Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

SportsCasting

Andy Newton

Who Is The 2024 King George VI Chase Favourite?

King George (Person) King George VI Chase Banbridge (Organization) King Charles III Grey Dawning Jimmy Mangan Nicky Henderson Kempton

The King George Chase favourite ahead of Boxing Day’s Kempton showpiece race could chop and change between now and race time, in what looks a tight market this year.

It’s a race hardened horse racing fans join up with the many ‘once a year’ punters to try and get the Christmas expenses paid for – but just how many King George favourites win, who is the market leader this year and when was the last jolly to land the big race?

We answer all these King George Chase favourite related questions for the race that is being shown LIVE on ITV Racing.

Spillane’s Tower Expected To Be The King George Chase Favourite

The current King George Chase favourite with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK is the Jimmy Mangan-trained Spillane’s Tower, who was recently supplemented for £4,600 to get into the race.

This exciting 6 year-old was last seen running the current Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Fact To File close in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown – which many feel is the best form coming into the 2024 King George VI Chase (watch below).

Spillane’s Tower would also be looking to give owner JP McManus his second King George winner. With his only other success in this race in 2000 with First Gold.

If Spillane’s Tower can win, it was also be trainer Jimmy Mangan’s first winner this season.

Il Est Francais, Banbridge and Grey Dawning Disputing To Be King George Favourite

In a tight market, the King George Chase favourite could chop and change a lot between now and race time (2:30pm) on Boxing Day (26th Dec).

This is because there are three other horses just behind Spillane’s Tower – Il Est Francais, Banbridge and Grey Dawning.

Il Est Francais is looking to become the first French-trained King George Chase winner since First Gold in 2000 and also join others like Algan, The Fellow and Nupsala, who have won for France in the past.

Il Est Francais was also an impressive winner of the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at this meeting 12 months ago (watch below).

Banbridge was last seen unseating in the Hilly Way Chase at Cork when holding every chance – and with the horse at his best on ‘good’ ground is set to get his conditions at Kempton on Thursday.

Grey Dawning will be hoping to give trainer Dan Skelton his first winning in the King George and also become the first grey winner of the race since One Man in 1996.

How Many King George Chase Favourites Win?

Over the last 22 the King George Chase trends tell us that the favourites don’t have a bad record – 50% have won.

Yes, 11 of the last 22 market leaders for the King George Chase have rewarded favourite backers. While 17 of the last 22 (77%) jollies have also been placed.

However, the last King George Chase favourite to win was back in 2017.

Might Bite Was The Last King George Chase Jolly To Win

The King George Chase might still have a fair strike-rate for winning favourites in recent times, but we are currently on a run of six years with NO jolly going in.

You have to go back to 2017 to find the last winning market leader. Which was the Nicky Henderson-trained Might Bite (watch below).

This remains Nicky Henderson’s last King George winner and his third in total. With Long Run (2010 and 2012) his other winner.