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Boxing Day 2024: Kempton Racing Tips & the King George winner is...

Hello and something a little different for Boxing Day this year.

The King George card always gets the juices flowing after a few days off for Crimbo, and although there is racing in every corner of the country today, Kempton is by far and away the card of the month for December, full stop.

Now, I’m going to start putting a few up horses on this blog. So, and what better day and race to start with than the King George!

Read on to get today's King George tip
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2:30 Kempton: King George VI Chase

As the tinsel twinkles lose our attention and jingle of the bells begins to fade, horse racing fans are in for a treat with the 2023 King George VI Chase card at Kempton Park.

The King George isn’t just any Grade 1, 3m chase; it’s an arena where the best of the best lock horns in a racing spectacle that’s as thrilling as any of the board game victories you might have landed yesterday.

Allaho, Shishkin, and Bravemansgame: Titans of the Track

Let’s talk about the power trio that’s got everyone buzzing.

Allaho is a powerhouse who’s clinched the Ryanair not once but twice, is a force to reckon with. He’s the kind of horse that brings the ‘A’ in ‘A-game’ to every race.

We’re less than a week from 2024, and this lad hasn’t been beaten since 2021. Not the easiest to train, but my word this is a proper chaser.

Shishkin, a chaser who can switch gears like a dream over distances that would have lesser horses sweating in their horseshoes, is nothing short of a racing legend with his stash of Grade 1 victories.

And then, enter Bravemansgame. If last year’s King George VI Chase was a boxing match, he would’ve knocked out his rivals in the first round. A 14-length winner, he’s the kind of horse that makes you sit up and take notice. And let’s not forget his nail-bitingly close second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Bumps in the Road

But even titans stumble. Shishkin’s recent standoff at the starting line has left punters scratching their heads. It’s one thing to be a wild card, but it’s another to be a no-show. Allaho, after a sabbatical, returned to the track showing a bit of rust, but there were enough sparks to suggest the fire’s still burning bright.

Bravemansgame, usually a synonym for ‘winning’, has had a couple of off days, like we all do. His last race at the Betfair Chase wasn’t his finest hour. But the buzz in the air suggests that Paul Nicholls has been cooking up something special for Kempton. When Nicholls says a horse is tailor-made for a course, you don’t just listen; you pay attention. With 13 wins in this race, he’s not just a trainer; he’s a maestro.

What to Expect

So, what can we expect from this trio of equine excellence at Kempton? A Christmas cracker of a race, no doubt. Each of these champions has a point to prove, and there’s no better stage than the King George VI Chase. Will Bravemansgame reclaim his crown, or will Allaho and Shishkin rewrite the script?

Read on to get my solid pick for the King George….

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So What Is My Idea Of The Winner…?

For me, after careful consideration I have sided with ALLAHO

The horse just oozes class and although he needs to sharpen up from his Clonmel reappearance win after almost 18 months off, assuming he is well he has by far the fewest question marks.

As much as I have wanted to get behind Bravemansgame since being blown away by his novice potential, hoping he would be Nicholls next generational superstar, it just hasn’t happened.

Despite his undoubted ability, he seems to find a way to get beat far too often for me. Not that he is ungenuine, but some horses have the winning knack. Allaho doesn’t know how to get himself beat. Sometimes Bravemansgame seems like he doesn’t know how to win.

Talking of brave men, that leads me on to Shishkin, the last of the leading triumvirate. As you’d need to be a brave man to back a horse that has become a proper enigma.

Who knows what he is going to do… refuse to race again, fail to stay or maybe win by 20 lengths hard held. None of these would surprise me, but he is no longer the kind of horse I want carrying my dough.

Especially after the money I’ve done on presents and food this week!

One thing’s for sure: in the world of horse racing, surprises are just around the corner, and this Boxing Day, the King George VI Chase is the gift that keeps on giving. So, grab your form guide, don your festive jumper, and get ready for a race that promises to be as exhilarating as the festive season itself.

Nothing hugely surprising here, and a tip that some may say almost picks itself. But I came into the race with an open mind and serious respect for all three leading fancies.

When all is said and done, I think Allaho is the one by far the most likely to finish first and anything around 2/1 is fair. I wouldn’t be shocked if he went off closer to 6/4 or even 11/8.

Have a great Boxing Day and if I’ve given you a bum steer here, I hope you win a chunk.

Paul

The UK’s most successful private horse racing tips service. Established in 2001. Over two decades of success. Improve your profits and the outcome of your horse racing betting today.

Join The UK's Premier Horse Racing Tipster Service

PGR Gold

£29pm

★★★★★ 4.9 Review Score

PGR Platinum

£1,499/yr

★★★★★ 4.8 Review Score

The UK’s most successful private horse racing tips service. Established in 2001. Over two decades of success. Improve your profits and the outcome of your horse racing betting today.