2024 King George VI Chase News - Quotes from connections

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 24 Dec 2024

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Jon Vine 24 Dec 2024

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Quotes from connections ahead of the 2024 King George VI Chase
This Grade One takes place at Kempton on Thursday 26th December
Read quotes from Dan Skelton, Jimmy Mangan, Noel George and more

Trainers Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton look on at Exeter Racecourse. (Getty)

Contents

2024 King George VI Chase News - Quotes From Connections
Jimmy Mangan (Spillane's Tower)
Dan Skelton (Grey Dawning)
Noel George (Il Est Francais)
Joseph O'Brien (Banbridge)
Henry De Bromhead (Envoi Allen)
Peter Pink (Owner of L'Homme Presse)
Emmet Mullins (Corbetts Cross)
David Cottin (Juntos Ganamos)
Paul Nicholls (Bravemansgame)
Patrick Neville (The Real Whacker)
Noel George (General En Chef)

Quotes from connections ahead of the 2024 King George VI Chase, which headlines the Boxing Day card at Kempton Park.

Read what the connections of this year's contenders have had to say before their stable stars contest this historic chase.

2024 King George VI Chase News - Quotes From Connections

Jimmy Mangan (Spillane's Tower)

We're going over, hopefully all guns blazing. I know there's a dry forecast but we'll walk the course beforehand and if we're happy enough there are no firm patches, the plan is to take part.

He came out of Punchestown great and it has brought him on plenty so there'll be no excuse. I went over to Kempton with Conna Castle before and hopefully it will suit him. He won't be found wanting for speed.

I'd probably prefer a big, galloping track as that's why he loves Punchestown, but I won't be making any excuses regarding the course anyway. I think the step back up in trip will definitely suit.

Dan Skelton (Grey Dawning)

Grey Dawning is really, really good. Immediately after Haydock, I really didn’t expect him to be running at Christmas but I cannot believe how well he came out of the race, even the day after.

He has been brilliant at home since and has done a couple of pieces of work on the grass and jumped. His rider Tom (Messenger), my assistant, is really happy with him and our physio is happy with him too.

We had him as fit as we’ve ever had him for Haydock. Every horse is entitled to improve for a run but the way he acted afterwards was that he had really improved, which was a big surprise – I was expecting him to be tired and lethargic for a week or two afterwards before we started slowly building back up.

If he hadn’t told us he was ready, we wouldn’t be doing this. Whether it’s his constitution or whether there was a bit more to work on than we thought or whatever, he came out of Haydock better than you could have expected.

I am really surprised at how well he is – it’s not because he’s not a horse that’s always well, it’s just that Haydock was a particularly hard race.

To have him in this shape is more than I could have hoped for really and I am very excited about the King George.

Noel George (Il Est Francais)

He's in great form, he’s got an unbelievable coat on him and he’s done everything we’ve asked of him with flying colours since his disappointment, at Auteuil. There’s been a lot of work gone into it with my vet and all my staff.

He burst a blood vessel. It’s not the first time he’s done it and every time he’s done it, it’s been at Auteuil.

We’re hoping that if he can put in the performance he did last year at Kempton, and he seems in the same form, we’ve got a great chance. He wins his races through his jumping, his exuberance, his stride. I think he’s definitely better on good ground than he is on heavy.

il est francais — Il Est Francais will be one of two runners at Kempton for Noel George. (Getty)

Joseph O'Brien (Banbridge)

He’s come out of the Hilly Way fine and I was very pleased with him. Giving Energumene 10lb, to give him a little bit of a fright at the last I thought was a great run over that trip,” said the Owning Hill handler.

We knew he’d come on from Navan and we’ve been working from race to race.

Since Punchestown (in the spring), we’ve been targeting the King George and the plan was that we’d have the two prep runs. We’ve been happy with how both of those races have gone and now, pending conditions at Kempton, he’ll go for the King George. The drier the ground the better for him.

Henry De Bromhead (Envoi Allen)

The King George keeps coming back into my head, I feel we have unfinished business there.

I need to speak to Cheveley Park and see what everyone would like to do.

He is just a class horse. Everyone at home has done such a great job. Cheveley Park are tremendous supporters of ours and the game, so delighted for them as well.

Peter Pink (Owner of L'Homme Presse)

He’s very well in himself and I think we will go to Kempton if the ground is no better than good to soft.

The trouble is when you are a Group One horse, there aren’t many options over here in this country before Christmas. He won’t be ready for Haydock and Venetia is getting him ready for the King George which is going to be a hot race I think.

We’ve had a couple of little injuries and he had a little bit of colic, but he is fine now and Venetia said she will have him spot on and at the moment he is in good form.

Emmet Mullins (Corbetts Cross)

I’m very excited, he’ll be a first runner in the King George for me, so it will be a big day.

With Mr McManus having Fact To File for the Leopardstown race, I think he just wanted to cover his options and spread them out a bit (over Christmas).

I thought his first run was satisfactory, the same horse (Heart Wood) beat him on his comeback last year as well. We’ve had a good enough prep and we’re nearly there now.

Good to soft would be OK but it’s tightening up already and I see there’s no rain in the forecast for the next few days, so that will be a worry and I think it’s going the opposite way.

There’s a chance he might not run, we have a championship chaser and they are not designed to run on good ground.

corbetts cross — Emmet Mullins is worried about the ground for Corbetts Cross. (Getty)

David Cottin (Juntos Ganamos)

This race has been in his programme for a while which is why he’s only run twice during the autumn. I’ve been waiting a long time to run him somewhere other than Auteuil and he's a horse with a lot of stamina so I can’t wait to see him run.

He’s recovered well from his race in the Haye Jousselin and all the lights are green to run. He lost a lot of ground and ran an exceptional race to get back to challenge up the straight. He's a horse with a huge amount of talent.

Paul Nicholls (Bravemansgame)

He's back for another crack at the King George having won it two years ago and then finished second twelve months ago despite being hampered at the second last fence.

It looks a stronger renewal this time but he's in very good shape, looks great and will love the drying ground at Kempton.

He has to improve on his two runs this season but he has hardly run badly and I'd like to think he has a lovely each way chance.

Patrick Neville (The Real Whacker)

He’s in good form and he’ll probably run next week in the King George.

The weather forecast and everything is coming right and he’s in great form, so why not?

I didn’t enter him originally as we were going a different route, but with the ground the way it is, we’ll give it a go.

Noel George (General En Chef)

For a first run over British style fences in a very competitive handicap, I think he ran a blinder at Newbury. He didn't quite see out the three-mile-two, it's a very long straight at Newbury. Kempton is a lot easier finish and I think we'll ride him even more patiently.

I think he adapted well to the fences and I'm going to put the hood back on him. We took it off him after he refused to race one day, but I think that maybe putting it back on will really help him see out his race.

I think he's got a great place chance. No matter what race he runs in he travels into it very strongly, so I think he can outrun his odds, definitely.