2020 King George VI Chase: the runners, the odds, the verdict

1 Black Op

Grade 1 novice hurdle winner and second in top novice chase on this card last year, but needs to improve massively on two runs this season.

Trainer: Tom George
Jockey: Tom Scudamore
Form: 122-49
Odds: 66-1

2 Clan Des Obeaux

Seeks a hat-trick in this race and defeated reopposing stablemate Cyrname by 21 lengths last year. The one to beat.

Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Form: 218-2
Odds: 7-4

3 Cyrname

The top-rated runner and proved his stamina with Charlie Hall Chase victory at Wetherby on return. Reasons to believe he will fare better this time.

Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Jockey: Harry Cobden
Form: 12F-1
Odds: 2-1

4 Frodon

Popular and versatile chaser who is 2-3 around Kempton. He is a one-time winner from eight starts in Grade 1 company though.

Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Jockey: Bryony Frost
Form: 314-14
Odds: 33-1

5 Lostintranslation

Gold Cup third but pulled up in this last season. He has the class but will have to step up considerably on his distant third at Haydock on his return.

Trainer: Colin Tizzard
Jockey: Robbie Power
Form: 11P3-3
Odds: 8-1

6 Real Steel

Eyecatching sixth in Gold Cup and has since joined Paul Nicholls. Needs to prove stamina and improve on recent third at Ascot.

Trainer: Paul Nicholls
Jockey: Daryl Jacob
Form: 41P6-3
Odds: 16-1

7 Saint Calvados

Standout career best when second in Ryanair Chase last time. Goes well fresh and could outrun odds.

Trainer: Harry Whittington
Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Form: 1422-
Odds: 16-1

8 Santini

Neck second in last season’s Gold Cup and should benefit for recent Aintree reappearance. May be tested by this sharp track.

Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Form: 112-2
Odds: 5-1

9 Waiting Patiently

Grade 1 winner who runs for the first time in over a year. Has to prove his stamina but an each-way contender.

Trainer: Ruth Jefferson
Jockey: Brian Hughes
Form: U23/3-
Odds: 25-1

The verdict

A cracking renewal, but it's still possible to find negatives against all of the runners. In terms of price, the one who stands out is Lostintranslation who finished a close third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March at a time when his stable wasn't firing. A reproduction of that run would make him the one to beat, and he can be backed at 8-1. Cyrname is preferred of the Paul Nicholls quartet as Clan Des Obeaux appeared to have a harder race than would have been ideal in the Betfair Chase last month. Lostintranslation started 7-4 favourite for that contest.
Richard Birch

View the King George (3.00 Kempton, December 26) racecard here

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