£1000 of BOOKIES FREE BETS
King George Betting
The King George VI steeplechase at Kempton on Boxing Day is one of the biggest jumps races of the season. It is the racing highlight of the festive season. Our number one rated online bookmaker for King George betting is
Bet365 and they give away £200.
Favourites in betting odds boast good
Kempton King George Chase record
Indulging in King George betting on Boxing Day is the highlight of the festive season for jump racing fans across the UK and far beyond. A Grade 1 listed three mile chase, the King George steeplechase is second only to the Cheltenham Gold Cup in terms of prestige and attracts the top class staying chasers in Britain, Ireland and France.
The first King George Chase took place in 1937, inaugurated to celebrate King George VI's ascension to the throne, it has been a significant source of excitement for racing and betting enthusiasts ever since.
Betting markets know best in the King George
In recent years, favourite followers have regularly been rewarded and enjoyed particularly consistent betting returns in the King George. Punters prepared to lump on the odds on shots, often a high risk strategy in steeplechases, have reaped the benefits of their convictions.
In the past twenty years, the bookies markets in the King George have almost always got it right. Since the turn of the century only one real outsider has succeeded in taking the top spot. In 2003, Henrietta Knight's Edredon Bleu, a French bred horse, rewarded value seekers in the King George by coming in at 25/1. The 2/1 favourite that year, another French bred, Jair du Cochet, was never really at the races and pulled up.
Maybe it is simply the shortcomings of the GB breeding system but French and Irish bred horses have much the best record in the King George. Since the distant days of Desert Orchid only two GB bred horses have succeeded, Teeton Mill and Barton Bank.
The Irish bred Florida Pearl also managed to beat much shorter priced horses in the King George odds in 2001, succeeding at 8/1, but these generously priced winners are definitely exceptions to the rule.
Before looking at the exploits of the most famous French bred, Paul Nicholls' Kauto Star, remember that Kicking King justified his 3/1 and 11/8 favouritism in the King George betting in 2004 and 2005 respectively and that Best Mate triumphed as 11/8 favourite in 2002. It was the second favourite in the odds, First Gold at 5/2, who took home the spoils in the year 2000.
Kauto Star dominates the King George betting
In his first King George attempt in 2006, Kauto Star started the 8/13 favourite in the betting odds. Partnered by Ruby Walsh, he rewarded his followers, surviving a heart-stopping blunder at the last fence, with an impressive eight length victory over the Jonjo O'Neill trained Exotic Dancer.
The following year Kauto Star enjoyed a near perfect preparation for the race, starting at odds of 4/6. Exotic Dancer once again took him on and was second favourite at 9/2 but could only manage third, being beaten by David Pipe's Our Vic by one and a quarter lengths. Kauto Star's victory was imperious. He cruised clear under Ruby Walsh, unhindered by jumping errors, putting eleven lengths between himself and his closest pursuer.
In 2008 the punting public once again put their faith in Kauto Star, despite encountering losses in his previous race at Haydock where his jockey Sam Thomas was unshipped after the last following a stumble. Reunited with Ruby Walsh for the big race on Boxing Day, Kauto was sent off at the relatively generous price of 10/11 having touched evens and 11/10 in places, with Alan King's Voy Por Ustedes second favourite at 9/2. Punters were ecstatic when he once again surged clear, surviving a last fence blunder to beat Jonjo O'Neill's Albertas Run by eight lengths. Voy Por Ustedes finished third by half a length.
In 2009 it was business as usual. The nine year old Kauto Star went off the clear favourite at 8/13 with the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Imperial Commander second in the King George betting market at 13/2. The bookmakers grimaced as Kauto Star put in a dazzling display of jumping whilst Imperial Commander's hopes disintegrated after an early mistake that nearly had jockey Paddy Brennan exiting from the side door. Kauto Star romped home beating David Pipe's Madison Du Berlais, a 10/1 shot, by 36 lengths. Jockey Ruby Walsh barely moved a muscle as he left his rivals for dead in a record breaking fourth consecutive win that left horse racing journalists, famous already for their limited vocabulary, struggling to find adequate superlatives to describe the manner of his victory.
The 2010 renewal saw Kauto Star start 4/7 favourite for the race, which was actually run in January 2011 after the weather cancelled Boxing Day. Only this time the young pretender Long Run (9/2) turned champ and denied Kauto a fifth consecutive triumph. Kauto Star could only manage third. The form of the result was upheld as Long Run went on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, again with Kauto third.
In 2011, six days shy of officially turning the veteran age of 12, Kauto Star landed an historic fifth victory in the race, the first horse to achieve the feat. This time he was 3/1 second favourite as the previous year's hero Long Run was sent off evens favourite and finished runner-up, despite the fact Kauto Star had trounced Long Run on his seasonal debut at Haydock.
King George becomes Desert Orchid's favourite race
Kauto's fourth (to be followed by a fifth) victory toppled the record of another King George Chase hero and firm favourite both within the betting ring and with the general public, the David Elsworth trained Desert Orchid. The spectacular jumping exploits of the front running grey were best showcased in the King George, a race that he won four times. His preference for a right handed track meant that his artillery was better discharged at Kempton rather than at the left handed Cheltenham where he only achieved one Gold Cup victory. Though he did spend years running in the Queen Mother Chase, instead of the Gold Cup, over an inadequate trip, but that bit of repeatedly bad placing by Dessie's connections was a crime against the programme book and a story for another day.
Previously known as a speedy two miler, Desert Orchid started a 16/1 outsider for the 1986 running of the King George. There were concerns over his stamina coupled with the challenge of competing within a top quality field that included the likes of Wayward Lad, a three time winner of the Boxing Day showpiece and favourite in the betting odds. Ridden for the first time by Simon Sherwood, Desert Orchid not only stayed the three miles well but put in a spectacular display of jumping to make every yard of the running, beating Door Latch by fifteen lengths.
Beaten into second place by the French raider, Nupsala in 1987, Dessie as he came to be affectionately known, clocked up three consecutive victories in the race in 1988-1990.
By 1988 his starting price of 1/2 in the King George betting was justified as he beat Kildimo easily by four lengths. In 1989 he was once again odds on when recording his third victory but, as his form over shorter trips weakened and concerns over his age grew, his followers in 1990 benefited from a relatively generous favourite's starting price of 9/4. A fall three from home in the King George the following year, as a twelve year old when 4/1, was the signal connections needed to announce his retirement.
The King George Chase has become one of the most popular races for both the public and anyone who enjoys jump racing. It is a highlight of the racing calendar and has been the ultimate showcase of a racing hero. History shows it is a course specialist's race so never dismiss a previous winner. If you are thinking of have a gamble then you must also take a good look at the favourite in the King George betting odds.