The King George VI Chase: Complete Guide

The King George VI Chase was first run on Boxing Day 1937, named in honour of the recently crowned King George VI. The race was conceived by Kempton Park's management as a midwinter championship for steeplechasers, filling a gap in the calendar between the autumn fixtures and the spring festivals. From the outset, it was positioned as a race of the highest ambition — a contest that would attract the best horses and deliver racing of the first order.

The early renewals were disrupted by the Second World War, with the race suspended between 1940 and 1946. When it resumed in 1947, the King George quickly established the reputation it holds today. The post-war era of National Hunt racing was booming, and the race became the focal point of the Christmas season, drawing increasingly large crowds to Kempton and commanding growing attention from the press and public.

The 1960s brought one of the race's most celebrated moments when Arkle, widely regarded as the greatest steeplechaser of all time, won the King George in 1965. Arkle's victory confirmed the race's status as a true championship event — a contest worthy of the sport's supreme talent. His commanding performance at Kempton underlined the flat, galloping nature of the track and the premium it places on class.

Through the 1970s and into the 1980s, the King George became appointment television. The race was broadcast live to millions by ITV and later Channel 4, and its Boxing Day timing gave it an audience that most other jumps races could only dream of. The Dickinson-trained Wayward Lad's three victories in 1982, 1983 and 1985 created the race's first modern dynasty and demonstrated that Kempton suited a particular type of chaser — tough, reliable, and able to handle the course's sharp turns and flat terrain.

The late 1980s and 1990s saw the King George produce a series of thrilling renewals. Desert Orchid's 1986 triumph was a watershed moment for jump racing's public profile, while the 1990s featured fierce competition between a succession of talented chasers who used the King George as a springboard for Gold Cup glory.

The race's format has remained remarkably consistent through the decades. It has always been run over three miles on Boxing Day (barring wartime interruption), always as the centrepiece of Kempton's Christmas meeting, and always as a race that defines the mid-season narrative. There has been occasional debate about the possibility of relocating the King George — most notably during the 2017 Kempton closure threat — but the race's identity is so bound up with the venue and the date that any move would fundamentally alter its character. The King George is Kempton, and Kempton is the King George. The two are inseparable.

The King George VI Chase has been won by some of the finest steeplechasers in history, and several champions have left indelible marks on the race.

Arkle (1965)

The greatest of them all graced the King George only once, but his 1965 victory remains one of the most significant moments in the race's history. Arkle won by a wide margin, treating the opposition with the casual superiority that characterised his entire career. His presence at Kempton that Boxing Day elevated the race's prestige immeasurably and confirmed it as a contest fit for the very best.

Wayward Lad (1982, 1983, 1985)

Trained by Monica Dickinson at her Yorkshire yard, Wayward Lad was the first horse to dominate the King George in the modern era. His three victories established the template for the ideal King George horse: a strong traveller who handled the flat, sharp circuit with ease and had the tactical speed to quicken off the final turn. Wayward Lad's treble stood as the record for over two decades, and his legacy as a Kempton specialist endures.

Desert Orchid (1986)

Dessie's King George victory was the moment that a national audience fell in love with jump racing's greatest showman. The bold-jumping grey attacked the race from the front with his trademark fearlessness, thrilling the Kempton crowd and the millions watching on television. Desert Orchid won four King Georges in total (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990), cementing his reputation as one of the race's greatest ever performers. His flamboyant front-running style was perfectly suited to Kempton's flat circuit, and the sight of the grey horse blazing around the course remains one of the sport's most iconic images.

Kauto Star (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)

No horse has ever dominated a single race quite like Kauto Star dominated the King George. Paul Nicholls' brilliant chaser won the race an unprecedented five times, a sequence of excellence that spanned six years and may never be equalled. Each victory told its own story. The first two confirmed a new superstar; the third and fourth came amid an epic rivalry with stablemate Denman that captivated the sport; and the fifth, in 2011, was a triumphant last hurrah from a champion who defied age and the doubters to reclaim his crown at eleven years old.

Kauto Star's 2011 victory is frequently cited as one of the most emotional moments in modern racing. Ruby Walsh's patient, sympathetic ride allowed the veteran to find his rhythm, and the reception from the Kempton crowd when he passed the post was one of the great ovations in the sport's history. It was a fitting final chapter in a love affair between horse and racecourse that spanned half a decade.

Other Notable Winners

The roll call of King George champions extends far beyond these headline names. One Man won back-to-back renewals in 1995 and 1996 with spectacular front-running displays. Kicking King delivered one of the most dominant performances in the race's history in 2004. Clan Des Obeaux continued the Paul Nicholls tradition with victories in 2018 and 2019. And Long Run's 2010 victory — the year he denied Kauto Star — reminded everyone that even the greatest champions can be toppled.

The King George VI Chase is run over three miles on Kempton's turf steeplechase course, a right-handed, flat, triangular circuit of approximately one mile and five furlongs. The race involves two full circuits, which means runners face 12 fences in total and must negotiate the sharp bends four times.

The defining characteristic of the Kempton chase course is its flatness. There is no hill, no camber, no undulation of any significance. This makes it fundamentally different from Cheltenham, where the famous hill sorts out the stayers from the speed horses, and from Aintree, where the Grand National fences demand courage and jumping technique above all else. At Kempton, the emphasis is on sustained galloping speed, efficient jumping and the tactical intelligence to use the track to your advantage.

The fences themselves are fair and well-built, but they're not the fearsome obstacles you'd find at some other Championship tracks. Honest, accurate jumping is rewarded, but the fences alone rarely cause the kind of carnage that can reshape a race elsewhere. What matters more is the ability to jump fluently at speed — to clear each fence without breaking stride and maintain momentum through the turns.

The bends are where the King George is often won and lost. The triangular shape means there are three distinct turns on each circuit, and horses that drift wide through them concede significant ground to those who hug the inside rail. Jockeys who know the track well — riders like Harry Cobden, who has ridden it dozens of times — understand how to save lengths through the turns, and that ground can be the difference in a tight finish.

The ground conditions for the King George vary from year to year. The race has been run on everything from good to soft to genuinely heavy ground, and the prevailing conditions can significantly influence the result. Soft or heavy ground places a greater emphasis on stamina, favouring stayers who get the three-mile trip strongly. Quicker conditions allow speedier types to dominate. Checking the going report in the days before the race is essential for informed betting.

The three-mile trip is a genuine test of stamina, but it's not the extreme endurance challenge of a four-mile National. It rewards horses that combine speed with staying power — the kind of animal that can travel smoothly for two and a half miles and still have the reserves to quicken in the final three furlongs.

The King George VI Chase is one of the most bet-on races of the year, and understanding the key trends can sharpen your selections significantly.

Market Leaders Dominate

The most important trend in the King George is the strong record of market leaders. Favourites and second favourites have an excellent strike rate in this race, reflecting the fact that Kempton's flat, fair track allows the best horses to show their class. Unlike at Cheltenham, where the course's unique demands can trip up the highest-rated runners, the King George tends to reward form and ability. Opposing the market leader simply because you want a bigger-priced winner is a losing strategy here.

Proven Course Form

Horses with previous winning form at Kempton have a significant advantage in the King George. The track rides differently to other championship courses, and experience of the sharp turns, flat terrain and fair fences is a tangible benefit. Multiple King George winners — Wayward Lad, Desert Orchid, Kauto Star, Clan Des Obeaux — have returned to Kempton and won repeatedly because the course suited them perfectly. If a runner has won at Kempton before, particularly over fences, upgrade your assessment accordingly.

The Gold Cup Connection

The King George is often a key trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, but the correlation isn't as strong as many punters assume. Kempton's flat track and Cheltenham's undulating circuit demand different attributes, and horses that excel at one don't always transfer their form to the other. Be cautious about assuming a King George winner will automatically follow up at Cheltenham, and equally cautious about dismissing a horse that failed at one venue but is better suited to the other.

Pace and Position

Front-runners and prominent racers have a strong record in the King George. Kempton's flat circuit allows horses to dictate the pace without being headed on the final hill (because there isn't one), and bold-jumping leaders can build up an advantage through the turns that's difficult for hold-up horses to overhaul. When assessing the likely pace scenario, identify which runners are likely to go forward and consider whether any horse has the speed to make all.

Trainer Trends

Paul Nicholls' record in the King George is exceptional — he has won the race more often than any other trainer and consistently targets it with his best chasers. A fancied Nicholls runner in the King George should never be dismissed lightly. Nicky Henderson has also been a major force in the race, though his record is marginally less dominant.

Weather Watch

The going conditions in the days leading up to Boxing Day can shift significantly, and late changes to the ground can reshape the betting market. Keep an eye on the weather forecast from mid-December onwards, and be prepared to adjust your assessment if the going changes from what was expected. A horse whose chance was built on fast ground can suddenly be compromised if heavy rain arrives on Christmas Eve. For broader context on betting at this venue, see our Kempton Park betting guide.