Big Race History: Kempton's King George VI Chase

Events / Malcolm Pannett / 23 December 2008 / Leave a Comment

Arkle, Best Mate, Kauto Star ... the King George roll of honour includes many of the greatest names in jumps history. Malcolm Pannett looks at the grand past of one of the finest chases on the UK calendar.

The King George VI Chase is not only one of the most prestigious races in the calendar but has also proved to be the best trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Eight horses have gone on to win the same season's Prestbury Park highlight, most recently Kauto Star in 2006. Numerous others who have lined up in the King George have gone on to feature in racing's blue riband or find success in other Festival races notably the Champion Chase.

The flat three miles at Kempton is a vastly different test to the extended three-and-a-quarter miles over Cheltenham's undulations. Class stayers though have had enough pace to stay up with the pace here while some of the best two-milers have been able to just about last home. The trouble has been working out which is which, as exampled by One Man, a dual King George winner, who ran out of puff in the closing stages of the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice before stepping back in trip to take the Champion Chase in 1998.

The race was first run in February 1937 being framed to honour King George VI, the Queen's father, who had acceded to the throne the previous December after his brother Edward VIII had abdicated. The inaugural winner was Southern Hero who had once beaten Golden Miller, albeit in receipt of two stone.

Kempton became a prisoner of war camp after the 1938 renewal and the race was not run again until 1947, when it was rescheduled to its now traditional Boxing Day date. The victory of Cottage Rake in 1948, who had won the previous season's Cheltenham Gold Cup and would go on to win the next two, added to the lustre and the race went from strength to strength. Arkle and Best Mate, also triple Gold Cup winners, would also take their places on the roll of honour.

Halloween, Mandarin, Pendil, Captain Christy, Silver Buck, The Fellow, One Man, See More Business, Kicking King and Kauto Star have all won twice. Wayward Lad won three times and Desert Orchid holds the record with four victories.

Fulke Walwyn and Francois Doumen have trained five winners apiece with Peter Cazalet, David Elsworth and Paul Nicholls one behind. While the Dickinsons trained six winners between them.

25 years ago - Wayward Lad's 1983 victory was the fifth in a row for the Dickinson family. Tony Dickinson trained Gay Spartan (1978) and Silver Buck (1979 and 1980) while son Michael was responsible for Wayward Lad (1982 and 1983). The 1981 renewal was abandoned due to frost and snow. Wayward Lad had been third in the previous year's Cheltenham Gold Cup when Michael Dickinson trained the first five home and would go on to record a third victory in the King George in 1985 when trained by Tony's wife and Michael's mother, Monica Dickinson.

10 years ago - Former-hunter chaser Teeton Mill (pictured) ran out an easy winner for trainer Venetia Williams and jockey Norman Williamson. The nine-year-old recorded nine victories from 10 outings, the exception being when running second to Double Thriller in Cheltenham's Champion Hunters' Chase, before sustaining a career ending injury when sent off second favourite in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Five years ago - Owner Jim Lewis found an able deputy for Best Mate, who had won the previous year's race, but was routed to Ireland to take the Ericsson Chase on this occasion, when former-Champion Chaser Edredon Bleu stepped up in distance to record a 25-1 shock at the expense of Tiutchev.

Last Year - Kauto Star romped home hard held by 11 lengths to win his second King George. He may have lost his Cheltenham Gold Cup title to stablemate Denman and fallen at Haydock last time, however a bold bid is expected as he attempts to become only the second horse, after Desert Orchid, to notch up a hat-trick in the Boxing Day showpiece.