by Jack Milner at BetVictor WE ALL know what the real highlight of Christmas is ‒ and it isn’t listening to your nan bring back her sprouts via the rumblings of the methane-soaked sofa! No, one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar is the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park, a race that Kauto Star has dominated since the turn of the Millennium, winning a record-breaking five times.

Paul Nicholls has his half-brother Kauto Stone, but he isn’t in the same league. Versatile performers such as Captain Chris, Hunt Ball, The Giant Bolster and Champion Court don’t look to have the class to win a Grade 1 chase over three miles.

Riverside Theatre and Long Run from the yard of Nicky Henderson head the market but stablemate FINIAN’S RAINBOW is well worth a punt at a bigger price. The Champion Chaser won over
two-and-a-half miles at Aintree, and the step-up in trip will suit as long as it doesn’t come up too soft. GRANDS CRUS is another over-priced horse due to a poor performance last time out on soft but won the Feltham Chase last year over course and distance in a quicker time than the King George. Both horses he beat that day are unbeaten with Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth winning five graded races since. Both could end up dropping down in trip for The Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March, and with BetVictor’s Non-Runner-Free-Bet offer looks well worth a punt in that market too.

King George Chase – Finian’s Rainbow 1pt Win

King George Chase – Grands Crus 1pt Win