Harry Cobden delivered a perfectly paced ride on Bravemansgame to win the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Monday afternoon in the traditional showpiece of the Boxing Day calendar.
The 11/4 shot is one of the favoured horses for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on 17 March, and victory over a competitive field in the King George will only strengthen the claim of the Paul Nicholls’ trained horse.
Bryony Frost led for much of the race on Frodon, with L’Homme Presse and Bravemansgame among those on a watching brief just in behind for the most part. But when Frodon couldn’t keep with the other pair two fences from home, it was Cobden and Bravemansgame who took the initiative.
L’Homme Presse fought bravely, and his style of jumping left threatened to have an effect on Bravemansgame over the last hurdle. But Cobden held his nerve and Bravemansgame kept his line while L’Homme Presse unseated Charlie Deutsch upon landing after the final fence, leaving the result beyond question.
“L’Homme Presse was all over the shop in the kindest possible way, he jumps a bit left at times,” Cobden told ITV following the race. “But this horse has got a way of going now where I can just get him to race a bit behind the bridle. The more you ask from him, the more he gives.”
And Cobden added that the team behind Bravemansgame might have hit upon the perfect preparation for the Gold Cup after a number of previous attempts.
“He’s always gone there on his fifth or sixth run but we’ve learned that he doesn’t take his racing very well. Three or four raceas a year is fine for him.”
The victory is Nicholls’ 13th at the King George, and a fourth in five years. He was a back-to-back winner with Clan des Obeaux in 2018 and 2019 before taking the 2020 success with Frodon.
For Cobden it is a second win in this race, having ridden Clan des Obeaux to his first win four years ago.
RESULT:
1st Bravemansgame 11/4
2nd Royale Pagaille 12/1
3rd Frodon 18/1
