The big Boxing Day horse race for decades has been the King George VI Chase, where families plan their Christmas days around the Kempton race. Many ‘once-a-year’ punters also come out the woodwork to have a wager on the big race and with there being many repeat King George Chase winners – we look back at recent heroes of the race.
2023 King George Chase Winner Hewick NOT Back To Defend His Kempton Crown
12 months ago the John Joseph Hanlon-trained Hewick came with a power-packed late run to get the better of the 2022 King George VI Chase winner Bravemansgame by 1 1/2 lengths (watch below) – however, the 9 year-old WON’T be back in 2024 to defend his horse racing title.
Hewick, who was famously bought for just €850, will instead be running in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on December 28th.
The best horse racing betting sites in the UK make Spillane’s Tower the King George favourite, after being supplemented for the race for £4,600.
This JP McManus-owned 6 year-old will be looking to win the £148k King George Chase prize money and also give JP his first King George winner since First Gold in 2000.
Since 2000 There Have Been Eight Repeat King George VI Chase Winners
The good news for Bravemansgame fans is that the King George VI Chase has been a good race for repeat winners.
Since the turn of the century, the big Boxing Day feature has seen EIGHT past King George Chase winners land the Kempton race again.
With last year’s winner Hewick now NOT running, this leaves Bravemansgame as the only previous King George Chase winner in the race.
He’ll be looking to be the first horse since Long Run in 2012 to regain his crown.
See all Andy Newton’s King George Chase trends and stats here.
King George VI Chase Repeat Winners
- 2019 – Clan Des Obeaux
- 2014 – Silviniaco Conti
- 2012 – Long Run
- 2011 – Kauto Star
- 2009 – Kauto Star
- 2008 – Kauto Star
- 2007 – Kauto Star
- 2005 – Kicking King
King George VI Chase Winners Since 2000
- 2023 – Hewick (12/1)
- 2022 – Bravemansgame (11/4)
- 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)
- 2001 – Florida Pearl (8/1)
- 2000 – First Gold (5/2)
Kauto Star The Most Prolific King George VI Chase Winner EVER
The King George VI Chase was first run in 1937 and despite a break of no races during World War II, the Kempton contest has a fine history.
Many top names have graced the winners’ enclosure – including Mill House, Arkle, Pendil and Wayward Lad.
While one of the most famous winners in recent times was the popular grey Desert Orchid, who won the race four times between 1986 and 1990.
Dessie, held the record with that haul as the most successful King George VI Chase winner for 20 years.
However, a new kid on the block called Kauto Star dethroned the grey – winning the race five times in the 2000’s.
Kauto Star’s King George run started in 2006 when he won aged just 6 and it ended with his fifth success in 2011 when aged 11 (watch below) in what was a remarkable feat with many having written the two-time Gold Cup winner off as being too old.
Ruby Walsh rode Kauto Star to ALL his King George VI Chase wins and the ‘silver fox’ jockey never rode another winner in the race.
Kauto Star King George VI Chase Winning Years
- Kauto Star – 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Trainer Paul Nicholls Has The Most King George VI Chase Titles To His Name
As well as Kauto Star holding the record with the most King George Chase wins for a horse, his trainer Paul Nicholls also holds that title – with a massive 13 wins under his belt.
The first King George win for Nicholls came in 1997 with a horse called See More Business, who added a second win in the race in 1999.
Other wins followed with the likes of Silviniaco Conti and Clan Des Obeaux to add to the five he racked up with Kauto Star.
While his most recent success in the Kempton race came in 2022 with Bravemansgame.
Paul Nicholls King George VI Chase Winners
- See More Business (1997, 1999)
- Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
- Silviniaco Conti (2013, 2014)
- Clan Des Obeaux (2018, 2019)
- Frodon (2020)
- Bravemansgame (2022)
