3 minute read

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls seems to be relishing the chance of getting Bravemansgame back to Kempton in an attempt to retain his King George crown.

A fourteen-time winner of the Kempton festive feature, trainer Paul Nicholls certainly knows what it takes to win the three-mile Grade 1 prize, saddling the likes of See More Business, Desert Orchid, Silviniaco Conti and Clan Des Obeaux.

The Ditcheat handler will also be hopeful 2020 hero Frodon can bounce back to his very best although it's probably fair to say it's Bravemansgame who carries the expectation from the Lambourn yard.

Bravemansgame arrives at Kempton on the back of defeats in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby and the Betfair Chase at Haydock this season, but Nicholls is confident his defending champion has what it takes returning to Kempton this afternoon.

He said: "We got outstayed at Haydock by Royale Pagaille, but he has run well there (Kempton) before and it suits him well,"

"Allaho came back and won the other day from his time off, but is he as good as he was? There are plenty of ifs, buts and question marks, but we are very happy with Bravemansgame.

"I think he has got a great chance there is no doubt about it. The previous year's winner of the race is always the one to beat and he has definitely taken a step forward since Haydock."

With Harry Cobden opting to head to Ascot last month, Daryl Jacob stepped in for the ride on Bravemansgame, but Bryan Drew-owned eight-year-old will be reunited with Cobden at the Sunbury-on-Thames venue later today.

Speaking with PlanetSport, Cobden said: "The track just really suits him and seems to bring out the best in him. He's a very strong traveller and his jumping really keeps him in the race. If he can reproduce what he did last year, he'll definitely take a bit of beating.

"Allaho looks the main danger to me. He's a very smart horse and Willie (Mullins) doesn't send them over for nothing. He jumps a little bit left which wouldn't be ideal around Kempton and with Frodon in the race, he won't have an easy time of it. Hopefully, that will play into our hands."

Paul Townend is yet to ride in the King George on Boxing Day, but the Irish champion jockey labelled Allaho with 'as good a chance I will get of winning a King George.'

He told race sponsors Ladbrokes: "I can't wait to ride in a Ladbrokes King George VI Chase. It is a very prestigious race which I haven't been to before, so it is all new and I am looking forward to it,"

"Allaho is as good a chance I will get of winning a King George. It's a class race without it being a massive field. You can make a case for everything in it.

"My horse is a dual Ryanair winner, along with a Punchestown Gold Cup winner, so we are hoping he stays and that the track suits him. Obviously, I am disappointed to be missing some very big rides at Leopardstown, but having a crack on Allaho in this race makes up for it."

Nicky Henderson enters a bumper action Boxing Day in excellent form after an across-the-card four-timer on Saturday and the Lambourn-based maestro will be hoping his enigmatic Shishkin can sneak under the radar.

The 2021 Arkle winner remains very much unexposed over staying trips and although he's on something of a revival mission after his refusal at Ascot, Henderson believes it's far too soon to be writing off such a talented horse.

"When he won the Supreme, he was a very good horse, and he is still a very good horse," said Henderson.

"It has taken us a bit longer than it should have done to make us realise he is a three-miler not a two-miler, but if you win the Supreme, not surprisingly, you are thinking along the two-mile route, not three.

"He has proven what he can do over three miles, so let's stick to it. He is the sort of forgotten person in the race, and no one has mentioned him.

"The only thing I would say is don't judge him on this, because I think it is very unfair coming into a race like this without a run. It doesn't mean there aren't bigger and better things to come. He might run very well and not quite get home.

"Kempton is not a stamina track, except in the King George you have got to stay and be fit because this is the one race where there is no hiding place."