The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 affair that dates back to 1937. It is run on Boxing Day at Kempton as part of the course’s Christmas Festival and is a highlight of the festive season, and indeed the whole year, for National Hunt fans. Generally considered to be the second-most prestigious chase on the calendar, the total purse in 2022 was a very handy £250,000. The race is open to all horses aged at least four, with a seven-pound allowance for fillies and mares.
The three-mile test sees a field of top-class chasers contend with 18 fences and has produced some thrilling races over the years. The roll of honour reads like a who’s who of UK and Irish chasing, with Mill House, Arkle, Wayward Lad, Desert Orchid, Best Mate and Long Run just some of the legends to have won this one. None can match the record of the brilliant Kauto Star though, who claimed this title five times in six years between 2006 and 2011.
2025 - The Jukebox Man
A thrilling finish saw The Jukebox Man edge out Banbridge by a nose in one of the closest-fought renewals for many a year. Four horses approached the final fence in contention, setting up a dramatic battle to the line. From them, Banbridge enjoyed a tiny lead over the three rivals but Jukebox Man found enough under pressure to secure victory. At the line, second and third were just a nose and short head off the pace, while Jango Baie in fourth was just half a length behind. A true nail-biter of a finish at Kempton and a brilliant spectacle for the fans.
- 1st – The Jukebox Man 7/1, Jockey: Ben Jones, Trainer: Ben Pauling
- 2nd – Banbridge 16/1, Jockey: Sean Bowen, Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
- 3rd – Gaelic Warrior 9/4J, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
2024 - Banbridge
Il Est Francais looked set to land this after leading for much of the race, but Banbridge produced a decisive late surge to take the spotlight. A better jump at the final fence helped Joseph O’Brien’s runner take control, denying the French-trained front-runner a famous victory on British soil. The leading duo were so much stronger than the rest of the field that a full ten lengths separated the runner-up from fellow French horse, L’Homme Presse, in third.
- 1st - Banbridge 7/1, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
- 2nd - Il Est Francais 9/2, Jockey: James Reveley, Trainer: Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm
- 3rd - L’Homme Presse 14/1, Jockey: Charlie Deutsch, Trainer: Venetia Williams
2023 - Hewick
Hewick, a horse bought for just £800, produced a remarkable late comeback to win after looking out of contention for much of the race. Allaho and Bravemansgame appeared to have the finish between them, but Hewick, the bargain buy of the field, rallied from the rear to surge past his rivals. Shishkin had also been in contention before falling or slipping after the second-last fence, unseating Nico de Boinville in the process. It was an incredible turnaround, and one that only just happened, as Gavin Sheehan admitted he probably would have pulled up in any other race, given how far Hewick trailed by.
- 1st - Hewick 12/1, Jockey: Gavin Sheehan, Trainer: John Joseph Hanlon
- 2nd - Bravemansgame 19/4, Jockey: Harry Cobden, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 3rd - Allaho 13/8F, Jockey: Paul Townend, Trainer: Willie Mullins
2022 - Bravemansgame
A dominant display from Bravemansgame delivered a 14-length victory for trainer Paul Nicholls. The result was sealed in dramatic circumstances when leading challenger L’Homme Presse, who was within a length of the lead, unseated Charlie Deutsch at the final fence, leaving Bravemansgame to gallop clear. His jumping and relentless pace had already put him firmly in control, and he finished the race with nobody remotely close by. A tired Frodon, who led in a typically front running display, until the third-to-last fence, could only manage third after also being passed by Royale Pagaille.
- 1st - Bravemansgame 11/4, Jockey: Harry Cobden, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 2nd - Royal Pagaille 12/1, Jockey: Tom Scudamore, Trainer: Venetia Williams
- 3rd - Frodon 18/1, Jockey: Bryony Frost, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
2021 - Tornado Flyer
Tornado Flyer caused a major surprise at healthy odds of 28-1, becoming the longest-priced winner in the King George VI Chase’s history. Danny Mullins delivered a patient ride before shaking up his mount down the home straight. He took the lead two fences out, and shortly afterwards the race took a significant turn when Asterion Forlonge, in second place, fell at the final obstacle. The race was not entirely over as Clan Des Obeaux, now in second, did not trail by an insurmountable distance, but Tornado Flyer put on the burners after the final jump and stormed well clear.
- 1st - Tornado Flyer 28/1, Jockey: Danny Mullins, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 2nd - Clan Des Obeaux 7/2, Jockey: Harry Cobden, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 3rd - Saint Calvados 25/1, Jockey: Gavin Sheehan, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
2020 - Frodon
Frodon produced a superb front-running display at 20-1 to secure a memorable victory at Kempton. Bryony Frost made history as the first female jockey to win the race, and became the all-time leading female National Hunt jump jockey in the process. As is the brave little horse’s style, Frodon set the pace from the outset and jumped brilliantly throughout the three-mile contest. Clan Des Obeaux threatened to challenge with two fences remaining, but the main challenge came from the fast-approaching Waiting Patiently. The challenge never looked an overly serious one mind you, with Frodon always looking in control out in front.
- 1st - Frodon 20/1, Jockey: Bryony Frost, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 2nd - Waiting Patiently 12/1, Jockey: Brian Hughes, Trainer: Ruth Jefferson
- 3rd - Clan Des Obeaux 85/40F, Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
2019 - Clan Des Obeaux
Clan Des Obeaux secured a second consecutive King George VI Chase victory with an emphatic 21-length success over Cyrname. The latter had been favourite and led for much of the race, but could not match the winner’s finishing effort as Clan Des Obeaux pulled decisively clear. It was expected that 15/8 second favourite Lostintranslation would be in the mix for this five-horse contest, but he was pulled up three fences out due to breathing problems. This left Clan Des Obeaux with absolutely no credible rivals in an incredibly one-sided King George renewal.
- 1st - Clan Des Obeaux 11/2, Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 2nd - Cyrname 5/4F, Jockey: Harry Cobden, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 3rd - Footpad 13/2, Jockey: Barry Geraghty, Trainer: Willie Mullins
2018 - Clan Des Obeaux
A wonderful battle concluded with Clan Des Obeaux defeating Thistlecrack, in a race closer than the winning margin might suggest. The contest was disrupted when Bristol De Mai fell and brought down fellow strong contender Waiting Patiently, while Might Bite (7th place) failed to reproduce his best form after bleeding from his nose. With two contenders out and another under the weather, Clan Des Obeaux took full advantage. He took the third-to-last jump side by side with Thistlecrack and the pair continued to race neck-and-neck until a superb final jump allowed Clan Des Obeaux to gain a decisive advantage.
- 1st - Clan Des Obeaux 12/1, Jockey: Harry Cobden, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 2nd - Thistlecrack 15/2, Jockey: Tom Scudamore, Trainer: Colin Tizzard
- 3rd - Native River 9/2, Jockey: Richard Johnson, Trainer: Colin Tizzard
2017 - Might Bite
After falling at the final fence when challenging for victory the previous year, Might Bite made amends with a determined success. He faced a stern challenge from Double Shuffle in the closing stages but held on to win by a length. The contest was Might Bite’s to lose down the home stretch as he enjoyed a solid lead over Thistlecrack, Double Shuffle and Two For Two. From the trio, it was Double Shuffle who gave Might Bite cause for concern, but Nicky Henderson’s horse had enough about him to resist the late surge.
- 1st - Might Bite 6/4F, Jockey: Nico de Boinville, Trainer: Nicky Henderson
- 2nd - Double Shuffle 50/1, Jockey: Adrian P Heskin, Trainer: Tom George
- 3rd - Tea For Two 20/1, Jockey: Lizzie Kelly, Trainer: Nick Williams
2016 - Thistlecrack
Thistlecrack confirmed his class over fences with an impressive victory at Kempton. The dominant staying hurdler from the previous season had won all three of his earlier chases and started favourite against four rivals, including defending champion Cue Card. After moving to the front under Tom Scudamore, the Colin Tizzard-trained eight-year-old found another gear rounding the home turn, leaving his stablemate and the rest of the field behind. His assured jumping carried him to a three-and-a-quarter-length success, strengthening his position as a leading contender for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
- 1st - Thistlecrack 11/10F, Jockey: Tom Scudamore, Trainer: Colin Tizzard
- 2nd - Cue Card 5/4, Jockey: Paddy Brennan, Trainer: Colin Tizzard
- 3rd - Silviniaco Conti 20/1, Jockey: Noel Fehily, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
2015 - Cue Card
- 1st - Cue Card 9/2, Jockey: Paddy Brennan, Trainer: Colin Tizzard
- 2nd - Vautour 3/1, Jockey: Ruby Walsh, Trainer: Willie Mullins
- 3rd - Al Ferof 16/1, Jockey: Harry Skelton, Trainer: Dan Skelton
2014 - Silviniaco Conti
- 1st - Silviniaco Conti 15/8F, Jockey: Noel Fehily, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 2nd - Dynaste 7/1, Jockey: Tom Scudamore, Trainer: David Pipe
- 3rd - Al Ferof 7/1, Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies, Trainer: Paul Nicholls