16 Runners Confirmed
December 20 2004

16 runners have been confirmed for the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, including Triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate.

Best Mate's trainer, Henrietta Knight, also has the 2003 winner Edredon Blue and Impek entered. Although entered in the contest the intended target for Best Mate, the 2002 King George winner, is the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, Ireland, on the 28th of December.

"Best Mate will run in Leopardstown unless there is a monsoon, a gale or something similar," Owner Jim Lewis said. "He is due to go across on Boxing Day and as long as that goes okay, then that is Plan A.

"Obviously, if things change then we would have to consider the King George, but that would be a second preference and we hope Edredon Bleu will run at Kempton.

"With the ground good to soft at the moment, Edredon would be the favourite of mine to start.

“Impek is also in there because he likes Kempton and a right-handed track would suit him. I think Henrietta would be prepared to run him, but I don't want to run two of mine in the same race as it is non-productive.

"We should save one of them for another time and looking forward it will probably be Best Mate in Ireland, Edredon Bleu at Kempton and Impek perhaps somewhere else over the weekend."

Champion owner David Johnson has taken out Our Vic, while Therealbandit looks set to run. And Paul Nicholls has both Azertyuiop and Le Roi Miguel entered, but has indicated he will not decide until Thursday whether Azertyuiop will line up.

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