King George VI Chase 2012

[Old Vic]

Sir Des runs in the Lexus. Some strange market movement last night.

[Hoof]

Going to wait and see how they get jocked up now ...I think Giant Bolster might be a bit of ew value.

[mayo]

CHAMPION jockey Tony McCoy will partner The Giant Bolster for the first time in Wednesday's William Hill King George VI Chase after regular partner Tom Scudamore was confirmed to ride Grands Crus.

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King George betting*
Both horses feature among a final field of ten for the Christmas showpiece revealed on Sunday, headed by former winner Long Run.
David Pipe, trainer of Grands Crus, left a decision on his participation until the last moment, with the seven-year-old recently undergoing a wind operation following a disappointing run at Cheltenham last month.

However, with the grey pleasing in his recent work, Pipe has given him the go-ahead for the Grade 1 chase, in the process opening the door for McCoy to ride The Giant Bolster.

Riverside Theatre, Kauto Stone, Cue Card, For Non Stop, Captain Chris, Champion Court and Junior complete the line-up.

The sponsors make Long Run their 7-4 favourite to regain his King George crown, with Cue Card next best in the market at 5-1.

[Cooper]

Simon Holt

A reproduction of his staying-on second to a revitalised Kauto Star last year would probably be good enough for Long Run to claim a second King George, and this is a race which is renowned historically for multiple winners.

Although successful only once since his Gold Cup defeat of Denman and Kauto Star, the Nicky Henderson-trained French import has maintained a very high level of form and should improve for his reappearance second behind Silviniaco Conti (The Giant Bolster third) in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

As has been the case on several occasions, Long Run looked a bit one-paced that day and I would like to see Sam Waley Cohen be very positive this time; against rivals who either have something to find on the form book or who are not guaranteed to stay, he holds all the aces and a front-running role may also improve the fluency of Long Run's jumping.

People tend to think that Kempton is an easy track but the three miles in this race always takes plenty of getting as the runners tend to go a stride faster in the early stages. You really need to get home and, both Cue Card and Riverside Theatre - the two horses nearest to Long Run in the betting - are not absolutely certain to see out every yard.

There is little doubt that Cue Card is a hugely talented horse; his second to Sprinter Sacre in the Arkle at Cheltenham in March was a super effort and he bolted up in the Haldon Gold Cup on his reappearance. But even his trainer Colin Tizzard is not certain he will stay here and his supporters are taking a chance.

My impression of Cue Card has always been of a horse with plenty of speed and this is his first attempt at three miles.

Riverside Theatre has 12 lengths to make up on Long Run on their meeting in this race two seasons ago and has also never won at three miles. That said, he has an excellent course record (four wins from five visits) and his Ryanair Chase win last March proves he is top class.

Lack of a recent run should not be a concern for the favourite's stable-companion who is best when fresh but he does need to put a well below-par effort at Aintree in April behind him; one assumes his Cheltenham exertions had taken their toll.

Others with questions to answer are Captain Chris, a weak-finishing third last year, Grands Crus who returns to the track after a wind operation and Kauto Star's half brother Kauto Stone who is 10lb adrift of Long Run on official ratings.

But one who looks a real danger is The Giant Bolster aboard whom Tony McCoy is an eyecatching booking. Just ahead of Long Run when second to Synchronised in the Gold Cup, and less than five lengths behind him in the Betfair Chase on his reappearance, there is little doubt that David Bridgwater's progressive chaser will stay and act in the ground.

However, with the exception of one novice hurdle win at Market Rasen, the seven-year-old has done all his racing left handed (Kempton goes the other way) and Cheltenham seems to be the course which truly inspires him.

So I take Long Run to win his second King George; he has the stamina to win and the form to win - and this is the day when we really find out if he's the horse he was in early 2011.

[Cooper]

Horse by Horse

Captain Chris

Really consistent performer over the years and returned this season with a victory on desperate ground at Ascot where favourite Finian's Rainbow flopped. He finished third in this 12 months ago behind Kauto Star and has 17 lengths to make up on Long Run. He runs as though three miles will suit but stamina remains a question mark, particularly after this month's deluge.

Champion Court

Flagbearer for an up-and-coming yard and impressed with his tough attitude when switched to fences last season. Looked to be best suited to a stiff test at two and half miles but three miles should be well within his compass this term. Open to further improvement but still has a fair bit to find at this heady level.

Cue Card

Always held in the highest regard by connections and has mixed it successfully at the top level throughout his career. Got to within seven lengths of the mighty Sprinter Sacre in the Arkle last season and then romped away with the Haldon Gold Cup Chase at Exeter in November. He races with bags of enthusiasm and although this looks an obvious next step, you have to wonder if three miles is going to be his game.

For Non Stop

Good quality performer between two and two and half miles but has some ground to make up on Champion Court and Cue Card on the form book. Has a pull at the weights with Captain Chris on their recent Ascot meeting but is another who still has plenty to prove over this distance.

Grands Crus

Transferred his high-class hurdles form to fences last season and was a hugely impressive winner of the Feltham over course and distance on this card 12 months ago. The bubble burst at Cheltenham in the RSA Chase when he was not 100 per cent and has since had a breathing operation after being pulled up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. No question he has something to prove now but could well get involved if on his game.

Junior

Stamina is his forte and he proved that once again with a gutsy success on heavy ground at Newcastle earlier this month. He was a late addition to the field by connections and may be able to pick his way through a few of the potential non stayers at the business end.

Kauto Stone

Kauto Star's half-brother flys the flag this year for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh and he showed the benefit of having a wind problem treated over the summer with victory on his comeback at Down Royal. He can race quite freely but looked to stay three miles well that day and has been kept fresh for this event.

Long Run

Impressive winner of this race and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the season before last but never quite able to hit those heights since. Was beaten again by Silviniaco Conti in the Betfair Chase last month and you just wonder whether he is going to scale the heights again. On the flip side, he is still just seven and his very best form still puts him well clear in this field if he can come close to recapturing it. With the likes of Al Ferof and Sir Des Champs not taking part in the race he very much looks the one to beat - although the odds reflect that.

Riverside Theatre

Stablemate of Long Run and was runner-up to that rival in this race two seasons ago when comfortably put in his place by 12 lengths. Stuck his head down well to win the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March and although he has to conclusively prove he has the stamina for three miles, it is not beyond the realms of possibility. Nicky Henderson revealed that he worked superbly with Grandouet in a gallop at Kempton recently and should turn up with all guns blazing as he goes exceptionally well after a break.

The Giant Bolster

Trainer David Bridgwater has always thought the world of him and he outran his 50/1 price to finish second in last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup. Long Run was behind him that day but the form was reversed in the recent Betfair Chase although he ran a very creditable race in third. No issues at all with stamina, AP McCoy booked for the ride and not without a shot.

Conclusion:

Long Run remains the one to beat but it could be worth chancing stablemate Riverside Theatre will get the trip despite the testing conditions. He has always done best when fresh and reports of his homework suggest is raring to go. The Giant Bolster does not quite get the plaudits he deserves and he can make the frame for the champion jockey.

[Statto]

The William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton is the big race on Boxing day, the busiest racing day of the year. It has been won by many of the greatest steeplechasers in history and in the last decade champions such as Best Mate, Kicking King and Kauto Star have taken it. Last year Kauto Star gained his fifth success in the race, denying Long Run back to back successes but Long Run will be back to try to regain the Kempton showpiece against a strong bunch of second-season chasers.

Below we take a look at the trends for the last 10 years:

Age (for age purposes we will assume the race run in 2010-11 season was run in 2010)
5yo: 1-0-2
6yo: 2-4-13
7yo: 3-5-21
8yo: 1-3-25
9yo: 1-2-18
10yo: 0-4-11
11yo+: 2-0-9
Horses aged 5 to 7 have a combined record of 6-9-36.
Compare that to horses aged 8 or older of 4-9-63.
Kauto Star has accounted for 3 of the 4 winners aged 8+.

Breeding
French bred: 7-9-42
Irish bred: 3-6-41
GB bred: 0-3-13
German bred: 0-0-3
French-bred horses have won last 6 and have accounted for 16 of 28 places in last 10 runnings from approximately 42.4% of total runners.

Recent/Past Form
8 of 10 winners won on their last completed start (2 exceptions placed)
8 of 10 winners (last 6) posted an RPR of 170+ last time
9 of 10 winners had run in the past 40 days
10 of 10 winners had run 1 to 3 times that season
8 of 10 winners had won over 3M+ (1 exception was 2nd in grade 1 on only start over 3M+)
8 of 10 winners had run in 8 to 22 chases
10 of 10 winners had won 2 or more grade 1 chases
7 of 10 winners had finished 1st or 2nd over this CD (2 others having first course start)

Other Races
Previous year’s winner: 40111132 (4-2-8)
Highest placed finisher from previous King George: 4501411132 (4-2-10)
Record of horses that finished in first 3 in Cheltenham Gold Cup: 11311121 (6-1-8)
Betfair Chase winner: P11711 (4-0-6)
Haldon Gold Cup winner (Cue Card): 132 (1-2-3)
Denman Chase winner (Long Run): 3F12 (1-2-4)
Ascot Chase winner (Riverside Theatre): 21 (1-1-2)
Old Roan Chase winner (For Non Stop): 31 (1-1-2)
Jnwine.com Champion Chase winner (Kauto Stone): P13 (1-1-3)
Gowran Champion Chase winner (Sizing Europe): 1 (1-0-1)
Feltham Novice Chase winner (Grands Crus): P61 (1-0-3)
Desert Orchid Chase winner (Finian’s Rainbow): 3 (0-1-1)
Scilly Isles Novice Chase winner (For Non Stop): 2 (0-1-1)
Henry VIII Novice Chase winner (Al Ferof): 3 (0-1-1)
Champion Chase winner (Finian’s Rainbow): P3 (0-1-2)
Paddy Power Gold Cup winner (Al Ferof): 426 (0-1-3)
Melling Chase winner (Finian’s Rainbow): 53PP (0-1-4)
Amlin1965 Chase winner (Captain Chris): 6P (0-0-2)
Racing Post Chase winner (Nacarat): 64 (0-0-2)
Pendil Novice Chase winner (Cristal Bonus): PP3 (0-0-3)
Ryanair Chase winner (Riverside Theatre): PP5P (0-0-4)
6 of 10 winners ran in the previous year’s race, finishing 211113
6 of 10 winners (6 of last 7) ran in the Betfair Chase, finishing 311U11
2 of 10 winners ran in the JNWine Champion Chase, finishing 21
2 of 10 winners ran in the Punchestown Gold Cup, finishing 1P
10 of 10 winners ran in a grade 1 chase at previous season’s Cheltenham Festival
6 of 10 winners ran in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, finishing 111213
2 of 2 second season chasers to win this had placed in Arkle or RSA

Trainers
Paul Nicholls (5-2-13) has won 5 of the last 6 renewals with Kauto Star.
Nicky Henderson (1-5-11) saddled the first 2 home in 2010 and had Long Run finish 2nd last year. He has seen over half his 11 representatives make the frame.
Jonjo O’Neill (0-2-5) & David Pipe (0-2-8) have both saddled the runner-up twice since 2002.

Price
The last 8 winners came from first 2 in the betting.
Edredon Bleu at 25/1 in 2003 has been only winner to be sent off greater than 9/2 since 2002.
7 of 10 favourites have won and backing favourites would have left you with a level stakes profit of 5.56.

Conclusion:
Based on trends from the past 10 years you are looking for a horse:
• Aged 6 or 7
• Has run 1 to 3 times this season
• Won last time out in the past 40 days (posting RPR of 170+)
• Won over 3M+
• Won 2 or more Grade 1 chases
• Previously finished 1st or 2nd over this CD
• Finished in first 3 in last season’s King George and/or Gold Cup
• Finished in first 3 in the Betfair Chase
• Trained by Paul Nicholls or Nicky Henderson
• From first 2 in the betting (priced no bigger than 8/1)

[Statto]

Barry G

Nicky goes into this meeting very well-armed for the race that every jump fan is going to be watching, the William Hill King George VI Chase, with Long Run and my usual partner, RIVERSIDE THEATRE (3.10).

I’m very keen on my horse for several reasons but the main one is that I’m sure he is a really good horse fresh – and that’s what he’ll be on his seasonal debut.

Also, he has very good form on soft ground, is extremely tough and I’m sure he stays this trip well now.

He was second to Long Run in this two seasons ago and he’s a better horse now – a view that is shared by the handicapper.

Take the stamina factor first, the way he stayed up the hill at Cheltenham to win the Ryanair Chase in March over 2m 5f you wouldn’t be too concerned about another three furlongs around a level track like Kempton.

As for the freshness factor, you’d have to say that he travelled sweeter still on his seasonal debut in the Betfair Ascot Chase over 2m 6f when he won easily by three lengths - a race he won the previous year on soft ground, which demonstrates the surface on Wednesday should not be an issue.

I haven’t ridden him in any work so far this season but I’ve been getting great reports and I popped him over some fences in a school last Friday morning and he went really well.

Long Run is still the one we all have to beat and he’s been catching my eye when I’ve seen him schooling. He’s also been working well and I was involved in one piece with him when I rode Hadrian’s Approach on Saturday morning and both went well.

There’s no doubt that Long Run is in good shape and as a previous winner must be given respect.

I have regard for The Giant Bolster, who finished four and a half lengths behind him when they were second and third at Haydock last time out. I’d be pretty sure that one will be fitter this time.

And don’t forget Kauto – Stone not Star – who handled soft ground well when he won at Down Royal in early November and looked very happy going three miles for the first time.

This is set up to be a really fine race for Christmas. I’ve won it twice before with Kicking King and I wouldn’t be swopping my ride going for the treble.

[mayo]

Ruby

I’m hoping to win the King George at Kempton on Wednesday aboard Kauto Stone, but the more I’ve looked at the race the more convinced I’ve become that Long Run is going to be hard to beat.

Long Run is already a winner of a King George and a Cheltenham Gold Cup and, quite honestly, that form is far in advance of what any other horse brings to the table. Indeed, in the absence of Kauto Star, there is no doubt Long Run would have two King George’s to his credit.

Nicky Henderson’s horse made a fine comeback at Haydock, when I beat him on Silviniaco Conti. He will love the ground and is certain to stay, which is more than can be said for most of the opposition.

Kauto Stone is a half-brother to Kauto Star, but he’s no Kauto Star. He proved he stays three miles when winning a Grade 1 on his reappearance at Down Royal, but realistically needs to step up plenty on that to win now.

I have always been very impressed by Cue Card and regard him as a horse on a par with Al Ferof, which I would have ridden in the King George, if he hadn’t been ruled out by injury for the season.

He was brilliant when winning the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, but you would have to doubt his ability to stay the trip. To my eyes he’s a fast horse and that final half a mile, in testing conditions, will surely prove a bridge too far.

Riverside Theatre got one of the best rides you will ever see from Barry Geraghty when landing the Ryanair at Cheltenham.

Of course, he’s a decent horse, but I just don’t think is as good as Barry made him look on that occasion.

We could talk about others in the race, but again they all seem to have genuine doubts regarding their stamina.

I’ll be giving it my best shot on Kauto Stone, but will be pleasantly surprised should we finish ahead of Long Run.

[mayo]

AP

Long Run will start favourite and has easily the best recent form, but of the other horses in the race The Giant Bolster’s form is unquestionably the closest to Long Run’s. Indeed he even finished three quarters of a length in front of him when second in the Gold Cup in March, when I was lucky enough to win the race on Synchronised.

But for getting tired going to the last fence in the Betfair Chase on his only outing since, The Giant Bolster might well have been closer to Long Run than the official margin of four and a half lengths. I honestly do not think it is over-optimistic to hope that The Giant Bolster, from a small yard, might improve the most of the pair.

Both horses get further than three miles and while this race often suits a horse with the speed to win over shorter trips – Edredon Bleu was essentially a two-miler – the heavy ground conditions this year should ensure that it is a test of stamina.

There are question marks in my mind about several of the others. Will Cue Card get the trip? How will Grands Crus go after his wind operation? Kauto Stone needs to improve a bit on his form through First Lieutenant, while Riverside Theatre needs to be a bit sharper with his jumping than he was when winning the Ryanair at Cheltenham last March. Captain Chris did not mind the heavy ground at Ascot, but he has to go a lot further in it this time. The tougher the race, the better the chance my horse has.

[Statto]

3.10 – William Hill King George VI Chase Grade 1 (CLASS 1) (4yo+) Winner £113,900 CH4 3m

10/10 – Won by a French (7) or Irish bred (3) horse
10/10 – Won a Grade One chase previously
9/10 – Favourites placed
9/10 – Placed in the top three last time out
9/10 – Raced within the last 5 weeks
8/10 – Won over 3m or further (fences) previously
8/10 – Officially rated 169 or higher
7/10 – Won their last race
7/10 – Won over fences at Kempton before
7/10 – Won by a horse aged 8 or younger
6/10 – Aged 6 or 7 years-old
5/10 – Ridden by Ruby Walsh
5/10 – Trained by Paul Nicholls
5/10 – Raced in that season’s Betfair Chase (Haydock)
2/10 – Won by an Irish-based stable
2/10 – Ridden by Barry Geraghty
The average winning SP in the last 10 years is 4/1

[Hoof]

Grands Crus is pricewised.

[Cooper]

Donn

I have gradually and reluctantly come to the unstable conclusion that – now that Al Ferof is on the easy list, and Sizing Europe and Sir Des Champs have decided to spend Christmas at home – on ground that will probably be soft to heavy, shallow in places, nothing is going to win this year’s King George VI Chase.

You could back Long Run at 2/1, he stays the trip, handles the ground and runs well at the track, but do you really want to take 2/1 about a horse who has performed below expectation-levels in each of his five runs since he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2011?

Cue Card has the stamina worry that I over-looked for Remittance Man and Travado and Racing Demon and Captain Chris, and probably a good few others that I have managed to forget. Easy three miles? Yeah right. Cue Card is bred to stay and he races like he might, but he still has to do it, and that is a major worry in a King George, especially on the ground that they are going to have on Wednesday.

Riverside Theatre was second to Long Run in the race two years ago, but there is also a slight stamina concern about him. He has never won over three miles or more, he ran in the Arkle as a novice, not in the RSA Chase, and he ran in the Ryanair Chase last season, not the Gold Cup. On top of that, he hasn’t run since last April. He does go well fresh, but ideally he would have had a run this term, like he did before the 2010 renewal (run in 2011).

Kauto Stone is interesting, he is progressive, he goes well right-handed, he has won over the trip, he handles soft ground well and he will have Ruby Walsh for assistance, but he has a massive step up to take in terms of class if he is to win a King George. He was beaten all-ends-up by Sizing Europe in last season’s Tingle Creek, he was disappointing behind Riverside Theatre in last season’s Ascot Chase, and he wasn’t in the same parish as Finian’s Rainbow in last season’s Melling Chase.

He did look good in winning the JNwine.com Champion Chase on his only run this term to date, but that race lacked depth this year, and the runner-up, First Lieutenant, is probably better going the other way around, and on better ground than he got that day. As well as that, if Al Ferof had been fit and well, Ruby Walsh would have ridden him, and it is difficult to think that Paul Nicholls’s second best King George horse (or third best if you count Silviniaco Conti) would be able to beat the best of the rest.

Grands Crus would have a massive chance if the Grands Crus who won the Feltham Chase last year turned up. Form doesn’t get any stronger these days than a defeat of Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth in a time that was faster than the time of the King George run on the same day.

It is possible that David Pipe’s horse will be as good on Wednesday as he was last year, but it is also possible that he won’t, given that he has disappointed on both of his runs since. A wind operation since the Paddy Power Gold Cup might have fixed him, and there is no doubting his talent when he is zinging, but it has been a rush to get him ready on time, and that is not ideal.

The Giant Bolster has been well-backed since it was confirmed that AP McCoy will ride him, he will go on the ground and he stays, but surely he is a better horse at Cheltenham than he is anywhere else, and you never would have thought that he would have been as short as 8/1 or 9/1 for a King George.

Captain Chris is very happy going right-handed, and he handled soft ground well at Ascot last time, but he has yet to fulfill his immense potential, he is better on good ground than he is on soft, and he still has to prove that he truly stays three miles. Junior is surely not good enough and, while Champion Court and For Non Stop are interesting outsiders, both have a fair bit to find, and both have to prove their stamina.

Happy Christmas.

[JohnC]

Mordin's take on it

A SUB PAR KING GEORGE

We've been spoiled with some fantastic renewals of the King George in recent years thanks to the all time great Kauto Star. But with the champion retired it was back to earth with a bump for this year's race.

JUNIOR (32) and CHAMPION COURT (35) did battle up front at a pace that was unsustainable in the heavy ground. They took the field along at a terrific clip, reaching the sixth last 5.5 seconds sooner than the novices did in the Feltham. This caused the field to tire badly. As a result the final time, as measured from the first fence, was 5.3 seconds slower than Dynaste clocked in the Feltham. To make sense of the time I've made separate speed ratings for the race to six out and to the finish and added them together. This produces a rating the same as Dynaste achieved which I think is fair.

LONG RUN (41) had a long hard struggle to get back up and beat Captain Chris in a slow motion finish and will surely need quite a while to recover from this effort. The speed ratings he's been earning from me have been going steadily downwards ever since he took the King George two years ago. This run continued that trend, so I doubt we'll be seeing him win the Gold Cup again.

Runner up CAPTAIN CHRIS (41) is only a bit better than a borderline Grade 1 horse on my ratings. But this run opened up new possibilities for him as it proved he stays three miles.

Captain Chris does seem to need to go right handed these days. But he's pretty darned useful when he does. If he hadn't tipped up at the last in one race and a couple of very close finishes had gone his way he'd have won eight of the last nine times he's run on right handed tracks. His future programme pretty much writes itself, with the Ascot Chase and Punchestown Gold Cup being his obvious targets.

Due to the heavy ground and the way the pace collapsed I'm reluctant to draw the obvious conclusion that the GRANDS CRUS (36) and CUE CARD (35) proved they do not stay three miles with their efforts here. Both moved well then tired late. But in a properly run race on fast ground I suspect both can get the distance.

THE GIANT BOLSTER ran an absolute clunker and had to be pulled up. This does seem to suggest he really does need breaks between his runs. All his four wins to date have come off breaks of 45 days or more.

Similarly the dreadful run of KAUTO STONE, who also had to be pulled up, continues the obvious seasonal pattern in his form.

So far Kauto Stone has won eight of the twelve times he's run between the second week of May and the first week of November. Outside of this period he's blanked in eleven tries, running well below his best on several occasions.

[Yeehaa]

More brain food from the brillant Donn Mc Clean

It is often useful to compare the time of the King George VI Chase, the Grade 1 three-mile chase for championship steeplechasers run at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day, with the time of the Feltham Chase, the Grade 1 three-mile chase for novice steeplechasers run over the same course and distance earlier on the card.

It is also useful to compare the splits as well as the absolute time. Last year they told us that the novices Grands Crus, Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth might be very good, and look how that one worked out.

One small caveat this year. There was rain between the running of the Feltham Chase and the running of the King George, which means that the ground may have been slightly slower for the King George. But only slightly, probably not by as much as many people think. The Racing Post time experts have decided not to make any time alteration for a change in ground conditions, and that’s good enough for me.

The official time tells us that Dynaste covered Kempton’s three miles in a time that was 3.5secs faster than the time that Long Run clocked. However, if you record the time from the moment that the two horses land over the first fence in their respective races – often a good policy, as that method eliminates the variable that is the time taken to cross the starting line – then Dynaste was 5.5secs faster. Admittedly it’s a hand-time, so there is margin for error, but it is still significant.

You can break Kempton Park into three sections, using the first fence on each part of the triangular course as the three dividing lines. In a three-mile chase, the horses cover almost two circuits, which means that they race along each side of the ‘triangle’ twice. Six sections.

Watching the race live, the very early pace in the Feltham looked decidedly pedestrian, but the splits tell us that it was no more pedestrian that the early pace in the King George, with both winners covering the ground from the first fence to the first fence in the back straight in about 51secs.

Long Run gained about a second on Dynaste from that point to the first fence in the home straight first time (the last fence in the back straight was omitted in both races), a further two seconds approximately between there and the first fence on the second circuit, and around another two seconds between there and the first fence in the back straight final time.

It was from that point, however, that Dynaste picked up. He covered the ground from the first fence in the back straight to the first fence in the home straight in about 1min 10secs, fully four seconds faster than the time that Long Run took. Also, Dynaste went from the third last fence to the winning line in about 38.5secs, eased down at the end, whereas Long Run took about 45secs, despite the fact that he was pushed all the way to the line by Captain Chris.

There are several possible conclusions from this information. It may be that the ground really was a lot softer for the King George than it was for the Feltham. It may also be that they went too fast early on in the King George on the ground, and that the horses were out on their feet in the home straight. There is merit in both of those possible conclusions.

Conversely, it may be the case that this wasn’t a great King George, and that Dynaste is a seriously good novice chaser. The RSA Chase and Cheltenham may present a different challenge for David Pipe’s horse, but it may be that, if Dynaste had run in the King George instead of in the Feltham Chase, he would have won it.

One small postscript. The splits that Rajdhani Express recorded in winning the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase, which was run just before the Feltham, were impressive. He just about matched Dynaste split for split, going faster over the first section and the last section, and covering the entire part of the track that was common to both races in a time that was approximately 1.5secs faster than Dynaste, despite the fact that he had to jump two more fences than Dynaste did. Also, he was eased down late on, and he was visually impressive. He travelled like a good horse and he picked up impressively and easily.

Okay, so the distance that Rajdhani Express covered was almost a half a mile shorter than the distance that Long Run and Dynaste covered, but he is a 129-rated ch