20 horses remain in the field for the 2009 King George VI Chase

After the latest forfeit round 12 horses have been scratched from the 2009 King George VI Chase. This now leaves 20 horses in the field for the the grade 1 feature race at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

While there were no real surprises in the latest round of scratchings, notable horses to be removed from contention include Voy Por Ustedes, Kalahari King, Well Chief, War of Attrition and Monet’s Garden.

Reigning champion Kauto Star, who is looking to make history with a 4th consecutive King George Chase win, is still the favourite with event sponsor William Hill, while Betfair Chase runner-up Imperial Commander leads the rest ahead of Madison du Berlais and Cooldine.

The maximum field that can take part in the King George Chase is 20.

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.”

Kalahari King could miss the King George Chase

Kalahari King could be in doubt for the King George Chase. The Ferdy Murphy trained Kalahari King might miss the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon this Saturday due to the likelihood of soft ground and if so he is unlikely to compete in the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Kalahari King’s preparation has been thrown into disarray after his intended run at Kelso two weeks ago was halted after medication to treat an infected cut on one of the eight-year-old’s hocks failed in time for it to be out of his system. He was then poised to run Kalahari King at Huntingdon however the unsettled forecast could disrupt those plans as well.

“I’ve been desperate to get a run into him and the Peterborough Chase would be ideal, but obviously with the weather the way it is, there is a doubt that he’ll be going there. I don’t want to run him on soft ground for his first run of the season. It wouldn’t be ideal for him.

“They have a meeting there on Thursday and we’ll have a couple of runners, so we’ll see what the ground is like and take it from there.

“The trouble is there are not a lot of races for him after that and if he misses Huntingdon, he wouldn’t go for the King George without a run. It’s very frustrating.” Murphy said.