never travelling, and soon pushed along towards rear, struggling when hit 10th, tailed off
held up, headway to chase leaders from 14th, went 2nd before 3 out, soon no chance with winner, and just held on to hold 2nd
raced wide, tended to jump left, held up, went poor 4th under pressure 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th, led 14th, ridden and headed well before 3 out, where blundered and weakened, tailed off
held up behind leaders, tracked leader going well 14th, led well before 3 out, drew well clear from next, well in command when went left and hit last, easily
always struggling in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th, led and jumped left 10th, headed 14th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leader to 8th, soon driven along to hold place, weakening when mistake 12th, tailed off
led, mistake and headed 10th, weakened 12th, tailed off
not always fluent, held up, hit 10th, headway to chase leaders from 12th, hit next, chased leaders approaching 3 out, kept on to press for 2nd run in, no chance with winner
Nonrunner
Despite worries over his apparent decline into just average wonder horse, it is KAUTO STAR who can win his third King George; Our Vic, Voy Por Ustedes and Tamarinbleu make up the shortlist. It was the Kauto Star of old in the Betfair Chase; no, not winning, but clattering the odd fence as he used to do. For a horse who has achieved so much, it is surprising that so many have deserted him and the odds against should be taken about this star shining brightest. Our Vic got the better of a protracted duel at Aintree with Paul Nicholls' gelding and as a horse that goes well fresh, he perhaps rates as the main danger. Voy Por Ustedes is a very good horse but is he top-class? The doubts about his stamina up to this trip for the first time mean that he can be taken on. Snoopy Loopy continues in his quest for the Order Of Merit; he is taking his racing well and let's hope he lasts out the season without injury. Imperial Commander is exciting but faces a tough task; so far he has won a competitive handicap and this is the real acid test as he steps back up in trip at a track that may not suit. Tamarinbleu was unlucky to get collared on the line by Snoopy Loopy last time and is a dogged front-runner whose jumping has improved for blinkers, Exotic Dancer looks like being the nearly horse of the decade and will do well to better last year's third spot, whilst Air Force One is decent but not yet up to this class. Briareus could run well at a price considering his liking for the track, but in a solid renewal of the King George, it is Kauto Star who can top the tree.
Air Force One (GER) 5-1 (11-7) Always handy, not fluent 12th, went 2nd 15th, ridden to lead narrowly 4 out, strongly pressed when hit 2 out, mistake and headed last no extra flat, 2nd of 15, 3l behind Madison Du Berlais (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in No.
Albertas Run (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Towards rear, bludered 14th, no chance when blundered and pulled up 4 out in race won by Madison Du Berlais (11-4) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Nov, 15 ran.
Briareus 4-1 (11-8) Led, headed 6th, ridden 3 out, switched right approaching 2 out, rallied after last, led flat, won at Kempton 2m Grad Ch (2) gs in Nov beating I'msingingtheblues (11-5) by 1l, 6 ran.
Imperial Commander (IRE) 13-2 (10-7) In touch, led 9th, ridden after 2 out, kept on gamely, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Nov beating Barbers Shop (10-10) by 3l, 19 ran.
Kauto Star (FR) 2-5fav (11-7) Held up in touch, headway llth, ridden and hung left when hit 3 out, switched right approaching next, ridden when stumbled and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Snoopy Loopy (11-7) at Haydock 3m chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
Mont Misere (FR) 150-1 (11-4) Mid-division, lost place approaching 10th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Monet's Garden (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (1) gs, 10 ran.
Our Vic (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Led, headed 3 out, soon ridden, hard ridden approaching last, led last stride, won at Aintree 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Apr beating Kauto Star (11-10) by a ns, 5 ran.
Snoopy Loopy (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Prominent, led 5th, ridden 2 out, headed flat, kept on, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Monet's Garden (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (1) gs.
Tamarinbleu (FR) 25-1 (11-7) Tracked leader, led 2nd, clear approaching 6th until hit 4 out, challenged last, stayed on and headed close home, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Snoopy Loopy (11-7) at Haydock 3m chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Nov.
Voy Por Ustedes (FR) 3-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, hampered 7th, challenging and disputing 2nd when blundered 2 out, one pace from last, 4th of 12, 5l behind Knowhere (10-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Oct.
Exotic Dancer (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, hit 9th, chased leaders 5 out, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Snoopy Loopy (11-7) at Haydock 3m chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Nov.
