King George VI Chase

Grasshopper

Grasshopper

Senior Jockey
Joined
Nov 14, 2006
Messages
16,012
https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/28/kempton/2020-12-26/769491/

A great race that's always worthy of its own thread.

Having backed Saint Calvados at 33's ante-post for this in March, it's to be hoped (by me, at least) that he makes the race.

The conspiracy-theorist in me has noticed that the horse has a great record fresh, but has never followed-up any of his season-opening wins with a victory, and I'm wondering if this has anything to do with the mysterious 'blood issue' that prevented him from taking his chance at Haydock?

Still very hopeful of more improvement from this yoke over 3m.

Should he not make the race, I pretty-much want to be against everything at the head of the market for various reasons, and my two against the field would probably be Frodon (general 16/1 shot), and - of greater interest - The Storyteller at 33/1, who continues is in ripe form this season, and has a great record on right-handed tracks. He obviously has a bit to find on ratings, but Elliott will surely have more than enough cover for the Savills Chase, and I could see him letting The Storyteller take his chance, in which case I'd be surprised if he was allowed to go off a 33/1 shot.
 
Last edited:
Interestingly Ruby was pretty straightforward in saying Melon would be stepped up from 2m4f this year.
 
Has a not dissimilar profile to Saint Calvados actually, though with less chase experience under his belt, obviously.
 
HawkWing said:
Interestingly Ruby was pretty straightforward in saying Melon would be stepped up from 2m4f this year.
Click to expand...

Willie Mullins.
"He's run four fantastic races at Cheltenham now and we know he acts around the track, but we just need to pick the right race for him to win one in March. He gave an exhibition of jumping with Patrick [Mullins] in the Marsh and the Gold Cup would have to be on our radar as he certainly stays two and a half miles well. It's been a lucky race for his owner too."
 
Maxbet said:
Willie Mullins.
"He's run four fantastic races at Cheltenham now and we know he acts around the track, but we just need to pick the right race for him to win one in March. He gave an exhibition of jumping with Patrick [Mullins] in the Marsh and the Gold Cup would have to be on our radar as he certainly stays two and a half miles well. It's been a lucky race for his owner too."
Click to expand...

66/1 with Betfair.
 
HawkWing said:
Interestingly Ruby was pretty straightforward in saying Melon would be stepped up from 2m4f this year.
Click to expand...

Maxbet said:
Willie Mullins."He's run four fantastic races at Cheltenham now and we know he acts around the track, but we just need to pick the right race for him to win one in March. He gave an exhibition of jumping with Patrick [Mullins] in the Marsh and the Gold Cup would have to be on our radar as he certainly stays two and a half miles well. It's been a lucky race for his owner too."
Click to expand...
Double J said:
66/1 with Betfair.
Click to expand...


Alboum Photo…Doubt they would run two in GC nothing in Ryan Air
 
Last edited:
They have Min and Allaho for the Ryanair the stable. I doubt they’d throw 3 darts at that race. I know it’s same owners but does Willie not do what Willie wants to do.
 
Joe Donnelly states publicly that he never tells his trainers what to do. Shiskin/asterion forlonge last year.
 
HawkWing said:
Joe Donnelly states publicly that he never tells his trainers what to do. Shiskin/asterion forlonge last year.
Click to expand...

Yes, but might he be telling Paul Townend what to do? There's history here, Al Boum Photo at Punchestown (we never saw Robbie Power so lost for words), Asterion Forlonges at Cheltenham :ninja:.
 
regarding the race itself, I think it loses a bit without a good Irish horse over. Same for the tingle creek, a visiting horse adds so much

Am sure Notebook wins this in 2021
 
There's been a trend in recent years for horses to cross the Irish Sea less often in either direction during the NH season until March arrives.

Paul Nicholls used to send horses to Down Royal and it used to be routine for the likes of Comedy Of Errors, Jodami, Best Mate or Neptune Collonges to be welcomed at Leopardstown at Christmas. By comparison La Bague Au Roi's appearance at the Dublin Racing Festival was seen as a daring exploit.

Meanwhile fewer Irish horses are turning up for races like the Fighting Fifth, Betfair Chase, Tingle Creek et al.

Too many people are keeping their powder dry for the spring festivals.
 
Billed as a great race by our Grassy and in the past there have been many. However this years renewal is far from a classic...staring with the favourite you have to go way down the list to the storyteller 28/1 to find a horse that has managed to string 2 wins together from it's last 2 races. PN muddies the water by running 2 neither of which are world beaters....Like grassy I would be tempted to back a couple of big priced horses rather than accept the short prices on offer for the PN pair
 
I got burnt last year but Cyrname 5/2 feels like a very solid bet if you have to play right now. Is it hard to see him go off 11/8?
 
Good to see you back, amigo.

Hard to see him go off as short as that, if Clan Des Obeaux makes the race. Nicholls seems unlikely to talk one up at the expense of the other.
 
Grasshopper said:
Good to see you back, amigo.

Hard to see him go off as short as that, if Clan Des Obeaux makes the race. Nicholls seems unlikely to talk one up at the expense of the other.
Click to expand...

Not sure I want to be on Clan Des Obeaux after Haydock but not a race I'll be selling out on.
 
Last edited:
Yes, CdO had a tough race in heavy ground, and he's not one of those big boned old fashioned chasing types that recovers well. His type tend to take a bit of time to recover from a hard race. For me I couldn't back him despite him being a dual winner.

Also I agree, surely others will make sure it's a proper test to see if Cyrname stays. Nicholls has Frodon and Real Steel entered too, but surely he won't run four?! I wonder if Frodon will be held back for something else?

I can't have Lostintranslation after such a shocking run last time and his run in this last year, particularly with Tizzards horses all over the place with their form at the moment. I know they gave him the breathing op after the race last year and he ran well in the Gold Cup, but how could you touch him after Haydock.

I have Cyrname in a couple of multiples but wouldn't back him in a single given he's likely to be a **** or bust.

I've backed Saint Calvados each way long range and have him for the Gold Cup too, but I want to get something else onside too. Allaho and Monalee would be of interest of they came over, but I suspect neither will, and I'd be all over the Storyteller if I knew he was coming over. I'm just waiting for any kind of news so i can jump on a price.
 
Last edited:
If he did I missed is Frankel. If you can remember where you saw it can you pop a link up? Cheers.
 
Back
Top