A King George cracker that pits the pride of Britain up against the Irish and French raiders – ooh la la
IN Grey Dawning Britain trusts, or it will be a case of abdication once again shaping the future of a King George VI?
It was only when King Edward VIII gave up his monarchical authority that King George VI came to the throne in 1936.
If Grey Dawning does the same and throws away his opportunity, then the chances are today’s ITV showpiece will be up for export, with Ireland and France both fielding strong challengers.
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To be fair it’s not just Grey Dawning that can keep the Grade 1 Ladbrokes-sponsored Boxing Day bonanza on home shores.
As I take a moment to hope you all had a fabulous Christmas Day, L’Homme Presse and Bravemansgame are both capable of putting up a bold show for the home defence.
But if the betting is any guide, Grey Dawning is the big gun.
Dan Skelton’s dashing seven-year-old brings back relatively recent memories of similarly silver shadows in Desert Orchid, One Man and Teeton Mill.
A pretty useful novice, taking the Grade 1 Turners’ Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Grey Dawning returned this season with a strong-travelling effort in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.
The soft ground that day appeared to just leave him stuck in the mud in the closing stages as he chased home Royale Pagaille at a distance of two lengths.
A rating of 165 puts him bang in the mix, and he hails from a stable in terrific shape and with a jockey on top in Harry Skelton who is right at the top of his game.
Also rated 165 in a field of 11 is Irish raider Spillane’s Tower, who gives handler Jimmy Mangan a chance of a famous success.
The John Durkan runner-up is clearly talented, and has won a Grade 1 over this sort of distance, albeit not a great one at Punchestown.
At the age of six, Spillane’s Tower may have much more to give and can’t be ignored.
Neither can Banbridge, another on 165 who goes for Joseph O’Brien.
He’s a Grade 2 winner at Kempton, but that was over an extended 2m4f. This trip might stretch him.
Envoi Allen has a pound to find with these on 164, and at the age of ten that might be hard.
That said, he’s always had loads of ability, and was close to a career best when denying Hewick in the Champion Chase at Down Royal.
I’d still be surprised if he won for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore, but I’ve been surprised before!
Corbetts Cross is in the same JP McManus ownership of Spillane’s Tower, and he bolted up in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Two defeats since suggest he has a bit to find to land this pot.
So what about the French? General En Chief, Juntos Ganamos and Il Est Francais bring us all back to the King George VI days of First Gold, Algan, The Fellow and Nupsala.
There’s no doubt in my mind Il Est Francais is the most talented runner in the field, even though he’s only currently got a mark of 154.
The problem, of course, is that Il Est Francais has issues!
Since he looked a monster in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase this time last year, he’s flopped twice at Auteuil in two huge contests.
Bleeding under pressure seems to be his Achilles’ heel.
Clearly that means there is a massive risk, but James Reveley’s mount has something magical about him and Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm will no doubt have tinkered with him to try and sort him out.
If anything like the horse he was in 2023, Il Est Francais could just blow the field away.
Away from the big chase, all eyes around the racing world will be on the smash up between returning champion Constitution Hill and possible superstar Lossiemouth in a bit of a match up for the the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle.
Lossiemouth may well start favourite under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins, even though she has 15lb to find on official ratings.
The big question is whether Constitution Hill can be anywhere like as good as he was 366 days ago.
Then, he demolished Rubaud in this race having hacked up in the 2023 Champion Hurdle.
Also trying to be a Christmas top of the pops is the exciting The Jukebox Man, back for Harry Redknapp in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.
Big races. A huge day. The most wonderful time of the year.
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