Tag Archive for: King George VI Chase

Nicholls sets sights on Gold Cup next with Bravemansgame

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Paul Nicholls believes he has another genuine Gold Cup contender on his hands following Bravemansgame’s crowning moment in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Having been lukewarm on the idea of a Cheltenham challenge when his new stable star won the Charlie Hall Chase earlier in the season, the manner of his success when providing the champion trainer with a 13th win in the Christmas showpiece has forced a rethink.

He had to overcome more than three miles, eight rivals and 18 fences, too, as L’Homme Presse, backed into favouritism, repeatedly jumped out to his left, not really doing Bravemansgame any favours.

Harry Cobden was keen to give his mount space on the outside and it was not until they turned into the straight that he began to move up alongside L’Homme Presse, with two of last season’s leading novices fighting out the finish.

Bravemansgame began to assert running to the final fence and while both jumped it well, L’Homme Presse landed steep, unshipping Charlie Deutsch, allowing him the 11-4 winner come home 14 lengths clear of Royale Pagaille, a stablemate of L’Homme Presse.

“It was a hell of a race. They went a good gallop and old Frodon gave them a good lead. He stayed on strong then and showed his strengths. He is just a maturing horse and we have trained him for today,” said Nicholls.

“We will go straight to Cheltenham now and we won’t run him before the Gold Cup. Better ground helps him travel better than he did today, but he dug deep and stayed on. The other horse was a little unfortunate to lose his pilot, but he was beaten by then.

“We were very confident. Some of those bad runs in the spring you couldn’t judge him on as ours weren’t right. When he is right he is a very good horse. We knew it was him at his best today.”

Nicholls – whose Kempton roll of honour includes five memorable triumphs with dual Gold Cup hero Kauto Star – feels the stamina Bravemansgame showed close home will stand him in good stead come March, if the ground is suitable.

Bookmaker reaction regarding the Gold Cup was positive, with Betfair and Paddy Power making him 7-1 from 20-1 while Coral halved his price to 10-1.

“I loved the way he stayed on as all the way down the back he didn’t have a great passage as L’Homme Presse kept jumping across him and I would have liked to have seen it go a bit more fluent, but he came hard on the bridle and stayed on well,” Nicholls said.

“It is just fantastic. You set out to try and win these races and it is just brilliant, but you have got to have the right horse. He is a good horse but he has not been the easiest to train. We learned a few lessons about him last season but we have got him right now.

“He needs to be fresh. We have nothing to lose running him at Cheltenham, but he won’t run before. Nice ground will suit him well. It was great to see him stay on strong today.

“I was confident as I thought the track would suit him well.”

A meeting with L’Homme Presse is surely on the cards in the future and while Nicholls feels Cheltenham may suit that rival more, his horse was on top when he departed at the last.

Charlie Deutsch gets unseated from L'Homme Presse
Charlie Deutsch gets unseated from L’Homme Presse (John Walton/PA)

“L’Homme Presse was obviously going to be a danger and he is obviously going to be a very good horse and he won’t be far away in the Gold Cup where going left-handed will probably suit him better. But we got on top of him when he departed at the last and Bravemansgame galloped on to win so it is good form,” said Nicholls.

“I’m lucky enough to have the horses good enough to do it and the capability of a team that is good enough to get them right on the day.

“Horses like this find you rather than the other way. We have been lucky and we have some other lovely young horses at home. It is fantastic and I feel very lucky.

“You never dream of days like this and once you have a taste of it you never want it to go away. Last season he would never be able to do that (go three times up the hill on the gallops) now he cruises up it. Horses like that just reach that maturity. When he was five when he went to Cheltenham he was nowhere near the best physically but he is getting there.”

Bravemansgame makes it another King George to remember for Paul Nicholls

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Paul Nicholls was proved spot-on in his assertion that Bravemansgame is a tailor-made for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase as he provided him with a record 13th victory in the Boxing Day showpiece.

The seven-year-old was a brilliant winner of the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on this day 12 months ago, since when a return to Kempton for the big one has been top of his agenda.

Bravemansgame had been at the top of ante-post lists for the King George for some time – but despite his comeback victory in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, he was not favourite come the off, with that honour going to Venetia Williams’ L’Homme Presse (9-4), who was out to supplement a fine weight-carrying victory in Newcastle’s Rehearsal Chase last month.

Bravemansgame’s stablemate Frodon, the King George hero of 2020, gave his usual bold sight in front for much of the three-mile journey, but began to give way turning for home and at the top of the home straight it became clear it was going to develop into a straight shootout between the big two.

L’Homme Presse held a narrow advantage approaching the third fence from the finish, but Bravemansgame (11-4) and Harry Cobden mastered him between the last two two and was in command when L’Homme Presse unseated Charlie Deutsch at the final obstacle.

In the end it was L’Homme Presse’s stablemate Royale Pagaille who finished best of the rest, some 14 lengths adrift of the brilliant winner. Frodon was third, another four and quarter lengths back.

Cobden said: “It means a lot. The last one I won was in 2018 (Clan Des Obeaux) and I definitely didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have done. It sounds a bit silly, but now I’m 23 I appreciate these big days as they don’t come around that often.

“He was a bit behind the bridle and L’Homme Presse kept jumping across us which wasn’t ideal and we were getting carried out. I didn’t want to get him amongst it. Although we went the furthest route and we were getting a bit of hassle off the other one sometimes it is best to keep it simple.

“I knew he was going to be the one to beat turning in so I thought we would get a lead off him as long as possible. I then tried to pin him down the inside a bit so he couldn’t take us right across the track.

“He is a fantastic horse and it is a great day. I was just hoping we would get over the last. He got over it and stayed on very well. Yeah (will get the Gold Cup trip), it looks like he wants it.”

Paul Nicholls (left), Harry Cobden (centre left) and owner Bryan Drew (second right)
Paul Nicholls (left), Harry Cobden (centre left) and owner Bryan Drew (second right) (John Walton/PA)

Nicholls confirmed Bravemansgame would now head straight to the Gold Cup.

He said: “It was a hell of a race. They went a good gallop and old Frodon gave them a good lead. He stayed on strong then and showed his strengths. He is just a maturing horse and we have trained him for today.

“We will go straight to Cheltenham now and we won’t run him before the Gold Cup. On better ground he travels better than he did today, but he dug deep and stayed on. The other horse was a little unfortunate to lose his pilot, but he was beaten by then.

“I’m thrilled. Who knows (what would have happened if L’Homme Presse had not come to grief at the last), but he wasn’t stopping. He just jumped to the front and he would have been hard to go by. You can never be certain, but it looked that way to me watching. I’m lucky enough to have the horses good enough to do it and the capability of a team that is good enough to get them right on the day.”

Charlie Deutsch is unseated from L'Homme Press at the final fence
Charlie Deutsch is unseated from L’Homme Press at the final fence (John Walton/PA)

Williams said of Royale Pagaille and L’Homme Presse: “It’s a shame as it looked as though they were going to be second and third, but they’ve both run very well – I’m proud of both of them today. Paul’s horse has won today but there’ll be more races in which they meet and hopefully we’ll come out on top when they do.”

Bryony Frost said of Frodon: “He never lets me down and if we’re going to go down, we go down fighting. He’s unbelievable, his stamina is much better after his wind op which really helped him.

“The way he’s jumped there is fantastic and he’s really served it up to them and he loses nothing in defeat. He’s absolutely phenomenal, we were able to get out in front and do what we do best and the younger legs have just gone by him. But he’s awesome and I can’t fault him.”

Kempton team poised for ‘sensational’ Boxing Day card

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The stage is set for a Boxing Day spectacular at Kempton, with clerk of the course Barney Clifford anticipating a “sensational” afternoon’s racing.

Following a spate of abandoned fixtures during the recent cold snap, a welcome rise in temperatures this week means a full programme is set to go ahead for one of the biggest days in the sport, with 11 meetings scheduled to take place across Britain and Ireland.

Kempton is very much the focus of attention on British soil, with the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase the centrepiece of a card enhanced by the Long Walk Hurdle, which was saved and rescheduled from last weekend’s abandoned card at Ascot.

Clifford has been the man in charge of the ground at the Sunbury track for over two decades – and after enjoying his usual course walk on Christmas Day morning, the former National Hunt jockey can hardly wait for the action to begin.

He said: “I’ve been here since 1999 and to have four Grade Ones on Boxing Day is sensational really.

“Sadly Ascot lost out with the Long Walk, but at least we’ve been able to stage and reschedule it, which has not happened here before in my time.

“We were all disappointed for all the other racecourses that lost key fixtures and revenue streams. We’re delighted it’s mild anyway.”

Clifford is expecting racegoers to flood through the Kempton gates both on Boxing Day and the following afternoon for another quality card, despite ongoing travel disruption.

He added: “There are tickets available, albeit limited. I wouldn’t put anyone off turning up.

Barney Clifford (right) at Kempton
Barney Clifford (right) at Kempton (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

“We’re expecting a good crowd both days with both days being Bank Holidays. The only thing that doesn’t help is us the fact there are no trains because of the strikes.

“Touch wood people will arrive early to enjoy the Ladbrokes Christmas Festival.”

In years gone by Clifford has taken the track on Christmas morning on horseback, with the top-class hurdler Harchibald among the Irish stars he has put through their paces.

He stays on the ground these days, but likes what he has seen from this year’s Irish King George challenger Envoi Allen, who is trained by Henry de Bromhead and will be ridden by Rachael Blackmore.

Clifford added: “It was fun back in the day. I used to ride Willie Mullins’ horses, Francois Doumen’s horses and Harchibald for Noel Meade, but I had to retire properly sometime!

Rachael Blackmore and Envoi Allen after winning at Down Royal
Rachael Blackmore and Envoi Allen after winning at Down Royal (PA)

“Envoi Allen arrived on Friday evening, cantered on Saturday morning and cantered again this morning.

“He looks amazing and has an amazing skin on him. Hopefully they’ll have a good trip.

“I think Envoi Allen might be the value of the race. When I last looked he was 7-1 or 8-1 and you think to yourself if he hadn’t had a little hiccup along the way he’d be 2-1.”

Assessing the King George field overall, he said: “The one thing you need around here is speed. I’ve always said Bravemansgame is my A horse so to speak, but in saying that I think the ground might have come for Envoi.

“It will be a hell of a race. There are other horses in there and at a big price I wouldn’t rule out Royale Pagaille. He’s got form around here and needs a dig in the ground.”

As far as the all important going is concerned, Clifford views it as perfect jumping ground.

He added: “It’s lovely ground really. I’ll keep it at soft, but there is better ground around there is no question about that. It walks better than it will probably ride, but we’ll see what the jockeys say.

“The sky looks full of rain but it’s not raining at the moment. There’s heavy showers forecast today, but hopefully Boxing Day will be a dry day with a bit of luck.

“We had 20 millimetres of rain on Friday in the end. We had 18mm in an hour and a half and then a heavy shower in the afternoon giving us another two millimetres.

“Obviously a lot of people out there have been doing a rain dance – I wanted them to stop at about 10am on Friday! We had a dry day on Saturday and then a bit of dampness overnight, but nothing measurable.”

Presse camp conceding ‘home’ advantage to Bravemansgame at Kempton

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Connections of Ladbrokes King George VI Chase favourite L’Homme Presse admit they are “playing away” when taking on Bravemansgame in the mouthwatering Boxing Day feature at Kempton.

The Venetia Williams-trained L’Homme Presse recorded a comfortable victory in his comeback run under Charlie Deutsch in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle.

Though the winning margin was a length, the manner of the weight-carrying performance makes him a general 6-1 chance for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Last season he powered to success in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham and suffered his sole defeat in seven chase starts when Ahoy Senor turned the tables in the Mildmay at Aintree.

Similarly, that was also the race in which the Paul Nicholls-trained Bravemansgame tasted his only fencing defeat and that rival opened this campaign in style, scoring readily in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby under Harry Cobden.

Now the pair are set to lock horns again in the three-mile showpiece at the Sunbury circuit.

“I was at Taunton on Tuesday with a runner and I walked the course,” said co-owner Andy Edwards, who runs his horses under the DFA Racing banner.

“Harry Cobden was coming off the course and we had a little chat in general.

“I said to him it is very simple. If this was a football match, we’d say you were playing at home and we are playing away from home.

“If the match was at Cheltenham, we’d be playing at home, and you’d be away from home.

“That doesn’t mean teams don’t win away from home, but that is the edge they have on us.”

Kempton’s flat track could play to the strengths of Bravemansgame as he bids to give the champion trainer a record 13th success in the Grade One event.

However, Edwards, who owns the seven-year-old with Pam Edwards and Peter and Pat Pink, is just pleased to have a runner in the illustrious race.

L'Homme Presse, Hereford
L’Homme Presse with co-owner Andy Edwards (Simon Milham/PA)

He added: “We are massively excited. It is like a drawn out version of Countdown with the clock ticking.

“We are looking forward to a fantastic King George – there is only one King George – and it is an absolute honour and privilege to not only have a horse with a chance in it, but a favourite’s chance in such a prestigious race.

“All four of us have come from a similar place as racehorse fans and for us to be on this stage is wonderful and amazing, and very, very humbling. That’s how we all feel.

“Pam worked for the Tote for 30 years before Betfred bought it out. She started in the Putney office and started as a Saturday girl before that in the East End of London.

“And for Peter and Pat, the four of us to be on that stage, with our horse that we adore, it really is a fairytale story.”

Venetia Williams will hope Kempton sees plenty of rain ahead of the big Boxing Day date
Venetia Williams will hope Kempton sees plenty of rain ahead of the big Boxing Day date (Mike Egerton/PA)

Recent rain – with the potential for more to come – has led to the ground easing and L’Homme Presse was imperious in the mud when dispatching Ahoy Senor over an extended three miles at the Cheltenham Festival, looking every inch a Gold Cup horse.

Bravemansgame, meanwhile, has already won over the sharper three miles at Kempton, taking the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on the same card last year. All of which sets up a potentially titanic clash.

“I have faith in everything,” said Edwards. “I have complete faith in the horse, complete faith in the trainer and complete faith in the jockey. So when people ask if I’m getting nervous, I’m not. I’m getting excited.

“It will be what it will be, and I truly hope it will be a magnificent spectacle for everyone involved.

“That is for the people watching, people involved with their horses – that is what racing needs, magnificent spectacles.

“And if we can be part of creating a magnificent spectacle, may the best horse on the day win, may they all come back happy and safe and that everyone has had a great day out watching sport – because that is what it is. It is sport. Let’s all be sporting about it.

“Let’s all cheer the winner, the second, third and fourth, whoever wins any race. Let’s all be sporting about it, which is what DFA Racing is founded upon.”