Cyrname is the highest rated chaser in the UK and Ireland. The horse can justify that status by winning the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
The race is the mid-season championship for staying steeplechasers and a major trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. Cyrname can beat a small but select field and the six declared runners means each way bets are settled at one quarter the odds for 2 places. Lostintranslation is the horse for the Forecast.
The King George is a three mile Grade 1 contest for horses aged four and older. It is not a handicap but a conditions race with allowances for mares and fillies and four-year-olds. However, each runner carries 11-10 this year. There is a total prize fund of £250,000 and the winner receives £142,375.
This year's field features four horses aged 7, one 9 and one 11 year-old. Five horses are trained in the UK and the other runner makes the journey from Ireland. Kempton is a flat right handed track and there are 18 fences in the race which is just less than two circuits of the track.
These 10 year betting trends can help you pinpoint the contenders:
- The average starting price of the winners was just under +350.
- The SP's ranged from -162.5 to +1200.
- There were 5 winning favourites.
- 1 winner started at double-figure odds.
- 5 winners were returned at -162.5 to +150.
All but one winner was in the top three in the betting. Nine had already won a Grade 1 race. Each winner had already run in the current season. A typical winner has an official rating of 170 and over. All 10 successful horses were trained by Paul Nicholls (5), Nicky Henderson (3) and Colin Tizzard (2). The last five winners were partnered by different jockeys. No winner in the last six seasons also won the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The winning-most aged is 8 with 3 wins. Ages range from 6 to 11.
Here is a brief guide for each of the declared runners:
1. ASO (FR)
- Trainer: Venetia Williams
- Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
- Racing Post Rating: 175
- Official Rating: 166
- Summary: This horse needs to find a few pounds on his best form and he is not suited to the left-handed track.
2. CLAN DES OBEAUX (FR)
- Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
- Racing Post Rating: 180
- Official Rating: 169
- Summary: Last year's winner who ran well on his return in Ireland last month but this is a tougher ask with more high quality horses.
3. CYRNAME (FR)
- Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- Jockey: Harry Cobden
- Racing Post Rating: 185
- Official Rating: 177
- Summary: His three last runs have produced impressive wins at Ascot and Kempton is a similar track and the race distance should be within his range.
4. FOOTPAD (FR)
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Jockey: Barry Geraghty
- Racing Post Rating: 174
- Official Rating: 165
- Summary: Leading novice chaser two seasons ago but the horse has not progressed though he is now looking as good as he did in the past.
5. LOSTINTRANSLATION (IRE)
- Trainer: Colin Tizzard
- Jockey: Robbie Power
- Racing Post Rating: 181
- Official Rating: 173
- Summary: Leading novice chaser who won a Grade 1 race at Aintree and the only horse that can win the £1 million bonus for winning the Betfair Chase, King George and Gold Cup in the same season.
6. THISTLECRACK (GB)
- Trainer: Colin Tizzard
- Jockey: Tom Scudamore
- Racing Post Rating: 175
- Official Rating: 162
- Summary: High class staying hurdler who won the King George as a novice in 2016 and was second behind Clan des Obeaux last year.
Cyrname usually races from the front and any doubts about his stamina can be put to bed with a win in the 2020 King George VI Chase. Lostintranslation has the form and ratings to be the runner-up and be the second horse for the Forecast.