King George 2021

[Zachx02]

Still very keen on Asterion Forlonge for this. He looks made for the race especially with his preference for RH tracks. Will Mullins send him over though ? Odds against probably.

Yep, he got an entry for it just had a go at 25/1

[FinalFurlong91]

He said: "Minella Indo is highly likely to go for the King George. I know he's maybe not your typical King George horse, but we'll certainly weigh it up closer to the time.

"He'll come on plenty for Down Royal. He was a little bit shorter than I thought he was and caught me out a little but still ran a cracker. Fair play to the Nicholls team; Frodon was in great shape on the day and we look forward to taking him on again some day."

[charlie]

Still very keen on Asterion Forlonge for this. He looks made for the race especially with his preference for RH tracks. Will Mullins send him over though ? Odds against probably.

I think he'll be underestimated ante post and emerge into a really talented horse out of novice ranks.

[Garrison Savannah]

Not sure Clan is the bet many said he was.

[opatcho]

Not sure Clan is the bet many said he was.

I have him in a few accas rolling into the festival at 5/1, but I’m starting to go off him

He beat nothing at Aintree, and was going There fresh unlike some of his rivals, and you could say the same about his Punch win

This years renewal could be one of the strongest for a while. It’s becoming a tricky race, but I’m starting to favour Allaho - but he could easily be excluded on round of decs for this and think Millins will send something else over instead (AF)

[FinalFurlong91]

I think he'll be underestimated ante post and emerge into a really talented horse out of novice ranks.

I think hes an absolute nutjob and couldn't touch him personally

[jack1092]

I think he'll be underestimated ante post and emerge into a really talented horse out of novice ranks.

He's 162 rated so he'd need to lol.

What happened to him at Fairyhouse? Punchestown for me has to be taken with a pinch of salt surely, the form's hardly great.

[charlie]

He's 162 rated so he'd need to lol.

What happened to him at Fairyhouse? Punchestown for me has to be taken with a pinch of salt surely, the form's hardly great.

He could easily find 10lbs+ improvement which would put him bang there.

Fairyhouse may have come too soon after Cheltenham. He posted an RPR of 169 at Punchestown taking the complete piss. Sure, he left little in behind but he won super well and its not like he disgraced himself in the Marsh.

I certainly wont be wading in because he is a bit of a nut job, but it wouldnt be a total surprise to see it come together for him

[jack1092]

He could easily find 10lbs+ improvement which would put him bang there.

Fairyhouse may have come too soon after Cheltenham. He posted an RPR of 169 at Punchestown taking the complete piss. Sure, he left little in behind but he won super well and its not like he disgraced himself in the Marsh.

I certainly wont be wading in because he is a bit of a nut job, but it wouldnt be a total surprise to see it come together for him

If FH came too soon then Punch arguably wouldn't have been much different, 10 days or whatever.

If they can sort between the ears with him there's a horse there (already a very good horse dont get me wrong). Just not sure he'll ever get rid of the quirks fully.


He's beaten 2 chase maidens in 2nd and 3rd and 2 behind that have flattered to deceive more often than not. I'd be surprised if his 169 RPR rating is accurate personally.

[Supermaster]

I was watching last week's Road to Cheltenham with Hislop and Walsh and they briefly put up a table showing the prices of the leading contenders for the King George VI Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup side by side and I was struck by how the ratio between the two prices varied:

M Indo 5/1, 6/1
C House 6/1, 12/1
E Allen 7/1, 8/1
Allaho 8/1, 16/1
R Pag 16/1, 40/1
E De Rom 16/1, 50/1
A De For 16/1, 25.1
AB Photo 20/1, 16/1

(The two Nicholls horses aren't quoted for The Gold Cup)

I wasn't sure whether this was because of current ideas about whether they will run or not; or how they are thought to be suited by each race.
I also thought that Al Boum should surely be a shorter price for the King George than the 3 horses above him in the list. (too old?)

Anyway it got me thinking about how the trends for the two races varies. Of course, course experience relates to the two different courses but most of the trends are similar as you'd expect for a Grade 1 staying chase: grade 1 form, experience over the course, distance (not too much), recent good form, official rating etc

There's a trend against Gold Cup horses having more than 3 previous season runs or running on heavy ground in the same season. Higher priced horses do marginally better in the Gold Cup.

But there is one glaring difference: previous winners have a much better record in the King George.
17 out of the last 40 KGs have been won by a previous winner but only 4 of the last 40 GCs - that's quite a difference.
Both Frodon and Clan Des Obeaux fall outside the favoured 6-8 age bracket though.

[Istabraq]

M Indo 5/1, 6/1
C House 6/1, 12/1
E Allen 7/1, 8/1
Allaho 8/1, 16/1
R Pag 16/1, 40/1
E De Rom 16/1, 50/1
A De For 16/1, 25.1
AB Photo 20/1, 16/1
.

The 40/1 Royal Pagaille was a massive eye opening price for me, sadly the the best price I could find was 25/1 but I’m still happy enough to play.
Venetia made comment today that if all goes well at Haydock then Kempton would be next, and if he was to line up he’d be nowhere near 25/1.

Thanks for highlighting…

[Craigy14]

The 40/1 Royal Pagaille was a massive eye opening price for me, sadly the the best price I could find was 25/1 but I’m still happy enough to play.
Venetia made comment today that if all goes well at Haydock then Kempton would be next, and if he was to line up he’d be nowhere near 25/1.

Thanks for highlighting…

I think the second price is the GC price Ista, so Royal P 16/1 for King George. I think so anyway.

[Istabraq]

I think the second price is the GC price Ista, so Royal P 16/1 for King George. I think so anyway.

OK thanks mistake, easily confused these days...

[Craigy14]

OK thanks mistake, easily confused these days...

No worries Ista had to double check myself on PP when I said it

He has form round Kempton and I suppose he could still have improvement in him only being 7 yo. I definitely think the King George suits more than a Gold Cup at present so I like him at the price. Will all depend how much improvement he can show, ground is against him today as well.

[Supermaster]

I think the second price is the GC price Ista, so Royal P 16/1 for King George. I think so anyway.

Correct the prices are KG followed by GC