Kauto Star is set to take on 12 in the 2009 King George VI Chase

After the final declarations stage for the King George VI Chase, Kauto Star is set to take on 12 opponents in the feature grade 1 race on December 26 at Kempton Park. Roll Along, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, was the only horse to be removed from the field.

Defending champion Kauto Star is still the favourite to take out the 3 mile chase for a history making 4th consecutive year, with current odds of 8/13 with event sponsor William Hill. Imperial Commander and Madison Du Berlais lead the rest of the field in betting.

See the full 2009 King George Chase field.

David Pipe is expecting Madison Du Berlais to improve for the King George Chase

Trainer David Pipe is expecting Madison Du Berlais to improve for the King George VI Chase after finishing third behind Kauto Star and Imperial Commander in lat month’s Betfair Chase in his first run of the season.

“He’s in great form and he doesn’t perform up to his best first time out for some reason,” Pipe said.

“He was beaten a long way and he’s got to improve, but he usually does improve for his first run and he put up a good performance round Kempton last year when beating Denman.

“Kauto Star is 1-2 favourite and looks a good thing and we’re probably looking for place money but we’ll be doing our best to try and beat him and if you’re not in it you can’t win it.”

Madison Du Berlais is currently at 8/1 with event sponsor William Hill for the King George Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Joe Lively doubtful for King George Chase

Joe Lively, who’s last win was at Cheltenham in January, is doubtful to run in this year’s King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on December 26.

The 10 year old, trained by Colin Tizzard, has already been removed from antepost betting at event sponsor William Hill, where he last had odds of 66/1. If Joe Lively is indeed out then the field for this year’s race will be down to 18 horses.

Deep Purple trainer Evan Williams is concerned about taking on Kauto Star in the King George Chase

It has not yet been decided if Deep Purple will run in this year’s William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day with trainer Evan Williams concerned about taking on 3 time winner Kauto Star.

Williams has admitted that he was surprised by his eight year old geldings emphatic win in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon last thursday.

“I have to admit to being a bit taken aback the way he did it. I thought it was a massive step up on his Charlie Hall run. There were a few people crabbing it saying the race fell apart, but I don’t know what else the poor old horse can do” Williams said.

“I’m not going to definitely commit to the King George because I want the dust to settle. Of course we are going to look at it and it will come under strong consideration.

“A King George is another step up and I’ve been on the receiving end of mighty beatings from Kauto Star, Denman and the like. I realise how magnificent those animals are. They are a step above and are greats.

“It is intimidating but our horse keeps raising the bar.”

After Deep Purple’s success in the Peterborough Chase, event sponsors William Hill slashed his odds for the King George VI Chase from 25/1 to 14/1.

The 3m King George VI Chase might suit Tartak

After finishing second in the Totesport.com Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Thursday, Tartak is a possibility for the William Hill King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Tartak finished second to fellow King George Chase prospect Deep Purple, and ahead of last year’s runner-up Albertas Run. Trainer Tom George thinks that Tartak would do well over 3 miles which is the distance for the King George Chase.

“Tartak has shown he’s a class horse. They did go quick and it caught his jumping out a bit, but he will learn a lot from that. Sam said he’d have preferred to have been riding him over three miles” George said.

At the moment William Hill has Tartak at long odds of 66/1 for the King George VI Chase on December 26.

Kalahari King is out of the 2009 King George VI Chase

Kalahari King has been scratched from the King George VI Chase because trainer Ferdy Murphy believes that the Winter Festival feature race is not a suitable race to start the season with. Murphy instead is hoping that Musselburgh Racecourse will put on a suitable race for his Grade 1 winning chaser in order to prepare for the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on March 17 2010.

“He’s very well at the moment,” Murphy said on Monday. “We’ll scratch him from the King George tomorrow because you can’t run there first time out.

“We’ll talk to Bill [Farnworth, general manager] and hopefully Musselburgh can put on a race round here in February.

“A limited handicap over two miles round here would be ideal.”

Schindlers Hunt is being primed for the King George Chase

Irish raider Schindlers Hunt, a dual Grade 1 chase winner, is being primed for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day and will bypass the Lexus Chase.

The nine year old was fourth in the Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot and was runner-up to Notre Pere in the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup and trainer Dessie Hughes thinks that Kempton Park and the King George VI Chase will suit him.

“The plan at the moment is for Schindlers to go to Kempton on Boxing Day for the King George and I think he’ll run a nice race if the ground is good,” Hughes said.

“Hopefully they’ll get nice ground there as they normally do and it will certainly be better than what we have here anyway.

“I was probably a little bit disappointed after his run at Ascot but Paddy Flood wasn’t disappointed and said he just wants further.

“Two miles and three furlongs round there on the inside track is a bit quick for him and there should be a bit of improvement to come.”

Currently Schindlers Hunt is 33/1 for the King George VI Chase with William Hill.

RSA Chase winner Cooldine could be heading for the King George VI Chase

RSA Chase winner Cooldine could be heading to Kempton Park for the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day and his first clash with Kauto Star.

Willie Mullins, Cooldine’s trainer, confirmed that the grade 1 event at Kempton is a possibility for his talented seven year old chaser.

“In terms of giving him the preparation for the Gold Cup, Kempton might be a better option than the Lexus. I’m not sure if it will be his ideal track, but although he would prefer it to be on the soft side, he won’t mind if it comes up good. He’s doing everything right” Mullins said.

Currently Cooldine is 14/1 with William Hill for the King George VI Chase.

The Queen's horse Barbers Shop being considered for the King George Chase

After a credible fourth in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on the weekend Nicky Henderson may consider running Barbers Shop over three miles again, possibly at the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

Barbers Shop, one of the Queen’s horses, performed well considering the ground at Newbury was softer than ideal to make the frame.

Henderson said after the race, “I think he got a bit tired after looking a big danger turning for home, but it was a great performance from the winner. I don’t think three miles would be a worry.”

When questiong about the chance of Babers Shop contesting the King George Chase at Kempton, Henderson said, “We’ll see. He kept at it and will probably come on for his run.”

Barbers Shop is currently at 14/1 with William Hill for the King George VI Chase.

William Hill Winter Festival Schedule

The schedule for the William Hill Winter Festival has been changed after the King George VI Chase was moved to a later start time. The grade 1 feature also changed from being race 4 to race 5, the second last race of the day. This has also meant that the Sports Betting Handicap Hurdle Race, which was originally race 5, has now moved to become race 2 and all other races on December 26 have shuffled back a position.

The changes are due to Channel 4 broadcast scheduling with the feature grade 1 race now to start at 3:05pm. It is expected that the later start time for the King George Chase will help build anticipation.

You can find the updated schedule below:

Saturday December 26

• Race 1 – 12:45pm: The williamhill.com – Bonus Novices’ Hurdle Race
• Race 2 – 1:20pm: The williamhill.com – Sports Betting Handicap Hurdle Race
• Race 3 – 1:55pm: The williamhill.com Feltham Novices’ Steeple Chase (in memory of Nigel Clark)
• Race 4 – 2:30pm: The williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle Race
• Race 5 – 3:05pm: The William Hill King George VI Steeple Chase
• Race 6 – 3:40pm: The williamhill.com – Poker Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase

Sunday December 27

• Race 1 – 1:00pm: The williamhill.com – Blackjack Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle Race
• Race 2 – 1:30pm: The williamhill.com Novices’ Steeple Chase (registered as the Wayward Lad Novices’ Steeple Chase)
• Race 3 – 2:05pm: The williamhill.com – Bingo Mares Only Handicap Hurdle Race
• Race 4 – 2:40pm: The williamhill.com Desert Orchid Steeple Chase
• Race 5 – 3:15pm: The williamhill.com – Bonus 25 Handicap Steeple Chase
• Race 6 – 3:45pm: The williamhill.com Casino Handicap Hurdle Race

For full details see the William Hill Winter Festival Schedule.