King George VI Chase Tips 2023: Be Brave and trust in Nicholls

At Kempton on Boxing Day, seven horses will bid to win the prestigious King George VI Chase.

Who will be the one that comes out on top? Here’s my idea…

Most of the six runners in this year’s King George turn up with questions that need answering.

I suppose the most pressing one is: will Shishkin jump off?

Nicky Henderson’s nine-year-old refused to race at Ascot last month and does need to prove that was a one-off, but he has other issues too.

As much as I adore the horse, whether he’s going to jump and travel is a lottery these days – and if there’s one place he won’t get away with doing either of those things badly, it’s Kempton.

Allaho, who’s also pushing 10, must show he still has what it takes at the top level after a year-and-a-half on the sidelines courtesy of a physical issue.

He’d be the pick on peak form, but the Willie Mullins raider won a non-event at Clonmel over a month ago and the two-time Cheltenham Festival winner still has prove his aptitude as far as I’m concerned.

Meanwhile, it was only 38 days ago that Brown Advisory hero The Real Whacker pulled up lame in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. It’d be some training performance if he can bounce straight back to win a race of this quality.

Hewick is mildly interesting, but it’d be a fair turn-up if rank outsider Frodon – another one of my all-time favourites – was to repeat his 2020 success.

That leaves BRAVEMANSGAME, who’s taken to defend his crown for the race’s winning-most trainer Paul Nicholls.

Don’t get me wrong, he too has something to prove. The 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up has been below-par this season, going down to Gentlemansgame in the Charlie Hall last month before finishing second to Royale Pagaille in the Betfair Chase a few weeks later.

He probably would have won at Wetherby but for an uncharacteristic mistake at the final fence, while an extended 3m1f on soft ground round Haydock was never going to suit. I think even Nicholls would admit he should never have gone there.

Kempton, however, is right up his street – as he’s proved multiple times. There’s such an emphasis on jumping, and for me this is the best jumper in the game.

“He loves it there and it is the ultimate track for him. It is almost a home game for him in many ways. We are looking forward to the King George.”

Paul Nicholls on Bravemansgame

Back at “home” with the fantastic Harry Cobden returning to the saddle, I’m betting Bravemansgame can do the double and give his trainer a record-extending 14th King George title.