Staged at Kempton Park racecourse on Boxing Day (Monday, 26th Dec) the King George VI Chase is the highlight contest on the festive racing calendar as ‘once-a-year’ punters try and get their Christmas turkeys paid for by the bookies.
With star names like Desert Orchid, One Man and, more recently, Kauto Star, who won the King George Chase a staggering five times, amongst the household names to land this decent pot then the 3m Grade One race never fails to attract the best longer distance chasers in training, while it’s also seen as a good guide to that season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
We take a look back at recent winners and highlight the key stats to take into the 2022 renewal – this year run on Monday Dec 26th.
Past King George VI Chase Winners
2021 – Tornado Flyer (28/1)
2020 – Frodon (20/1)
2019 – Clan Des Obeaux (11/2)
2018 – Clan Des Obeaux (12/1)
2017 – Might Bite (6/4 fav)
2016 – Thistlecrack (11/10 fav)
2015 – Cue Card (9/2)
2014 – Silviniaco Conti (15/8 fav)
2013 – Silviniaco Conti (7/2)
2012 – Long Run (15/8 fav)
2011 – Kauto Star (3/1)
2010 – Long Run (9/2)
2009 – Kauto Star (8/13 fav)
2008 – Kauto Star (10/11 fav)
2007 – Kauto Star (4/6 fav)
2006 – Kauto Star (8/13 fav)
2005 – Kicking King (11/8 fav)
2004 – Kicking King (3/1 fav)
2003 – Edredon Bleu (25/1)
2002 – Best Mate (11/8 fav)
Note: The 2005 renewal was staged at Sandown Park
King George VI Chase Trends
18/20 – Had raced within the last 5 weeks
18/20 – French (13) or Irish bred (5)
17/20 – Had won a Grade One chase before
16/20 – Finished in the top three last time out
16/20 – Placed favourites
16/20 – Had won over 3m or further (fences) before
16/20 – Aged 8 or younger
15/20 – Officially rated 168 or higher
15/20 – Returned 9/2 or shorter in the betting
12/20 – Had won a race over fences at Kempton before
11/20 – Winning favourites
11/20 – Won last time out
10/20 – Ran in the Betfair Chase (Haydock) last time out
10/20 – Aged 6 or 7 years-old
10/20 – Trained by Paul Nicholls (12 times in all)
8/20 – Won by a previous winner of the race
3/20 – Won by an Irish-based yard (only 4 in the last 36 runnings)
Paul Nicholls, the Tizzard yard and Nicky Henderson have trained 15 of the last 16 winners between them (10 Nicholls, 2 Tizzard, 3 Henderson)
Trainer Willie Mullins has only won the race twice (2021 Tornado Flyer and 2001 Florida Pearl)
The average winning SP in the last 20 years is 6/1
