Last year’s big Boxing Day Kempton Park winner – Hewick – is one of the 24 King George VI Chase runners that remain on target to run on Thursday December 26th. While the exciting Il Est Francais, who heads the market, is also amongst the runners.
The latest entries also include the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs and Gaelic Warrior from the Willie Mullins yard, as he looks for just his third win in the race – but there are two big ‘F’s missing – Fact To File and Fastorslow.
2024 King George VI Runners Headed By The Exciting Il Est Francais
We’ve seen 11 of the last 22 King George VI Chase favourites reward festive backers and according to the best horse racing betting sites in the UK, it will be Il Est Francais who will be trying to uphold this stat in 2024.
This exciting French-trained 6 year-old caught the eye of jump horse racing fans last year at the Kempton Boxing Day Meeting when bolting up in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (watch below) and has since returned this season with an easy win at Auteuil at the end of September.
Trained by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm in France, Il Est Francais is one of 24 King George Chase VI runners that remain in the race after the latest declaration stage.
The horse will be trying to follow the footsteps of past French-trained King George winners – The Fellow (twice) and Algan, who won the race three times between them in 1991, 1992 and 1994.
Fact To File and Fastorslow WON’T Head To Kempton On Boxing Day
Despite there being 24 King George VI Chase runners at this stage, there were two big names missing – Fact To File and Fastorslow.
Last year’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase winner Fact To File wasn’t declared by his trainer Willie Mullins and can be expected to instead look at targets in Ireland over Christmas.
While the same applies to Fastorslow, who has taken the scalp of Galopin Des Champs in the last two Punchestown Gold Cups.
They also both have entries for the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on November 24th.
Hewick Looking To Join A Long List Of Recent Back-to-Back King George VI Chase Winners
Providing the ground isn’t too soft, the 2023 winner Hewick is also on target to be another King George VI Chase runner.
The bargain buy Irish chaser came with a late run to win the race under jockey Gavin Sheehan last season and has returned this season with a fine second in the Ladbrokes Champions Chase at Down Royal in early November.
Hewick will be looking to become the first back-to-back King George VI Chase winner since Clan Des Obeaux, who won in 2018 and 2019.
While, other double winners of the race in recent times were of course the mighty Kauto Star (5 wins), Silviniaco Conti and Kicking King.
Last year’s winner can still be backed at a double-figure price for th King George VI Chase with the best betting sites in the UK.
WATCH: Hewick Winning The 2023 King George VI Chase
Gold Cup Hero Galopin Des Champ Entered But An Unlikely King George VI Chase Runner
Kempton racecourse will also still be dreaming of attracting the Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs as the Willie Mullins-trained horse is also still amongst the 24 King George runners.
Mullins has also left his Arkle Novices’ Chase winner Gaelic Warrior in the race as the Closutton handler looks for just this third win in the big Kempton race.
His only two previous wins came in 2001 with Florida Pearl and in 2021 with Tornado Flyer.
Possible 2024 King George VI Runners As 24 Horses Stand Their Ground
- Ahoy Senor
- Banbridge
- Blue Lord
- Bravemansgame
- Capodanno
- Corbetts Cross
- Envoi Allen
- Ferny Hollow
- Found A Fifty
- Ga Law
- Gaelic Warrior
- Galopin Des Champs
- General En Chef
- Ginny’s Destiny
- Grangeclare West
- Grey Dawning
- Hewick
- Il Est Francais
- Il Etait Temps
- Jungle Boogie
- L’Homme Presse
- Minella Cocooner
- Protektorat
- Royale Pagaille
