THE entries for the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day are out and it looks to have some star quality.
Two crucial ante-post players were shockingly left out of the race, leaving all to play for.
As per usual, Willie Mullins has produced a strong teamSportsfile
Neither 20-1 Punchestown Gold Cup winner Fastorslow or Willie Mullins’ Fact To File were among the entries for the £250,000 race.
But there still looks to be some hot competition, even if some punters are concerned it will be a one-horse race.
Betfair spokesman Barry Orr said: ‘’It’s the strongest set of entries I can remember.”
Who are the big names to look out for and where might we see them before the big day?
Il Est Francais
The French raider trained by savvy partnership Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm has shot into hot favourite at 7-2 for good reason.
The six-year-old finished a disastrous 55 lengths behind the winner on his first outing in April in Auteuil, but was back to his best next time around in late September.
He’s got track and trip form, having bolted up in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase last year, prompting Paul Nicholls to draw comparisons with the race’s namesake himself.
Gaelic Warrior
Willie Mullins’ best shot in the race was an impressive winner in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival last year, and has gone in just behind George’s charge at 11-2.
He’s entered in a Novice Chase at Punchestown on November 24 and it will be interesting to see how he fares on his seasonal debut.
Galopin Des Champs
The Cullentra genius has also thrown in the two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner who races nowhere without a hefty chance at success.
And, to make things better for the 8-1 chaser who has earned £1.5 million in his career, his old nemesis Fastorslow is not entered.
Il Etait Temps
A seriously impressive Novice last time out who won four of his six starts.
He was beaten a long way by stable companion Gaelic Warrior at the Cheltenham Festival, but then reversed the form at Punchestown.
It will be worth tuning in to the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on November 4, as the above Mullins’ trio are all entered.
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Hewick
Last year’s winner put up an impressive performance at Down Royal last weekend to finish a devastatingly close second to Henry de Bromhead’s Envoi Allen.
There’s a chance he will stop by the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 23 en-route to Kempton, which could very well be his last opportunity to run for Shark Hanlon, who’s six-month-ban begins on December 1.
Bravemansgame
Nicholls’ big one will likely take the same route as Hewick as he also holds an entry in the Betfair Chase.
He’s 20-1, which seems incredibly generous, but a closer look at his form shows that, while he very often finishes a close second, he’s not got his head in front for two long years since winning this in 2022.
True to form, he was beaten into second in the Charlie Hall Chase at Weatherby last weekend by The Real Whacker.
Ahoy Senor
Lucinda Russel’s veteran is another horse likely to take the Haydock route. He hasn’t been seen since October and often needs his first run.
He’s currently a tempting 20-1.
Other’s to note are Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge, Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning, who was a non-runner in the Charlie Hall because of the ground.
And long-time crowd-pleaser Protektorat, who has a Betfair Chase to his name, will be turning up to throw his hat in the ring.
Coral: 7-2 Il Est Francais, 11-2 Gaelic Warrior, 8 Galopin Des Champs, 12 Banbridge, Il Etait Temps, Protektorat, 14 Grey Dawning, Hewick, 16 Capodanno, Corbetts Cross, Envoi Allen, Ginny’s Destiny, Grangeclare West, 20 Ahoy Senor, Bravemansgame, 25 bar
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