King George VI Chase 2023: Results, Runners & Prize Money

A small but select field went to post in 2023, with the list of runners including two former champions – both from the yard of Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls. 2020 champ Frodon was the outsider of the field this time, but a bold bid was expected from 2022 hero Bravemansgame. Making up the quartet of challengers for the home team were the brilliant Shiskin, who was bidding to restore his reputation, having refused to race in the 1965 Chase at Ascot, and The Real Whacker, who also had questions to answer following a below-par effort on his seasonal return.

Strong as the home team looked, it was one of the Irish raiders who had captured the imagination of the betting public, with Willie Mullins’ dual Ryanair Chase hero Allaho backed into favouritism in the week leading up to the race. Also making the trip across the Irish Sea was Shark Hanlon’s stable star, Hewick. A small horse with a big heart, Hewick had been running a mighty race before falling in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup and recorded his biggest win when routing the field in the 2022 edition of the American Grand National.

Result

  • 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

Prize Money Breakdown

  • 1st – £143,045
  • 2nd – £54,095
  • 3rd – £27,420
  • 4th – £13,995
  • 5th – £7,370

Tote and Forecast Payouts

  • Tote Win – £14.20
  • Tote Places – 1st – £4.30, 2nd – £1.70
  • Exacta – £47.70
  • Computer Straight Forecast (CSF) – £38.58
  • Trifecta – £118.90

Recap

The first question hanging over the race was answered positively, with Shiskin consenting to set off with his rivals – not particularly enthusiastically, but with the main group at the first barrier. Perennial pace setters Allaho and Frodon stuck to the script in immediately setting out to make the running.

Into the backstretch, Frodon had won the battle for frontrunning duties, tracked through by Allaho and Shiskin, who had been bustled up into third by Nico de Boinville. Bravemansgame, Hewick, and The Real Whacker made up a wave of three in behind. Little change as they headed into the home straight for the first time. Allaho seemed content to deviate from his usual style, but Shiskin’s jumping proved a real asset to bring him onto the heels of Frodon as they moved away from the stands. As the pace began to quicken, Hewick was the one looking a little tapped for toe at the rear, albeit still well in touch.

Six from home, Frodon began to crack, leaving it to Shiskin to surge into the lead, followed through by Allaho and defending champ Bravemansgame – the Real Whacker struggling to get involved and Hewick now flat to the boards in an effort to keep up. Everything would change in the straight.

Shiskin looked clear over the third last and showed no sign of stopping. Bravemansgame and Allaho were clinging onto his coattails, and The Real Whacker and Frodon appeared beaten, but Hewick beginning to stay on from the rear. Shiskin jumped the second-last well, only to badly stumble on landing and send his rider crashing to the turf. Allaho was left to clear the last more than a length to the good, with Bravemansgame slowly eating into the deficit, but there, arriving with a wet sail on the outside, was Hewick and Gavin Sheehan, who mugged them both close home to score by one and a half lengths.

It was a first King George for both trainer and jockey as the Hewick adventure rumbles on. Purchased for the bargain basement price of €850 back in 2017, the pocket rocket has now amassed £613,359 in total prize money.

Runners

  • 1. Allaho – SP: 13/8F, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Paul Townend
  • 2. Bravemansgame – SP: 9/4, Trainer: Paul Nicholls, Jockey: Harry Cobden
  • 3. Frodon – SP: 28/1, Trainer: Paul Nicholls, Jockey: Bryony Frost
  • 4. Hewick – SP: 12/1, Trainer: John Joseph Hanlon, Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
  • 5. Shiskin – SP: 100/30, Trainer: Nicky Henderson, Jockey: Nico de Boinville
  • 6. The Real Whacker – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Patrick Neville, Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies

Non Runners

All Ran