John Durkan - 3pm Sun 23 November

[Ian_Davies]

There are certain races that, historically, horses farm.

The Champion Hurdle has had numerous multiple winners over the years and the King George VI Chase is definitely another.

Many say its an easy circuit round Kempton Park and the race suits a speedy intermediate trip chaser, not a stayer.

But outside of Edredon Bleu I can't think of many horses better at shorter who've won it and a fair few speedy 2m-2m4f types haven't got home.

3m is 3m is 3m and, for me, if you don't stay a park course 3m, you ain't winning no King George.

As previously stated, even if they're the only two who ran to form, I think Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File both had hard races yesterday and I wouldn't be in a hurry to take a short price about either next time out, talented though they are.

 

[Slim]

There are certain races that, historically, horses farm.

The Champion Hurdle has had numerous multiple winners over the years and the King George VI Chase is definitely another.

Many say its an easy circuit round Kempton Park and the race suits a speedy intermediate trip chaser, not a stayer.

But outside of Edredon Bleu I can't think of many horses better at shorter who've won it and a fair few speedy 2m-2m4f types haven't got home.

3m is 3m is 3m and, for me, if you don't stay a park course 3m, you ain't winning no King George.

As previously stated, even if they're the only two who ran to form, I think Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File both had hard races yesterday and I wouldn't be in a hurry to take a short price about either next time out, talented though they are.

Stayers do far better than the ante post market want to believe. It's been that way since I started following racing.

 

[archie]

Gaelic Warrior stayed 3m1f around Aintree which is something of a left-handed Kempton.

This time last year there was much talk that he couldn't go left-handed but that's all gone quiet now. It may be that he just doesn't like Leopardstown but it may still be that he's better right-handed. Conversely, Fact To File has only ever gone right-handed at Punchestown and, while he's gone ok there, there is still the possibility that he prefers left-handed.

Willie has indicated that the pair would probably be kept apart at Christmas and if that's the case, it must be long odds on Fact To File for the Savills and Gaelic Warrior in the King George unless Willie decides that one of them could go for the shorter Tramore Savills.

As a by the by, I'd be inclined to the view that swapping the jockeys round yesterday would have swapped the result around.

 

[edgt]

The Gaelic Warrior issue is he rarely puts high class performances back to back.
No great surprise given the depth of performance when he does perform; he is quite hard on himself.