The 2025 King George VI Chase

[The Fortune Teller]

Interesting that some would take Jango or Gaelic Warrior for the GC out of that. If you ask me Jukebox Man outstayed and outfought them. And he's the best jumper of the three, with more to come.
To my mind, if they all make it to Cheltenham, he only has the defending champion to beat.

Jango's RP comments in running, sum it up I think.

"Took keen hold, in touch with leaders, not fluent 2nd, prominent 10th, challenging 2 out, kept on run-in."

If he can settle better in March and race more fluently he can be in shake up at Cheltenham.

 

[jinnyj]

Interesting that some would take Jango or Gaelic Warrior for the GC out of that. If you ask me Jukebox Man outstayed and outfought them. And he's the best jumper of the three, with more to come.
To my mind, if they all make it to Cheltenham, he only has the defending champion to beat.

I think it's going to be fascinating come March and that's throwing the last two GC winners into the mix as well.
GW and TJM both got beaten in their Albert Bartlett hurdles. GW won an Arkle as did JB. But GW for me always struck me as being a grinder over fences who would only improve as he got older and further.

Yesterday the race suited him the least (for me anyway) but PT was still confident enough in him to be looking around as they turned in so he obviously felt he had a fair bit of horse under him. The other three all have more obvious speed but he hung in there despite PT dropping his reins and losing momentum slightly.

You run yesterday again another four times and you would probably get four different winners. The result was a difference of centimetres which is what made it so thrilling. I just feel on a track like Cheltenham GW must just grind it out better (he's as tough a horse as I have seen in a long while) - that's before I take into account GDC and IKTWYT.

But it's great that we all have our own views and beliefs. And a great race to look forward to in March! Fingers crossed that they all get there, healthy and in one piece.

 

[archie]

Only an opinion but I'd be inclined to side with recent history and go with the forecast that KG form will not be a good pointer for the Gold Cup.

Be interesting (but meaningless) what the handicapper does. Historically he's over-rated the result but you'd have to think that he should base it on Banbridge who he had on 168 after last year's victory.

 

[Truncheon]

Another one here in the Jango for the Gold Cup camp

Ground y'day would have been quicker than he'd like

 

[Generous1991]

I see what you mean.

I didn't think Jango was truly on it at times yesterday, so I do think he's the one who could improve the most.

Take absolutely nothing away from the winner though. I just think Jango ran on and stayed on quite well, especially given I thought his jumping was scrappy at times and he might be beat three or four fences out. He rallied really well like a good horse for future races.

Yes, all makes sense. If you were going to pick who stays 3 miles 2 at Cheltenham though, would it be Jango over Jukebox? And the scrappy jumping is a significant disadvantage in the most competitive races.

 

[Ian_Davies]

There isn't a lot in Jango Baie's pedigree to suggest to me that an extended 3m2f round Cheltenham is what he's been crying out for all his life.

For sure, he won the Arkle despite the trip, but, if they thought he was a future Gold Cup horse, why was he even running in it?

2m5f at Ascot suited him well and he got the 3m round Kempton Park.

But an even stiffer test round Prestbury Park?

I'm not so sure.

The Jukebox Man, both on pedigree and racecourse form, looks the more likely of the pair to me to be suited by the additional stamina test.

 

[archipenko]

The race has now sickened me two years running, had a bit on Il Est Francais last year and this year I talked myself onto The Jukebox Man and then talked myself off him at the last minute. The nature of the finish showed how difficult a race it was to call tho, it was impossible to really be confident about anything.

As for the Gold Cup, I couldnt have The Jukebox Man, this was his gold cup, this was the race he was made for, 3 miles round Kempton. He showed a side to him that we havent seen before with that battling win, but considering how close Jango Baie got on a track that wasnt ideal, id fancy him quite strongly to reverse the form at Cheltenham, at 3 miles or beyond.

Whether any of them are good enough to go with Galopin Des Champs and the G1 plot horse in that test is another matter.

 

[Truncheon]

For sure, he won the Arkle despite the trip, but, if they thought he was a future Gold Cup horse, why was he even running in it?

Don't knock the Arkle for potential Gold cup horses

Desert Orchid
Kicking King
Sizing John

All ran in the Arkle and won Gold cups

Best Mate and Kauto would have ran in Arkles had it not been for Foot and mouth or injury and they won 5 between them

 

[Ian_Davies]

Fair and interesting comment, Archipenko and Truncheon - opinions make the market.

All I'd say is there is a difference between running in the Arkle and getting beat because the trip was way too short and winning it, so maybe it wasn't.

 

[barjon]

Not sure what to make of it. A pulsating and exciting race, for sure, but it’s Banbridge being involved that bothers me. Fair play for him being brought to the boil for this, but even if he’d run a bit above his best he’s still not a match for the very best. That means Gaelic Warrior was a bit under par (like Fact To File who was well under) with a Durkan hangover and The Jukebox Man is not as good as the praise being heaped on him. Nor JangoBaie.

I suppose it’s possible that Banbridge has come on a ton, but I doubt it.

 

[archipenko]

A top class novice can run in any race from 2m to 3m, its much of a muchness. You might bump into a top class 2 mile specialist in the Arkle or Supreme but most years you wont, and same goes for the Bartlett and Broadway, you might bump into a top class stayer but you probably wont.

Jango Baie ran in the Arkle because the Golden Miller became a handicap, wouldnt read much into it. Hes obviously a stayer as even two and half on good ground is sharp enough for him.

All of these good jumpers are basically just high class plodders, theres a bigger difference between 5f and 8f than there is between 2m and 3m. Always laugh when theres a question if some 2m novice chase winner will "stay" 2m4, of course they will.

You get the odd Harchibald or Go Native who want 14-16f but Solwhit, Hurricane Fly, Kauto Star etc is the norm for a top class jumper, 2 miles, 3 miles, its all the same. The horses that run in the 20-21f divisions are usually there because theyre not good enough for the Champion Hurdle or Gold Cup, theres definitely a lack of speed but rarely a lack of stamina.

 

[Frankel]

Jango Baie was ultimately done for when they were stacked up. Not helped by some of his jumping and away from a fence. Fine margins this game but without the stacking he wins.

That said, 3m at Kempton and the Gold Cup are a different ball game. Not sure about that at all.

 

[tiggers1972]

Jango Baie was ultimately done for when they were stacked up. Not helped by some of his jumping and away from a fence. Fine margins this game but without the stacking he wins.

That said, 3m at Kempton and the Gold Cup are a different ball game. Not sure about that at all.

Jango would be the one I'd take out of the race for March.

 

[reet hard]

Jango Baie was ultimately done for when they were stacked up. Not helped by some of his jumping and away from a fence. Fine margins this game but without the stacking he wins.

That said, 3m at Kempton and the Gold Cup are a different ball game. Not sure about that at all.

showed what he could be,come March.