Cyrname Heads 24 Entries for King George VI Chase
Cyrname is one of 24 horses who have been declared for the 2020 King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. The quality of the entries sets up one of the best renewals of the Grade One race in a number of years.
Paul Nicholls’ runner made a successful return to action recently in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. He jumped well throughout that contest and was full of running at the finish to score by two lengths. It was a performance that indicates the highly rated chaser is over any injury problems which hampered him last season.
The eight-year-old, who won the Grade One Ascot Chase by an impressive 17 lengths in February 2019, has been tipped to have a big season by many pundits in the sport. He made his first appearance in the King George last year where he had to settle for second place behind Clan Des Obeaux. Connections of the horse will be hoping their runner can reverse that result this time around.
Although the majority of Cyrname’s best form has come at Ascot, he does have a win at Kempton. He prevailed in a novice chase contest at the Surrey course in 2018. The bookmakers expect him to be a big player there next month as he is 5/2 joint-favourite in the horse racing betting for the feature race over the festive period.
Cyrname has yet to finish ahead of the defending champion, who will be bidding for a third straight win in the race this year. This will just be the second time the two talented chasers have met and, if Cyrname can prevail, his trainer may then consider the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March for the horse.
Lostintranslation also Set for Second King George Opportunity
Another chaser who will be looking to deny Clan Des Obeaux from defending his crown in the King George this year is Lostintranslation. The eight-year-old was pulled up in the King George last season but it later transpired that he was having some breathing problems.
A wind operation early in 2020 seemed to have helped Tizzard’s star chaser on the track. He produced a fantastic performance to finish a close third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the back end of last season.
As a former Grade One winner, it is no surprise Lostintranslation is prominent in the betting at 8/1 to prevail at Kempton on Boxing Day. He has already had an outing so far in the new campaign, finishing third at Haydock. Much more can be expected from the horse on his next appearance.
Tizzard is bidding for his third King George success this year. In 2015 Cue Card landed the first prize for him in an impressive performance. 12 months later it was Thistlecrack who beat a strong field for the Somerset-based trainer.
Monalee, Allaho, Champ, and Kemboy are other notable horses who have been declared for Kempton. It is going to be a race where a lot of the stars in the division meet for the first time this season.
Category: Local News and Sport
