Horse Talk with Simon Jackson:

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PAUL Nicholls has won the King George VI Chase 11 times and once again has a strong hand in Kempton Park’s feature race of the season on Boxing Day which has attracted 24 entries.

Nicholls saddled the first two home last year when 2018 winner Clan Des Obeaux beat better-fancied stablemate Cyrname by 21 lengths.

The superb result continued Nicholl’s dominance of the Boxing Day showpiece which he won with See More Business (1997,1999), Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011) and Silviniaco Conti (2013, 2014), before Clan Des Obeaux’s victories in 2018 and 2019.

Clan Des Obeaux heads the betting at 11-4 (Paddy Power) from last weekend’s Charlie Hall Chase winner Cyrname (3-1). Clan Des Obeaux bids to become only the third horse to win the £200,000 Grade 1 contest in three consecutive years; a feat previously achieved by champions Kauto Star and Desert Orchid (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990).

Real Steel (14-1) – who was sixth in the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup – and recent Cheltenham winner Frodon (16-1) comprise Nicholls’ entries for the 2020 Ladbrokes King George VI Chase.

Barney Clifford, regional head of racing and clerk of the course, Kempton Park said: “It is fantastic to see such high-quality horses entered from the UK and Ireland, many of whom have had multiple Grade 1 wins.

“Clan Des Obeaux will be bidding to join the Likes of Kauto Star and Desert Orchid by winning a third consecutive renewal but it will be no easy feat with such strength and depth amongst the entries, not least from his stablemate Cyrname.

“It is the absolute highlight of Kempton Park’s jumps calendar, so we are looking forward to a brilliantly competitive running of the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase.”

Ladbrokes King George VI Chase

All entries:

Al Dancer (FR), Allaho (FR), Black Op (IRE), Champ(IRE), Clan Des Obeaux (FR), Cyrname (FR), Defi du Seuil (FR), Fakir d’Oudairies (FR), Frodon (FR), Global Citizen (IRE), Itchy Feet (FR), Kemboy (FR), La Bague Au Roi (FR), Lostintranslation (IRE), Melon (GB), Monalee (IRE), Real Steel (FR), Saint Calvados (FR), Simply The Betts (IRE), Siruh Du Lac (FR), Slate House (IRE), The Storyteller (IRE), Vinndication (IRE), Waiting Patiently (IRE)

Horse Talk with Simon Jackson. Showcasing horse racing in London and the south east.