Analysis and Ratings: KING GEORGE VI CHASE

3:10 Kempton WILLIAM HILL KING GEORGE VI CHASE (Grade 1) (CLASS 1) (4yo+) 3m

FSF = Form and speed combined rating. Based on the horse’s best performance over the last twelve months. CUE CARD – FSF 161 2013 Ryanair Chase hero, Cue Card showed the benefit of a run at Exeter when scoring convincingly in the Betfair Chase. Allowed to dictate matters that day, he jumped well in the main, sealing the race with a fine jump at the last. It should be noted; he went round glued to the inside of the track while both second and third raced wider for much of the race. One wonders if his rivals will afford him an easy time up front this time round. In addition, his one run at Kempton Park came in this race last year when a disappointing fifth. SILVINIACO CONTI – FSF 159 Returned to action when third to Cue Card in the Betfair Chase. Conceded fitness to the winner that day and travelled well through the race. Reported to have progressed since that run and should be a major player. His top five FSF ratings have all come on left-handed tracks. MENORAH – FSF 158 Seasonal debut. Likes the course and looked to see out three-miles when second to First Lieutenant at Aintree in April. No horse has won this in the past twenty-five years on his seasonal reappearance. Won on heavy ground at this meeting in 2012. AL FEROF – FSF 154 Sustained an injury when taking the 2012 Paddy Power Gold Cup. Returning to action at Ascot in November, he jumped brilliantly to win easily from French Opera. The second upheld the form with an excellent run under top-weight in a handicap at Cheltenham. His breeding suggests three-miles will suit as he is by the same sire as Silviniaco Conti; while the sire of his dam, is also the sire of that horses dam. Travels well through his race and looks sure to be thereabouts. DYNASTE – FSF 154 Bolted up in the Feltham Chase on this card in 2012. Returned to action with a fine second to Cue Card in the Betfair Chase. Conceded fitness to the winner that day and travelled well before finding the winner too strong in the closing stages. With six runs under his saddle over fences, we may not have the best of him. LONG RUN – FSF 154 Dual winner of this race; though form this season has been well below his best. First time visor suggests he is perhaps, not concentrating on the job in hand, after numerous titanic battles both here and in France. CHAMPION COURT (IRE) – FSF 151 Unlucky not to win the Peterborough Chase with his saddle slipping on landing after the final fence. Had a hard race that day and is another not sure to see out the trip. RIVERSIDE THATRE – FSF 151 Returned to something approaching his best when rallying gamely to take the Peterborough Chase. Despite a second in this race in 2011, he does not appeal as one who is sure to see trip out at this level. In addition, his Peterborough Chase win came the hard way just fourteen days ago. MOUNT BENBULBEN (IRE) – FSF 145 Useful chaser on his day with six of his seven wins coming right-handed. Going well when unseating his rider at the fourth last in the JNwine.com Chase at Down Royal in November. Jumping errors have held back his progress over fences though clearly possesses a good engine.