Adam Williams presents his prediction for the Kempton Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1, 3m, 4yo+) horse racing event.
Spillane's Tower was a late supplement to the race last week and currently leads the ante-post market. For this Irish contender, it will be his first start in Britain. He boasts victories in the Gold Cup at Fairyhouse and the Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown. He began the season with a second-place finish in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, narrowly beaten by Fact To File, who is also owned by JP McManus.
Grey Dawning leads the charge for the home team. He triumphed in the Turners Novices' Chase at Cheltenham and then finished third in the Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree. This season, he competed in the Betfair Chase (Grade 1), where he was the favourite but was bested by Royale Pagaille following an error at the final jump. Nonetheless, at 4/1 on bet365, he is our pick for this event.
Il Est Francais represents the French team. Last year, he won the Kauto Star Novices' Chase here with good authority. He also claimed the Prix Richard et Robert Hennessy at Auteuil in late September but did not finish in the Prix la Haye Jousselin.
Also from France are Juntos Ganamos and General En Chef, whose chances are considered slim.
Banbridge capped last season with a win in the Champion Chase (Grade 1) at Punchestown. This season, he came fourth in the Fortria Chase and lost his jockey at the final fence in the Way Chase (Grade 2).
Corbetts Cross is another JP McManus entry and is not far off Spillane's Tower in terms of ability. At Cheltenham, he won the National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Novices' Chase and beat the favourite, Embassy Gardens, by 17 lengths. However, this season's start at Wexford saw him finish second in a Listed race.
L'Homme Presse finished fourth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and is yet to have a run this season. He was the favourite in this race in 2022 but unseated his rider at the last fence, where Envoi Allen ended up seventh. This season, under Henry De Bromhead's guidance, Envoi Allen won the Ladbrokes Champion Chase, beating Hewick, the previous year's King George VI champion. Unfortunately, this year, Hewick will skip this race to compete over hurdles at Leopardstown.
Also entered is Bravemansgame, who claimed this prize in 2022 and was second last year. In his last outing, he finished third in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. We're sceptical of his chances, yet we wouldn't be shocked if he exceeds expectations.
The Real Whacker has also been added as a supplementary entry. Last time out, he won the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Grade 2), beating Bravemansgame. To justify the entry fee, a fifth-place finish would suffice, which seems like a feasible task.
