Mullins mount makes history
The King George VI Chase has proven to be an awesome alternative hangover cure for 84 years now, but here we had the most open instalment of the Kempton showpiece in many a year. Any fears of an anticlimactic Boxing Day were put to bed with bells on.
And with football fixtures dropping like flies, plus the Aussies continuing to pile on England’s Ashes humiliation, how we needed it to deliver. What price one last Christmas cracker?
There were plenty of angles to examine this race from, but why not start with the defending champion, Frodon, with Bryony Frost taking up the reins once more? Winning at a canter at odds of 20/1 surprised (almost) everyone twelve months ago, especially with Clan Des Obeaux, who at the time was going for a hattrick of King George’s, in the mix.
Perhaps even more shocking was the fact that the Paul Nicholls-trained horse was beaten into third in excess of eight lengths, but it’s never wise to live on past glories. Sandwiched in-between Clan Des Obeaux and Frodon in the betting were Chantry House, Minella Indo and Asterion Folonge. With another top female jockey, Rachael Blackmore, saddling up for the second of those three, who’d be brave enough to call this one?
And with Lostintranslation, Saint Calvados, Mister Fisher and Tornado Flyer certainly not there to make up the numbers, not me that’s for sure. As they went to post, it was the Gold Cup winner and BBC Overseas Sports Personality that went off as favourites. Naturally, it was Frodon whom sought to lead the way, and after four fences a gap had developed, but with no real errors from anyone at the halfway mark, it was looking as close as we’d hoped.
Inevitability the ground started to tell, and it was clear that Minella Indo was losing its way a little, ending a disappointing show by dropping out altogether. Chantry House was also pulled up after a couple of niggles, and there was to be no repeat of last year’s triumph, as Frodon’s race was all but ran.
Clan Des Obeaux was looking the most likely victor as the race entered the final two fences, but Asterion Forlonge and Tornado Flyer had other ideas. Nearing the last hurdle, it was – as is so often the case – Willie Mullins vs. Willie Mullins, so would it go to form? With nephew Danny Mullins on the latter, maybe it was always written in the stars; the unfortunate Asterion Folonge eventually falling to leave the way clear for its stablemate – the 28/1 Tornado Flyer.
And so we witnessed a record breaker – the biggest-priced winner in King George history. Speaking to ITV Racing’s Matt Chapman after the race, winning jockey Mullins was full of praise for his uncle: “When you’re riding for Willie, you’ve always got a chance.” At such long odds, you’ve also got to give yourself one.
The Early Whistle 