'Clan looks as good as ever' - Nicholls revs up King George squad at Wincanton

Paul Nicholls, the dominant force in the recent history of the King George VI Chase, will put the finishing pre-Christmas touches to his Kempton crackers Clan Des Obeaux, Frodon and Saint Calvados at Wincanton on Wednesday morning and is full of optimism as he approaches the festive highlight.

Nicholls has an enviable record in the Ladbrokes-sponsored showpiece, winning it a record 12 times, including on five occasions with the legendary Kauto Star.

In Clan Des Obeaux, he has the 2018 and 2019 King George hero who has long been the ante-post favourite, although his position at the head of the market has recently come under pressure from Gold Cup winner Minella Indo, who is a 7-2 shot with the sponsors behind his big-race rival at 3-1.

King George racecard and betting

Frodon, who stole the headlines when triumphing from Clan Des Obeaux under Bryony Frost in the race 12 months ago, is next best at a general 5-1, while Saint Calvados, who was fourth last year and joined Nicholls over the summer, is 25-1.

Clan Des Obeaux and Saint Calvados will be having their first starts of the season in the £250,000 contest, but Frodon has a run under his belt, with victory in Down Royal's Champion Chase in October.

Nicholls, whose trio looked in rude health at his Somerset base on Tuesday morning, will fine tune them at his local track on Wednesday and said: "They're all fine and we're having a gallop at Wincanton in the morning. They schooled yesterday morning and I just want them to have a nice day out.

"Clan is very fresh and well and he was mad fresh yesterday morning. It's a different preparation to what we have given him leading into the race before. Normally he has had a run before going to the King George but I think doing this will suit him better.

"Frodon has had his month off and is now back working away. He looks in good order. He has been bucking and squealing and making himself known in the yard."

Saint Calvados: new to the Nicholls operation this seasonCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Saint Calvados switched from Harry Whittington's to Nicholls in the off-season and Nicholls added: "Saint Calvados hasn't had a run for us yet. He has always gone well [fresh] in the past so we thought we'd go straight there on the back of doing a load of work at home. They are three interesting horses for the race.

"Saint Calvados ran very well in the race last year. He just didn't jump well in the straight so we've done lots of jumping. The main two have to be Frodon and Clan on what they have done on the form. They're in good shape.

"Clan looks as good and as well as ever in himself, while Frodon is Frodon! We're just looking forward to the race now."

Venetia Williams might not be looking forward to it as much as she has scratched Royale Pagaille, who is not over an injury suffered when he was second to A Plus Tard in Haydock's Betfair Chase last month.

"He got a wound at Haydock, which means we won't have sufficient time to prepare him for Kempton, so he won't be going there," Williams said. "I don't know where he'll go next, but he'll run again this season."

Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (December 26)
Ladbrokes: 3 Clan Des Obeaux, 7-2 Minella Indo, 5 Frodon, 11-2 Chantry House, 6 Asterion Forlonge, 10 Lostintranslation, 16 Allaho, Envoi Allen, 20 bar.

Read more:

What did we learn from the two big chases at Down Royal?

'I can't believe we're King George winners!' – Frodon and Frost light up Kempton

'They're Denman and Kauto in their style of racing' – Cup 1-2 to be kept apart

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