As horse racing’s flat season gives way to National Hunt, Kempton Park becomes a major focal point for the sport.
November offers some eye-catching events before the Christmas Festival takes over at the end of December.
The King George VI Chase is the highlight of the season and one of the most important races in the entire jumping calendar.
The field is already starting to take shape for this prestigious event so let’s take a look at the potential runners and riders, along with the best of Kempton Park’s winter schedule.
Dates for the diary
December is the focus for racegoers with the main event taking place on Boxing Day, which is the traditional host for the King George VI Chase day where a packed card also includes the Kauto Star Novices Hurdle and the Christmas Hurdle.
Another busy day of racing follows on 27th December.
This is now known as the Desert Orchid Chase Day where the Desert Orchid Chase is joined by additional renewals including another group one – the Wayward Lad Novices Chase.
Prior to the big races at the end of the year, Kempton Park also plays host to some top meetings throughout November.
Key races to look out for include the Floodlit Stakes and the Kempton Mares’ Hurdle.
The big prize
A great winter schedule is on the horizon but there’s no doubt that the King George VI Chase is the biggest of them all.
The race was first run in 1937 and was named in honour of the new King.
In more than 75 years of the King George VI, Kempton Park has seen some of the best jumpers take the honours.
The most successful of them all was Kauto Star who won the race on no fewer than five occasions between 2006 and 2011.
The great Desert Orchid previously held the record with four wins between 1986 and 1990.
Runners and riders
It will be tough for any of this year’s horses to go on and emulate their most successful predecessors but the lineup for the 2022 King George VI includes some serious talent.
While there may be several months to go before the off, the field is already taking shape and early markets are listing Allaho as the current favourite.
The best horse racing betting sites in the UK, as supplied via SBO.net, suggest that the closest challenges are likely to come from Bravemansgame, L’Homme Pressé, Galopin des Champs, A Plus Tard and Clan Des Obeaux.
With so much time left before the 2022 King George VI Chase gets underway, there is plenty of scope for those markets to change.
As and when the updates come in, Sbo.net will publish the new odds on their website.
Readers can assess those figures while taking in any news and opinion articles.
There will also be betting guides while each sportsbook receives an extensive review.
There’s lots of information to hand and anyone wishing to put that to the test is able to do so.
Each active bookmaker will accept new sign ups and many have generous welcome promos once registration is complete.
A choice of deposit options can assist with adding the funds which will cover opening bets.
Moving forward, there will be other advantages including in-play betting, mobile apps and a host of other sporting markets.
It’s the site to follow the King George VI Chase from a betting perspective but there’s much more to enjoy at Kempton Park.
Racing at Kempton Park
Kempton Park is located in Sunbury-on-Thames and, while many of its major meetings take place in the winter, there is top class racing to be enjoyed all year round.
In August, regular evening meetings take place with entertainment on hand to complete the package.
From March through to September, the fences give way to top class flat meetings.
Significant races include the Magnolia Stakes, the Rosebery Stakes, the Easter Stakes, the Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes and the September Stakes.
National Hunt racing takes over in October and a great series of events runs right through to the following February.
It’s a thrilling home of racing and one where Londoners can take in some world class meetings right through the calendar year.
Featured image credit: “Boxingday 2016 Kempton Park Horse Race” (CC BY 2.0) by michimaya
