King George VI Chase 2026 ante-post guides
Ladbrokes King George VI Chase ante-post tips and trends
Updated 10 November 2026. Ante-post markets move a lot before March, so we refresh this guide after the key trials.
The King George is Kempton's Boxing Day showpiece, a Grade 1 over three miles on a flat, sharp track that suits horses with speed as well as stamina. Last year's finish was a thriller, with The Jukebox Man beating Banbridge and Gaelic Warrior by two noses. This year looks different already. Jango Baie is out for the rest of 2026 with a hind-leg fracture and Ben Pauling has said The Jukebox Man could miss the season. Gold Cup winner Gaelic Warrior heads the betting, with Nicky Henderson's Lulamba next after his trainer named the King George as his early target. Entries aren't out yet, so the field could still change a lot. Updated 10 November 2026.
He's the best staying chaser around on last season's form, winning the Gold Cup by eight lengths and the Punchestown Gold Cup by 26. He's eight, the age of six of the last ten winners, and he was only two noses off winning this last year. Favourites have a poor record and every recent winner had a run first, so this pick assumes he has a prep and that Mullins sends him to Kempton.
Key trends (2016 to 2025 (10 runnings, none abandoned))
| Only 2 of the last 10 favourites won | Thistlecrack (2016) and Might Bite (2017) are the only winning favourites. Since then, beaten market leaders have included Cyrname, Allaho, Spillane's Tower and last year's joint favourites Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie. |
| All 10 winners were aged six to eight | Six were eight, three were seven and Clan Des Obeaux was six when he won in 2018. Banbridge (10), Fact To File (9) and Grey Dawning (9) would all have to break this. |
| All 10 winners had already run that season | No horse has won the King George first time out in the last ten years, so a prep run in November or early December looks important. |
| Paul Nicholls has won four of the last ten | Clan Des Obeaux won in 2018 and 2019, Frodon in 2020 and Bravemansgame in 2022. Nicky Henderson won with Might Bite in 2017. |
| 6 of the last 10 winners started at 7/1 or bigger | Clan Des Obeaux (12/1, 2018), Frodon (20/1), Tornado Flyer (28/1), Hewick (12/1), Banbridge (7/1) and The Jukebox Man (7/1). |
| 3 of the last 5 winners were trained in Ireland | Tornado Flyer (Willie Mullins, 2021), Hewick (Shark Hanlon, 2023) and Banbridge (Joseph O'Brien, 2024). Mullins' only win in the ten years came with a 28/1 shot, while his fancied runners Allaho, Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File were all beaten. |
The main contenders
Won the Cheltenham Gold Cup by eight lengths and the Punchestown Gold Cup by 26 lengths, and was beaten only two noses when third in this last year. Eight years old, the most successful age.
Against: Hasn't run since Punchestown in April, and every winner in the last ten years had a run first. Took a keen hold here last year, and Mullins hasn't confirmed he'll come back to Kempton.
High-class two-miler who won the Grade 1 Henry VIII at Sandown and the Game Spirit at Newbury last season. Henderson thinks he can improve a lot over further and has named the King George as his early target.
Against: Never tried beyond two and a half miles, and he unseated his rider in the Manifesto at Aintree last time. Was only third in the Arkle.
Made all to win the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham at 11/1, so he stays three miles and handles a big occasion. Six years old, the same age Clan Des Obeaux was in 2018.
Against: Pulled up at Punchestown on his last run and unseated at Sandown in January after jumping right. Mullins hasn't said where he'll go.
Won this in 2024 and was beaten a nose last year, so Kempton clearly suits. Already had his prep, running third in the Grade 1 Champion Chase at Down Royal on 31 October.
Against: He's ten, and no winner in the last ten years was older than eight.
Won the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February and was second in the Punchestown Gold Cup. A dual Cheltenham Festival winner with plenty of class.
Against: Only sixth here last year when 3/1, and he's nine now. Gaelic Warrior beat him 26 lengths at Punchestown.
Made all to win the Grade 1 Champion Chase at Down Royal on 31 October, beating Banbridge. Also won last year's Welsh Grand National and the Denman Chase.
Against: Curtis has said she favours the Savills Chase at Leopardstown and wants to keep him fresh, so he looks unlikely to run here.
Won the Melling Chase at Aintree in April and was fourth in the Gold Cup. Favourite for the Betfair Chase at Haydock on 21 November.
Against: Pulled up in this in 2024 after a bad mistake at the first. He's nine, older than any recent winner.
Won this last year at 7/1, by a nose, so he's the defending champion and proven round Kempton.
Against: Pauling has admitted he could miss the whole season after a setback. Was eighth in the Gold Cup, when he made a breathing noise.
Prices are a rough guide to the ante-post market when this guide was updated, not an offer.
What the tipsters say
- Racing Post (Liam Headd): Reported Henderson ruling Jango Baie out for the rest of 2026 with a hind-leg fracture, and saying Lulamba could take his place at Kempton.
- bet365 News: Reported Ben Pauling admitting The Jukebox Man could miss the season, and had Lulamba at 7/2, reckoning the step up to three miles should suit him.
- Racing Post: Reported that Rebecca Curtis leans towards the Savills Chase for Haiti Couleurs after his Down Royal win, with the aim of keeping him fresh.
- Grand National Fans: Made Gaelic Warrior the clear market leader but questioned whether Mullins will want to bring him back to Kempton after last year's narrow defeat.
- HorseRacing.guide: Has Gaelic Warrior a 5/2 to 11/4 favourite with Kitzbuhel and Lulamba next, and Banbridge around 20/1.
Key trials to watch
- Champion Chase, Down Royal (31 October 2026)
- Betfair Chase, Haydock (21 November 2026)
- 1965 Chase, Ascot (Late November 2026)
- John Durkan Memorial Chase, Punchestown (Early December 2026)
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FAQs
- What is Pat's NAPs' ante-post pick for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase?
- Gaelic Warrior. He's the best staying chaser around on last season's form, winning the Gold Cup by eight lengths and the Punchestown Gold Cup by 26. He's eight, the age of six of the last ten winners, and he was only two noses off winning this last year. Favourites have a poor record and every recent winner had a run first, so this pick assumes he has a prep and that Mullins sends him to Kempton.
- What are the key Ladbrokes King George VI Chase trends?
- Only 2 of the last 10 favourites won. All 10 winners were aged six to eight. All 10 winners had already run that season.
- When is the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase?
- Saturday 26 December 2026 (Boxing Day), Kempton, over 3m. The King George VI Chase 2026 runs Saturday 26 December 2026 (Boxing Day).
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