No explanation for Bristol failure from Twiston-Davies

Double Shuffle had won a handicap chase at Kempton's Christmas meeting 12 months earlier and had finished second four times since, the best behind Top Notch in a Grade 2 race at Ascot.

But the 50-1 chance ran the best second of his career in the King George with a spirited pursuit of Might Bite that got him to within a length of the winner at the line.

Trainer Tom George said: "He's in the form of his life. He was a good second over 2m5f to Top Notch in a Grade 2, but three miles and this track suits him better. He likes it here.

"Nicer ground could have helped him. There are no immediate plans."

Tea For Two: took third in the King GeorgeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Last year's King George fourth Tea For Two finished one place – and half a length – nearer to the winner, giving Lizzie Kelly another thrilling turn round Kempton.

"I did slightly think we had a chance but then saw Might Bite had a bit more," she said. "He got the last a little bit wrong when he could have done with a flier.

"I felt quite emotional coming back in as Tea For Two is such an amazing horse to have anything to do with, always running in the top races and doing himself so proud.

"I came here today thinking that, if I gave him a good ride and he got a good run, we might sneak a place, but he stamped himself on the race when nobody thought he could. I'm thrilled."

Thistlecrack: travelled well but was well beatenCredit: Mark Cranham

There was no repeat success for Thistlecrack but last year's impressive winner – when still a novice – nevertheless ran better than some expected after his disappointing return over hurdles following nine months' out with a tendon injury.

He finished fourth, five and three-quarter lengths behind Might Bite, while stablemate Fox Norton struggled on the step up in distance and was pulled up.

Their trainer Colin Tizzard said: "I was delighted with the way Thistlecrack came there into the straight and he's run much better than at Newbury.

"The next time, or time after, he's going to shake them up. Yes, 18 months ago he was being called unbeatable, but he had nine months of inactivity with his injury and it takes a hell of a lot to get them back. We have him back on track now.

"His jumping was better – he's accurate. It was an issue last year when he was getting marks out of ten for his jumping as a novice."

Fox Norton: a no show in the King GeorgeCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Tizzard added: "Fox Norton was never travelling, which was strange for a two-miler, and that may say something. He was jumping left so we'll get him checked out next week."

No winning bonus

The Jockey Club will not be required to pay out its £1 million triple-crown bonus after Bristol De Mai failed in his bid to add the King George to his Betfair Chase.

A win at Kempton would have completed two of the three legs of the bonus, which climaxes in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup, but he finished sixth of the seven who completed, crossing the line more than 25 lengths behind Might Bite.

Bristol De Mai made most of the running to the 14th but had already started to fall back when making a bad blunder at the third-last.

It was a shadow of his performance at Haydock, where he won the Betfair Chase by 57 lengths.

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies was quizzed by the stewards but could offer no explanation and a post-race veterinary examination during routine testing failed to reveal any abnormalities.

"The horse is fine," said the trainer. "I've no idea what happened though, not a clue."

Result and analysis