Long Run Connections Play Up King George Chances

As the Christmas National Hunt fixtures approach we’re starting to see some real movement in the ante post market for the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day. There’s a lot to like about this race and it’s one of the most open iterations of it we’ve seen in years now that King Kauto looms over the race in statue form only. 

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Look for Long Run to see his price clipped just a bit as the true believers come out of the woodwork following positive comments from connections. Apparently he worked over the weekend on the gallops and the word was “full steam ahead” to Kempton. 

William Hill currently offers him at 4/1 to get the win but most firms stand at a 7/2 margin. 

Al Ferof has always been a talented sort but he’s been making real claims this year for his ability to tackle fixtures at the highest level. Following his score in the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase (his seasonal debut) by a hefty 3 length margin over a field of 18, he’s been building up plenty of momentum for his tilt at a Cheltenham Gold Cup campaign this year. 

The fact that the aforementioned Grade 3 victory came at Cheltenham certainly helps his claims. He didn’t fare so well last year against Sprinter Sacre but he looks much more comfortable going over longer distances. 

Cue Card won a relatively simple Grade 2 event at Exeter to kick off his campaign and the six-year-old son of King’s Theatre has looked as sharp as ever over the past year or so with only one real blemish coming last year in mid-November when he unseated his rider. He hasn’t been outside of the forecast since then and he’s got credible claims here at a 6/1 price tag with most major bookmakers. 

Riverside Theatre is in the mix and can be spotted as low as 6/1 with some bookmakers but as high as 8/1 with others. Things didn’t really work out like he planned in the Betfred Bowl Stakes at Aintree last year but he had rattled off three scores in a row at that point including a win in the Ryanair Chase when sent off as the 7/2 betting favourite. 

Sizing Europe is making a step up to longer distances as connections eye Cheltenham Gold Cup glory for the accomplished 2m and 2m4f chaser. He’s going to enjoy the distance if he gets a relatively fair pace to aim at and you also figure that the going will have a lot to do with whether he lines up or not. He’s probably not a great shout at 7/1 but looks attractive at 10s.