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I thought that the entries for the King George weren’t exactly great , but with the news that Mr. Mullins has removed all his entries , does this make it the weakest King George in
history ?.
If that is the case , then is this only a temporary “blip” , or something a bit more serious.
If the latter scenario is the fact , then what needs to be done to get the race back to some of it’s pomp ?.Most of the best horses are trained in Ireland and the main trainer does not target the race.
I am not sure what Kempton or the BHA can do about it, other than hoping British trainers get some better horses.
It’s usually been a bit sub standard in recent years anyway looking at the roll of honour. Apart from Allaho one year Mullins tends to keep the good ones at home. Don’t think it’s anything to worry about.
Maybe not but still a hugely disappointing field. Hopefully fastorslow is supplemented otherwise really is a very substandard renewal. Use to be one of the highlights of the season. Its a great pity its not what it was.
As I said in the race thread, the reduced competitiveness is due to the proximity of the Ericcson and the Cheltenham obsession
I think it only seems a worse year because we all thought it was going to be such a good one.
There are – at the moment – better horses in this year’s race than the rating it took for the likes of Tornado Flyer, Frodon and Hewick to win their King Geoges in recent renewals. ie There might have been some good horses in those races, but they didn’t show their true ability. Although the worst winning performance I can remember is probably Algan, again due to others not performing / falling.
However, there’s also going to be question marks about whether the best horses in this year’s race will perform or even turn up. Will any of these six British horses be as effective going right-handed – Ahoy Senor, Protektorat, L’Homme Presse, Grey Dawning, Royale Paguille, Ginnys Destiny? Will Ahoy Senor jump? L’Homme Presse has been very lightly raced of late, will he make it to Kempton? Royale Paguille was only second in 2022 because others performed even worse – he was beaten 14 lengths. Along with Grey Dawning had particularly hard races in the Betfair. Connections of the latter seem to want to give him more time. Bravemansgame some way behind at Haydock, seems more consistent at Kempton, but is he on the downgrade? Il Est Francais has health issues. Some Irish horses have good form but which ones will come over? Will Banbridge get the ground he seems to need? Be nice if one or t’other of the John Durkan one-two were supplemented. Fact To File and Spillane’s Tower both stay 3m but have plenty of speed too. You’d think ideal for this… But JP already has the favourite anyway. So must be a doubt about them. Hope Fastorslow is supplemented, that would help the race enormously – stays 3m, goes well right-handed.
So in short: imo Not the worst yet, but it could be if some don’t turn up and / or don’t perform on the day.
Value Is EverythingThere is a distinct lack of decent UK 3m chasers in general at the moment which doesn’t help and then add to it the Mullins horses being withdrawn (many have needed their first run so it is understandable to some extent that he doesn’t want to come over to run first time out) and IEF blowing out in France and you now have potentially a really poor renewal likely.
The Ericcson/Lexus/Savills Chase has been run over 3m since 1992 (prior to that it was the Black and White Whisky Champion Chase and was run over 2½m) and there was a period where UK horses went there regularly (Best Mate, The Listener, Denman, Exotic Dancer, What A Friend, Synchronised, Tidal Bay and Bob’s Worth all won the race between 2003-2013), so while it might prevent some of the very top Irish horses coming over that isn’t a new developement.
L’Homme Presse will be very ground dependant and I expect he might stick to the same route as last year taking in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield where soft ground is pretty much a given (cue it now being too fast!!). He clearly prefers going left handed and given the softly softly approach Venitia has adopted with him of late, I would have my doubts that he would even be ready in time for Christmas.
I thought Pic D’Orhy was potentially being spoken of as a Kempton possible and whilst I don’t really think he is a true G1 horse (yes he has won two but they weren’t the strongest ones in retrospect) he could once again take advantage of a weak renewal of a G1 and we all know how well suited front runners can be at Kempton.
Fastorslow (who to me ran well below what I was expecting last weekend) would be the fly in the ointment for many if he were to be supplemented – seems a no brainer to me assuming he comes out of the John Durkan ok.
If the ground was good and Fastorslow wasn’t supplemented then I really wouldn’t be surprised if Hewick became the next dual winner of the race!
“L’Homme Presse will be very ground dependant and I expect he might stick to the same route as last year taking in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield”.
He may well run in the Fleur De Lys Chase but it won’t be at Lingfield. It has been transferred to Windsor.
Given that track’s location next to the river, he ought to get his ground there as well.
CAS – Thanks, clearly missed that annoucement when it was made.
At least it went to another left handed course and it can also get pretty soft at Windsor to, fingers crossed that the meeting doesn’t get abandoned due to the weather as Lingfield had been in the past.
The same argument could be made about this year’s Hennessy (as I still think of it). An absolutely dire renewal.
Grey Dawning apparently might now take a chance on acting right handed.
Fastorslow might be supplemented.
Fact To File might be supplemented.
Just might be the best King George we’ve seen in many years.
Value Is EverythingNo need to panic- there is a lack of quality in UK 3m chasers and bar GDC and Fact to File I don’t think Ireland has that much strength in depth either. Grey Dawning is worth a shot in a weak year- but next year we could have Ballyburn, Caldwell Potter, and The Jukebox Man lining up. What we will get is a good sized field and competitive betting odds – 10 runners, maybe a couple of French challengers and 4/1 the field will make a nice change from a 5/4 shot taking on 4 opponents. These things are cyclical. Btw the average winning OR over the last 6 years is 164 and there are plenty of entries this year who have hit that mark . It’s not that bad.
Il Est Francais trainer update…
“It’s not ideal going there on the back of his performance last time but if he works well at home and is in good form, he will be coming to Kempton.”
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