King George VI Chase runner-by-runner guide and Templegate’s tip for Boxing Day blockbuster

4 months ago 24

TEMPLEGATE takes on the King George confident of having found the winner of the biggest race so far this season.

Is there a future Gold Cup hero lurking in this line-up?

Read on, back a horse by clicking their odds – and find Templegate’s all important tip at the bottom of the page.

Templegate’s King George VI Chase runner-by-runner guide

ALLAHO
ALL to play for. He is out of the top drawer and won back-to-back Ryanairs at Cheltenham before injury stopped him surely landing the hat-trick this year. That 2m5f trip is clearly his best but he’s a Grade 1 winner over three miles too. He can jump a little to the left, which isn’t ideal at Kempton, but he looked well winning from almost two years off at Clonmel and has every chance of giving Mullins a third King George.

BRAVEMANSGAME
GAME on! He won this last year by 14 lengths before running a cracking second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when the 3m2f and finishing hill were just a bit too much. He has not been quite as his best this season but, as Paul Nicholls says, this is very much a home match for him — and it’s his cup final too. Going back right-handed on a speed track is a major plus and the British champ is desperate to strike. He goes on any ground and can defend his crown.

FRODON
TO and Fro. Paul Nicholls’ veteran has a good record in this race, winning in 2010, finishing fourth in 2021 and third 12 months ago. He’s 11 now and his effort in the Badger Beer Chase at Wincanton last time was a little short of his usual but he wasn’t given a hard race. Bryony Frost will get him jumping out in front but it’s hard to see him holding off his younger rivals.

HEWICK
ON my Wick. He’s been a great servant to eccentric trainer Shark Hanlon, winning the 2022 Galway Plate, Bet365 Gold Cup and the American Grand National. He ran well in March’s Cheltenham Gold Cup until falling two out and was poor when trying to defend his Galway crown. This is one of the stiffest tests of his career despite the likely good ground being ideal.

SHISHKIN
KIN the running. He’s become an enigma, wrapped in a conundrum inside a puzzle with the cherry on top being his refusal to even start at Ascot last month. Nicky Henderson is adamant he has his head right and that makes him dangerous. The six-times Grade 1 winner spent most of his career over shorter trips — winning races like the Arkle. But he ran as well as ever stepped up to 3m1f to win the Aintree Bowl and a repeat of that would give him a chance.

THE REAL WHACKER
WHACK may crack. He took a big step forward last season, winning the Dipper at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day before returning to hold off Gerri Colombe when taking the Brown Advisory at the Festival. He was clearly coming to the end of his tether over 3m up the hill and he’ll get home easier at this flatter track. He comes here after being pulled up on comeback at Cheltenham latest when he was beaten a long way out and came home lame.