soon well outpaced in rear, just in touch 9th, continued tailed off
pressed leader, led 12th, ridden and headed before 2 out, soon one pace, no chance with winner, lost 2nd at last
held up, outpaced and struggling 16th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in 5th, hit 10th, headway to track leading pair 11th, went 2nd 13th, led approaching 2 out, driven flat, just held on
tracked leaders in 4th until blundered 10th, dropped to rear and never going well after, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway to chase leading trio on long run to 2 out, one pace and no impression after
held up, not fluent 11th, headway to track leading pair 18th, ridden to chase winner last, driven and stayed on well flat, closing at finish, just held
made most to 12th, stayed handy until beaten 18th
tracked leading pair to 11th, weakened 16th, beaten when hit 2 out
Another tremendous King George VI Chase, with Kicking King, Kingscliff, Ollie Magern, Royal Auclair and Impek all having claims, and we take Kicking King to bounce back to his best. Tom Taaffe's gelding carried all before him last season, including a two-and-a-half length defeat of Kingscliff in last year's renewal of this event at Kempton. He would have won by further had he not blundered at the last, and with decent ground forecast, conditions are right for him to put some indifferent recent form behind him and take another Grade 1 contest. Kingscliff should prove to be his most serious rival. Tony Dobbin gets the leg up for the first time, and his Betfair Chase win has had people purring about his chances of winning chasing's 'triple crown'. He is undoubtedly top class, though the ground at Haydock that day was very bad and a literal interpretation of the form looks questionable. Ollie Magern couldn't handle the tacky underfoot conditions that day either. His run was to bad to be true and we expect him to put up a much more bold jumping performance here and go close. Impek has been a revelation this year and although he needs to find over two stone with Kicking King, he can raise his game and get involved under A P McCoy at a track he loves. Irish Hussar would be interesting if he is over his troubles, while Royal Auclair continues to defy logic and he can be assured of giving his running, and could again make the frame in a big race. But for the winner, we will stick with Kicking King to repeat his success of 12 months ago.
Ballycassidy (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leader to 10th, hit next, weakened 4 out, 5th of 11, 17l behind Royal Auclair (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gs.
Impek (FR) 5-1 (11-6) Led, headed after 2nd, led again 4 out, ridden clear approaching last, comfortably, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (A) gd in Nov beating Monkerhostin (11-6) by 5l, 11 ran.
Irish Hussar (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Prominent, ridden and every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 20, 3 1/2l behind Kelami (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Mar.
Kicking King (IRE) 4-5fav (11-8) Held up, headway 7th, hit 2 out, ridden and every chance last, weakened flat, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Kingscliff (11-8) at Haydock 3m chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Nov.
Kingscliff (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Chased leader, led 7th to 9th, led again approaching 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on well, won at Haydock 3m chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Nov beating Beef Or Salmon (11-8) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
L'ami (FR) 10-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, led going well approaching 3 out, headed narrowly approaching last, soon regained lead, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 19, 2 1/2l behind Trabolgan (11-12) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gd in Nov.
Monkerhostin (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, jumped slowly 5th and soon outpaced, stayed on under pressure 2 out, kept on run-in but no chance with front pair, 4th of 7, 10l behind Kauto Star (11-7) at Sandown 2m chs Grd 1 (A) sft.
Ollie Magern 4-1 (11-8) Led to 7th, led again 9th to 10th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Kingscliff (11-8) at Haydock 3m chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Nov.
Royal Auclair (FR) 13-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 10th, led 16th, in command 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gs beating All In The Stars (9-9) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
