All the cash within the run-up to the King George VI Chase used to be for L’Homme Presse, who ended up as favourite at 9-4, however Paul Nicholls, the instructor of Bravemansgame, used to be undeterred. “He was drifting over the last few days,” Nicholls stated within the winner’s enclosure, having observed his runner end some distance transparent, “but I kept telling all my mates to lump on.”
Nicholls used to be, admittedly, buoyed through the arrogance that incorporates having received Kempton Park’s Christmas showpiece a document dozen instances already, and his thirteenth luck would had been completed through possibly a period or so had L’Homme Presse no longer unseated Charlie Deutsch, his rider , on the ultimate fence. But the favorite’s backers can haven’t any court cases about what would possibly had been, as Harry Cobden and Bravemansgame had taken keep watch over a couple of seconds previous with a robust run between the overall two stumbling blocks, having been distinguished simply in the back of the pace-setting Frodon from the beginning.
With L’Homme Presse crossing the road riderless, his solid spouse on the Venetia Williams backyard Royale Pagaille used to be moment, 14 lengths in the back of the winner, with Frodon staying on to complete 3rd. The giant sadness of the race, in the meantime, used to be Envoi Allen, who used to be held up smartly off the speed through Rachael Blackmore and not threatened to get entangled.
“We were very confident,” Nicholls stated. “Some of those bad runs in the spring, you couldn’t judge him on, as ours weren’t right [and] when he is right, he is a very good horse.
“We knew we had him at his best today. I loved the way he stayed on, he came hard on the bridle and stayed on well. He hasn’t been the easiest to train, but we learned a few lessons about him last season and we’ve got him right now.
Who knows [what would have happened if L’Homme Presse] hadn’t come to grief at the last, but he wasn’t stopping and he would have been hard to go by.”
While there is little doubt that Bravemansgame had won the race at the last, not least as Kempton’s short, flat run-in would have given Deutsch and L’Homme Presse very little to work with. L’Homme Presse’s fans, however, will at least feel their horse will have a chance to reverse the form in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, which could be the next outing for both horses.
“He needs to be fresh,” Nicholls said. “We have nothing to lose running him at Cheltenham but he won’t run before. L’Homme Presse 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.”
That likelihood is reflected in the latest Gold Cup betting, where L’Homme Presse is now 8-1 second-favourite behind Galopin Des Champs, the 7-4 favourite, with Bravemansgame available at 10-1.
The Champion Hurdle, meanwhile, looks ever more at the mercy of Constitution Hill after Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old extended his unbeaten career record to five starts with an effortless success for Nico de Boinville in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle.
A mistake at the second-last was the sole, and very minor, blemish on Constitution Hill’s performance and he will now run in either the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in February or head straight to the Champion Hurdle itself on 14 March.
“I know everybody wants to see him, but where can you go?” Henderson said. “I don’t think Wincanton is the right place for him and Haydock certainly isn’t in my opinion, but he doesn’t need to [run before the Festival] and there’s no point doing something you don’t need to do.
“He can go there fresh no problem, but we’ll get today over with and it’s the one we needed in the bag. Nico said turning in that he was actually dossing, and then he pressed the button and off he went. He’s quick and fast and accurate and at the moment there’s no chinks in that armour, because he’s got such a great mind. The horse is just cool and that’s the only word you can call him. He’s cool and talented.”
Bank on Big Dog to snatch National glory
Chepstow has have shyed away from vital rainfall within the run-up to the Coral Welsh National and a faster floor than is steadily the case for the observe’s Christmas showpiece will have to give The Big Dog each probability to grow to be the primary horse to defy most sensible weight on this race since Native River, a next Gold Cup winner, in 2016.
Peter Fahey’s gelding has discovered a brand new rent of existence this season and post a career-best efficiency to overcome 17 competitors underneath 11st 10lb within the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan closing month.
The Big Dog used to be somewhat smartly supported for this race one year in the past, when he used to be pulled up midway spherical after each his reins ended up at the similar facet of his neck. He seems like an progressed horse this time round, stays unexposed at marathon journeys and seems like the pick out of the costs at round 6-1.
Kempton Park 12.45 Artistic Choice, An extraordinary runner over jumps for Michael Bell’s Newmarket backyard, received with lots to spare on his hurling debut at Catterick closing month and will have to prolong his unbeaten document right here.
Chepstow 1.05 Enzo D’Airy Shrugged off a 22-month absence to win impressively over observe and go back and forth previous this month and has an obtrusive probability to observe up off a 6lb upper mark.
Kempton Park 1.20 This is a vital step up for Lac De Constance after a a success debut in a three-runner tournament closing month however his leaping used to be flawless there and he may just smartly reinforce previous probably the most skilled Boothill.
Chepstow 1.40 Joseph O’Brien’s Comfort Zone used to be inside of seven lengths of Lossiemouth, Monday’s Grade Two juvenile winner at Leopardstown, at Fairyhouse closing time and the instructor’s determination to focus on this Grade One prize seems to be shredded.
Kempton Park 1.55 Kim Bailey’s mare I undercover agent a diva is progressing hastily and appears a lot too giant at round 6-1 to increase her successful streak to 4 races.
Chepstow 2.10 only a dime Has completed not anything unsuitable in two begins thus far and will have been let in on a beneficiant mark for his handicap debut.
Kempton Park 2.30 edwardstone used to be foot-perfect on his go back to motion within the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown this month and anything else just about that stage of shape will have to be an excessive amount of for second-favourite Nube Negra to deal with.
Kempton Park 3.09 Remastered must defy most sensible weight of 12st 1lb however he used to be higher than ever when part a period in the back of Le Milos within the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November and might be poised for his first win over fences since February 2021.