Harry Cobden 'full steam ahead' in bid for third King George VI chase

Cobden is confident Bravemansgame will put up a staunch defence of his crown in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

The eight-year-old was a brilliant 14-length winner of the Boxing Day showpiece last season, but has had to make do with minor honours on each of his four subsequent starts.

Bravemansgame was best of the rest behind Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March and rounded off his season with a third-placed finish at Punchestown.

He has been beaten at odds-on in his first two outings of this season, in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby and the Betfair Chase at Haydock, but Cobden believes he can bounce back.

 

 

"He’s obviously got to bounce back from a disappointing run at Haydock, but Paul is happy with him at home and it’s full steam ahead to Kempton," Cobden exclusively told Planet Sport Bet.
 
"The track just really suits him and seems to bring out the best in him. He’s a very strong traveller and his jumping really keeps him in the race. If he can reproduce what he did last year, he’ll definitely take a bit of beating.
 
"Allaho looks the main danger to me. He’s a very smart horse and Willie [Mullins} doesn’t send them over for nothing. He jumps a little bit left which wouldn’t be ideal around Kempton and with Frodon in the race, he won’t have an easy time of it. Hopefully that will play in to our hands.
 
"It’s a very good renewal of the race as it should be, and I can’t wait for it. I’ve been very lucky to win two King Georges and a third would be very special."

His first big Grade 1 ride of the day comes on Hermes Allen in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at 13:20.

Winner of the Challow Novices’ Hurdle for Paul Nicholls last term, he fell short at the spring festivals, coming home a well-beaten sixth in the Ballymore at Cheltenham and being well-held by Irish Point when third at Aintree.

He impressed with his jumping on his chasing bow at Newbury last month though, gaining confidence throughout a Grade Two test over two and a half miles, eventually coasting home by six and a half lengths from the useful Nickle Back, with the reopposing Tightenourbelts and Marble Sands third and fourth respectively.

 

 

Then in the Christmas Hurdle at 13:55, Cobden climbs on board Rubaud, who is seemingly the biggest threat to Nicky Henderson's star turn Constitution Hill.

The five-year-old is unbeaten in his last four starts, having landed the Dovecote at Kempton, the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr, a Listed prize at Kempton and the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

 

 

READ MORE: Boxing Day ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Kempton, Aintree and Wetherby on December 26