Nicholls certain of Cyrname's stamina as he seeks to land King George yet again

3.05 Kempton
Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1) | 3m, 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

Nobody knows better than Paul Nicholls what a Ladbrokes King George VI Chase winner looks like. When he looks at Clan Des Obeaux he sees one. He sounds equally convinced that when his eyes meet Cyrname he sees another.

When Clan Des Obeaux lined up at Kempton's three-mile start 12 months ago his trainer had already won the winter classic on a record nine occasions, five of them with the immortal Kauto Star.

When the young star who supplied Nicholls' tenth King George returned home to Ditcheat, another French-bred chaser, born only one day earlier, was almost certainly still hanging his head in shame. Cyrname had not long finished a 15-length seventh off a mark of just 150 in an Ascot handicap chase. A few weeks later he returned to Ascot, the hood came off and the real Cyrname was revealed. The real Cyrname, it turned out, was, and still is, the finest jumper in Britain or Ireland.

Flying machine: Cyrname (Harry Cobden) in full flight as he ends Altior's unbeaten runCredit: Edward Whitaker

Cyrname is so good that Harry Cobden has passed Clan Des Obeaux on to Sam Twiston-Davies, allowing him to maintain his partnership with a former four-legged hooligan who in three consecutive outings has looked exceptional at the royal racecourse.

His 17-length front-running success in the 2019 Ascot Chase was the season's standout performance, one that placed him above Altior in the official ratings. If that represented a theoretical supremacy, an all-too-real pecking order was established when Cyrname galloped Altior into a state of exhaustion last month.

The complication is that was over two miles and five furlongs. Cyrname has never raced over a longer distance, nor had he ever looked a colossus until his Ascot winning streak began. Not only must he now show he is more than a one-track pony – one who has admittedly already won twice at Kempton – he must also prove his exuberance can be stretched further than ever before.

Paul Nicholls with Cyrname and Clan Des Obeaux at his Ditcheat yardCredit: Megan Ridgewell

"Harry thinks he's the one to beat and so do I," said Nicholls.

"The only thing he hasn't done is win over three miles, but I don't think that is a problem because I see him as a stayer. It's definitely not like when we ran Azertyuiop in the King George and had to try to ride him to get the trip.

"I watched all Cyrname's races on Sunday night and when he was second in the Scilly Isles at Sandown all he did was stay on up the hill. The best way I can put it is that, to me, he's as much a stayer as Clan Des Obeaux. I wouldn't even have it in my mind that he won't stay – because he will stay."

Sir Anthony McCoy agrees Cyrname will stay, but has encouraged Cobden to be bold. "Harry shouldn't be thinking of taking his time, minding the horse or giving him a breather," said McCoy. "Cyrname can breathe when he goes back to Ditcheat."

When he does go back he will return to the place where a King George plan was hatched many months ago.

"We weren't just targeting the Ascot race and trying to beat Altior," said Nicholls. "His whole season has been geared around the King George. Ascot was always his prep for Kempton.

"He was fit enough to win last time but he is bound to improve for that run. All I've been thinking about for Cyrname is the King George, partly because I can't see him being a Gold Cup horse, at least not this season. I'd be surprised if we even thought about it."

He will think about it for Clan Des Obeaux, who finished fifth in Al Boum Photo's Gold Cup and returned with an encouraging second behind Road To Respect at Down Royal.

"There's a lot in his favour and he won't be far away," said Nicholls.

"Clan is last year's winner and has also always been slightly better going right-handed. He's definitely improved physically for being seven and has also improved for the Down Royal race. His improvement from Haydock to Kempton last year was huge and I expect the same improvement again."

Clan Des Obeaux jumps the final fence in front of Thistlecrack on his way to winning last year's King GeorgeCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

As for what he expects to see come flagfall, the King George king added: "There really isn't a lot in it between our two, so it was a difficult call for Harry.

"I'm in a lovely position to have two horses who have been aimed for this race and got there. They are quite similar horses as well, in that three miles around Kempton is probably ideal for both of them."

We know for sure it is ideal for Clan Des Obeaux. Now is the time for Cyrname to prove his record-breaking trainer right.

Did you know you can bet via the Racing Post mobile app/website? Simply sign in with your favourite bookmaker via the Accounts button and then bet direct from our racecards