Crowning the Kempton Champions: The five best winners of the King George VI Chase
For racing fans, nothing says Christmas time like the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day. Here is Planet Sport’s take on the best ever winners of the three mile test at Kempton.
Planet Sport starts with a Pat Taaffe trained officer and a gentleman who marched to victory at Kempton on two occasions.
5. Captain Christy
They say there's beauty in imperfection and the error prone Captain Christy proved that by producing regular jumping faults in big race wins.
A 1974 Gold Cup victory showed just how game he was, nodding on landing at the final fence and then battling back to overcome the Dikler at the death.
But it is the King George that Captain Christy is most associated with, taking two wins of the Kempton Christmas-time showpiece.
The first victory was a regulation five lengths win from the hat-trick chasing Pendil. However, the 1975 King George saw Captain Christy show his true potential, obliterating the talented Bula to win by an astonishing 30 lengths.
Captain Christy, ridden by Gerry Newman, takes the final fence to win the King George VI @kemptonparkrace pic.twitter.com/kgPdxbH58s
— Anaglogs Daughter (@AnaglogsDaughtr) February 7, 2016
4. See More Business
20 years ago, our Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing Barney Clifford was assistant clerk for his first King George. Today's #TBT is dedicated to him and the race won in 1999 by See More Business, @mickfitzg & @PFNicholls #throwbackthursday #kempton pic.twitter.com/Tp1oCh2Oak
— Kempton Park Racecourse (@kemptonparkrace) December 12, 2019
3. Wayward Lad
The early '80s were tough years in the UK with mass unemployment and the spectre of the Falklands War but Wayward Lad provided some cheer with a King George hat-trick to warm the cockles.
His first win came in a 1982 thrilling three horse finish under John Francome where Wayward Lad got the better of Silver Buck and Fifty Dollars More in a game showing.
1983 King George VI Chase - Wayward Lad #waywardlad pic.twitter.com/GvIA0j1d68
— History of Horse Racing (@roar1968) December 25, 2020
2. Desert Orchid
There are few horses to capture the public imagination more than "Dessie" who was a superstar of the late '80s jumping game.
Dessie made a mockery of the racing experts who said he wouldn't stay the three miles in the 1986 King George, destroying the field at odds of 16/1 with his soon to be trademark front running style.
Kempton Park's Grey King
— Kempton Park Racecourse (@kemptonparkrace) December 24, 2020
This year marks 30 year's since Desert Orchid won his 4th King George VI Chase.
Forever & always, a legend ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/TiHkENTLD5
1.Kauto Star
Kauto Star said hi to his statue at Kempton today! pic.twitter.com/inSKhQE2nZ
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 26, 2014
Exotic Dancer was no mug for Jonjo O'Neill but Kauto Star put him to the sword for a first King George win by a decent eight lengths.
🗣 "What an amazing horse."@PFNicholls has a scrapbook dedicated to the mighty Kauto Star & he discusses the superstar chaser, with his fifth King George VI Chase a particular highlight@meg_nicholls11 | #ThisRacingLife pic.twitter.com/E15gXKxTjS
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 15, 2021