'The dream is alive' - Arkle winner Jango Baie cut to 4-1 for King George after slamming rivals in 1965 Chase

Jango Baie was already an Arkle winner but his demolition job in the Ladbrokes 1965 Chase felt like a coming of age for Tony Barney's impressive six-year-old. 

In a race packed with pace, it was the way Jango Baie finished his first start for 233 days that left a lasting impression and saw his odds for the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day slashed to 4-1 (from 12) with Paddy Power.  

One of the more miraculous winners at last season's Cheltenham Festival having come from well off the pace to pinch the Arkle, Jango Baie looked far more at home over a stiff two miles and five furlongs at Ascot and came bounding clear of Gidleigh Park from the second-last, with nine lengths separating the front two at the line and a further 27 lengths back to dual winner Pic D'Orhy in third.   

"The dream is alive," said winning trainer Nicky Henderson, smitten with the winner's performance. "He could be anything and I must admit I've got to be impressed." 

The winner was returning to action after having a screw put in his leg and following a wind operation since finishing third to Impaire Et Passe at Aintree and is now Britain's shortest-priced contender for the King George.

"He was lame after he came back from Aintree, so he went to the vets, who said he needed a screw put in his leg. We had to be careful through the summer but he came back fine and was fit to do that today.

"We plumped for two miles over three at Cheltenham and got away with it but I'm not sure how. He's still got that speed and I loved the way he quickened up at the end of it. Surely he's got a bit of improvement in him and I think we've got to give the King George a bash.

"Make no mistake, you've got to stay in a King George but he hasn't got to go that much further and I think you've got to have a crack at this stage of his life. He's going forward so let's do it."

Nicky Henderson: looking towards Kempton with his Arkle winner

Nico de Boinville, who won his only King George when Might Bite scored at Kempton in 2017 but who might have bagged a second had Shishkin not stumbled and unseated him after the second-last in 2023, felt three miles would be no issue for Jango Baie and was not ruling out a possible tilt at the Gold Cup down the line. 

"He's really grown up as a racehorse and is developing into a proper staying chaser," said the winning rider. "He was very strong at the line but he's always a strong finisher. Off the back of that I definitely think the King George comes into our considerations."

Asked if he could be a Gold Cup horse, De Boinville added: "Potentially. That was a deep race on paper and I'm glad to see how he's gone through the line."     

Harry Fry was rueing running Gidleigh Park in the 1965 Chase rather than the Hurst Park Handicap later on the card and the seven-year-old will drop to two miles on his next start. 

"He gallops and jumps, and my initial reaction is to come back in trip on softer ground," said Fry. "We got outstayed and maybe we'll wait eight weeks and come back here for the Clarence House."

Read more:

Champion Hurdle favourite Lossiemouth streaks clear of three rivals for bloodless victory in Morgiana Hurdle 

Ice-cool Harry Skelton and Grey Dawning swagger past gutsy Royale Pagaille for easy Betfair Chase success 

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.