Kempton best bet (14:30): Shishkin seeking redemption in King George VI Chase

14:30 Kempton: Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (3 miles)  

Willie Mullins’ Allaho is unsurprisingly the early market leader, and that is likely to remain the case for this classy front-runner, who has been beaten by just one of 49 rivals (Chacun Pour Soi in April 2021) in his last eight outings.

Planet Sport Bet: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Allaho wins by more than 3 lengths, get a £5 Free Bet

An unbeaten 2022 campaign was crowned by imperious wins in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham and the Punchestown Gold Cup, both won by 14-length margins. Although he did not race at all last season, the manner of his winning return at Clonmel last month suggests he will be tough to beat under Paul Townend if back to his best.

Bravemansgame is expected to offer the stiffest challenge to the favourite, and although he has not looked quite at his peak in two runner-up efforts this term, it’s hard to discount the Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden combination in any race of this standing.

WATCH: Harry Cobden's Planet Sport Bet blog assesses his chances on Bravemansgame

If we can assume that the easy-to-back Hewick and Frodon will be out of their depth in this company, then the best value outsider appears to be The Real Whacker, who completed a winning hat-trick when claiming the notable scalp of Gerri Colombe in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham in March, and can be forgiven for pulling up after being struck into on season debut at the same venue last month.

All of which brings us to Shishkin, who gets the nod as our best bet to upset the market leaders, and whose more appealing price might just be the result of his uncharacteristic refusal to race at Ascot a month ago.

First-time cheekpieces have been blamed for spooking Nicky Henderson’s nine-year-old on that occasion, and they have been promptly discarded in readiness of a return to his normally brilliant jumping capabilities.

After winning his first 11 completed outings, Shishkin’s form fell away a little in 2022, but wind surgery prompted an impressive three-race 2023 campaign, during which he romped the Ascot Chase by 16 lengths before Envoi Allen became the only horse to get the better of him in the Ryanair at Cheltenham.

Any doubts about Shishkin’s long-distance stamina were dispelled when he then left the esteemed company of Ahoy Senor, A Plus Tard and Conflated in his wake over 25 furlongs in April’s Aintree Bowl Chase, so he should have no problem negotiating Kempton’s similar Boxing Day trip.

There’s no doubt that Shishkin’s shenanigans at Ascot created doubts about his temperament, but if Nico de Boinville can get him pointing in the right direction at the start, then he has the quality to rub shoulders with any of his high-profile rivals here.

 

• Suggested bet: Shishkin in the 14:30 at Kempton

• Tip advised by Statometer on Tipstrr

 

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