Racing tips: King George runners and riders: Your Pinstickers’ guide to Kempton’s big race live on ITV – The Sun

CYRNAME is on everyone’s lips for the King George VI Chase at Kempton (3.05).

He’s the highest-rated chaser in training and showed why when ending Altior’s 19-race unbeaten run at Ascot last time.

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That performance was dazzling as he went from the front and pinged every fence to win with a bit up his sleeve.

Paul Nicholls has been talking of Cyrname in the same breath as Kauto Star who won this race an amazing five times. He steps his star up in distance here but settled well at Ascot and looks ready for it as a more mature horse.

He is two from two at Kempton and can show his class again. He has stablemate and last year’s winner Clan Des Obeaux to beat but this looks a stronger renewal and Harry Cobden has got off him to ride Cyrname 12 months on.

That could prove to be a wise decision, although Lostintranslation will be no pushover.

His jumping was electric when winning at Haydock last time but the longer trip of the Cheltenham Gold Cup will bring out his very best.

ASO 1/5

Jockey: Charlie Deutsch

Trainer: Venetia Williams

ASO much to find.

Trainer Venetia Williams is on the run of her life at the moment with 13 winners from just 28 runners in the two weeks before Christmas.

But it would be quite a surprise if this nine-year-old was good enough to take a King George.

His finest hour came when finishing a close second in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March and that was an excellent effort with the 2m4f trip suiting really well.

However, he has disappointed twice since including when upped to three miles for the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on comeback.

His poor run in the Peterborough Chase last time is also cause for alarm. It looks like he wants a shorter trip and this is his toughest race so far.

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CLAN DES OBEAUX 3/5

Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies

Trainer: Paul Nicholls

OBEAUX sounds good.

Last year’s winner warrants plenty of respect and Harry Cobden has been having sleepless nights trying to choose between him and Cyrname, only deserting the reigning champ at the last minute.

Sam Twiston-Davies is a more than able deputy and we know this seven-year-old loves Kempton and the King George trip.

He didn’t stay when fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and it looked like he’d had enough by the time Aintree came around, although his second to Kemboy there is hardly a disgrace.

He tuned up with a solid effort at Down Royal last month and this is his cup final for the campaign.

There’s little doubt that this is a stronger race than 12 months ago and he may come up just short this time around.

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CYRNAME 5/5 (Bet now)

Jockey: Harry Cobden

Trainer: Paul Nicholls

YES Cyr.

This tank of a horse showed why he’s the No1 chaser in Britain on official ratings by ending Altior’s unbeaten run at Ascot last time.

He went out in front and pinged every fence like the class act he is.

That was his third win on the spin at the Queen’s favourite track and each time nothing has landed a glove on him.

He goes up in distance here for the first time but is a more mature horse now and wasn’t stopping on his comeback.

His record at Kempton gives real confidence as he is two from two here, and they weren’t egg and spoon races but convincing victories in a couple of Grade 2 contests as a novice.

He goes on any ground and Paul Nicholls – who has won this great race TEN times – thinks the absolute world of him.

He looks tailor-made for the challenge and can repay Harry Cobden’s faith after he got off defending champ Clan Des Obeaux.

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FOOTPAD 3/5

Jockey: Barry Geraghty

Trainer: Willie Mullins

FOOT race.

He started his chasing career in amazing style, winning his first five races over fences including a 14-length masterclass when taking the 2018 Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Another bloodless victory at Punchestown followed and it looked like he – rather than Altior – would be the outstanding two-miler of his generation.

But things went wrong the following season when he took a crashing fall on comeback at Naas before tasting defeat at Leopardstown and in the Ryanair Chase where he couldn’t land a blow despite going off favourite.

Master trainer Willie Mullins has been patient and upped him in distance as he won a Thurles Listed race coming back from more than nine months off.

There were no signs of the jumping issues of last term and he had plenty in hand crossing the line.

Now he has to prove it against the big boys and over a trip that isn’t 100% sure to suit.

The Footpad of two years ago would likely win this and, while he has something to prove, it wouldn’t be shock to see him in the first three.

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LOSTINTRANSLATION 4/5

Jockey: Robbie Power

Trainer: Colin Tizzard

LOST is found. You can never be sure that top novice chasers will train on but Lostintranslation has no questions to answer on that score.

He was second in the JLT at Cheltenham before relishing 3m1f around Aintree to take the Grade 1 Mildmay Chase by six lengths.

Any worries about how he would start this season were quickly quashed as he jumped superbly around tricky Carlisle to score well on comeback.

He left that Listed form behind with another excellent performance in silencing course specialist Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

He crossed his fences like an old hand and showed plenty of staying power up the home straight.

His liking for Aintree bodes well for another speed track like Kempton and his proven stamina could expose any cracks in Cyrname as he goes up in trip.

He has a massive chance but may just be better over the extra quarter-mile of the Cheltenham Gold Cup which will surely be the perfect race for him.

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THISTLECRACK 2/5

Jockey: Tom Scudamore

Trainer: Colin Tizzard

THISTLE may Crack.

Connections have been making positive noises about the 2016 winner of this race who has just seven runs since as injuries have taken their toll.

He was a gallant second to Clan Des Obeaux last season before struggling in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when he didn’t look right again.

He came back to run high-class hurdler Paisley Park mighty close over timber at Newbury last month when he travelled as sweetly as ever.

He has reportedly been burning up the gallops at the Tizzards and he has the proven class for a King George.

It’s asking a lot to turn back the clock but he has been nibbled in the betting and there have been bigger Christmas miracles.