Nicholls: Betfair Chase 'very good' King George trial for Clan Des Obeaux

Paul Nicholls is out on his own in the King George VI Chase and on Sunday he expressed his delight at the race dual winner Clan Des Obeaux ran in preparation for Kempton's Boxing Day feature.

The eight-year-old lost little in defeat in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock, where he finished two lengths behind Bristol De Mai, who was recording a third victory on his fourth start in the race.

Clan Des Obeaux will bid for a third successive King George and is the 5-2 joint-favourite with the race's sponsor Ladbrokes alongside his stablemate Cyrname, who won the Charlie Hall last time.

Watch a replay of Bristol De Mai winning his third Betfair Chase

"Clan ran well and it's just a shame it rained at Haydock," said Nicholls, who has won the King George an unprecedented 11 times.

"He was beaten by a real good warrior on that track and ground. I think he just didn't quite stay that last little bit on the heavy ground, but he's probably run as good a race as he's run for a long time in the circumstances and a very good King George trial.

"He's A1 today, so it was an awesome run and he won't improve much fitness-wise. He was ready yesterday, but the ground just got too heavy. He ran a super race and we're thrilled with him."

Nicholls' Kempton kings

See More Business 1997, 1999
Kauto Star 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Silviniaco Conti 2013, 2014
Clan Des Obeaux 2018, 2019

Much like the layers, Nicholls finds it hard to split Clan Des Obeaux and Cyrname, who finished second at Kempton last season.

"It's almost a swap of last year as Cyrname had a hard race in the 1965 Chase at Ascot on this weekend, which came a bit close to the King George, but he ran three weeks ago at Wetherby, which we wanted this year," added Nicholls.

"Clan's had the reverse and had the harder race this season, so he's got to get over it, but he's probably a different horse to Cyrname and has five weeks, so should be fine.

"They'll both hopefully get to Kempton in really good shape and, as you can imagine, we'll be doing our best to win a 12th King George."

Nicholls did strike at Haydock courtesy of Master Tommytucker, who earned quotes for the Ryanair Chase (25-1) and Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup (50-1) after winning the graduation chase.

"I need to have a look at what there is," he said. "I haven't really got a plan and it's not that obvious, so I need to think about it."

Ladbrokes King George VI Chase

Sponsor: 5-2 Clan Des Obeaux, Cyrname, 8 Allaho, Lostintranslation, 12 Champ, 14 Kemboy, 16 bar

You might also be interested in:

'I've never been so happy' - Daryl Jacob hails Bristol De Mai's Betfair triumph

Shhh! 'Magnificent' Cyrname silences critics in Charlie Hall demolition

Elation for Twiston-Davies as Clan Des Obeaux hands Nicholls 11th King George

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