Tornado Flyer crowned an incredible year of horse-racing on Boxing Day after storming to victory in a thrilling King George VI Chase at Kempton Park.
The Danny Mullins ride (28/1) beat two-time winner Clan Des Obeaux (7/2) in second and Saint Calvados (25/1) in third to give his uncle, Willie Mullins, his second win in the showpiece event, one that provides an early dress rehearsal for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. The win comes twenty years to the day since Mullins’ first King George Chase win with Florida Pearl in 2001.
It completed a double for jockey Mullins, who had never ridden a winner at Kempton before Sunday, with a win on Jacamar earlier on the card.
Danny Mullins told ITV Racing: “When you are riding for Willie you’ve always got a chance whatever their price. I was lucky enough to ride a Grade One winner for him the other week at a big price, you’ve always got a chance.
“This year has been a great year for me, loads of winners at big festivals and to top it off with the King George is great. It’s one of the races of the season.”
Tornado Flyer gives @WillieMullinsNH a second victory in the King George VI Chase for @dan2231
👍 Asterion Forlonge OK after his fall at the last
Six of the nine runners for the Chase had at least one Grade One win, so the 2021 running of the festive season’s showpiece was one of the strongest and most competitive renewals in recent memory.
Gold Cup hero Minella Indo travelled over from Ireland for his second run of the campaign but it wasn’t to be for Rachael Blackmore’s ride, who didn’t get fired up at all. Chantry House was pulled up after 12, while defending champion Frodon led early on but was well-beaten in the end, finishing fourth. The winner’s stablemate Asterion Forlonge looked like he would place too, but he crashed out at the last.
