).

32 Red Chase   

There are three other races from Kempton on ITV this afternoon including the Christmas Hurdle, which looks like a penalty kick for Buveur DAir. If you want to have a bet here then the only possible angle we can see is a speculative each way bet on Mohaayed if all five run.

However, there are better betting opportunities in the other two contests starting with a Novices Handicap Chase at 1.20pm.

HELLS KITCHEN looks the one to beat here, despite carrying top weight. The step up to two and a half miles should really suit him and he has the scope to be a really decent chaser.

The other one to back is the less fancied of the Nicky Henderson pair, WENYERREADYFREDDIE. He too can improve for going back up in trip on his first start over fences. A recent spin over hurdles should have put him spot on for this.

Ladbrokes are offering 4 places for each-way bets on this race (3 places elsewhere).

Kauto Star Novices’ Chase     

The other race is another Grade 1, with the Feltham Chase now being run as the Kauto Start Novices’ Chase. This is always one of the best staying novices races of the season and on a track that suits front runners we think FOUNTAINS WINDFALL could be hard to peg back for the inform Anthony Honeyball.

Ballyoptic is the main danger.

Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase    

The other race on terrestrial TV is the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby and this looks a weak renewal of a race that has attracted some top class chasers in the past.

We find it hard to recommend any of the eight runners, but if the field stays intact it might be worth chancing DEDIGOUT each way again with three places up for grabs.

SHANTOU FLYER is also interesting now dropped in class and is also worth a small interest.