BRAVEMANSGAME won a thrilling King George after big rival L’Homme Presse crashed out at the last in a Christmas cracker at Kempton.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls – dubbed the ‘King of Christmas on ITV – celebrated a record 13th win and now sets sights on the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
PAHarry Cobden celebrates after winning the King George on Bravemansgame[/caption]
GettyCharlie Deutsch is totally gutted after being unseated from L’Homme Presse[/caption]
Bookies slashed Bravemansgame to around 7-1 for the Festival feature, although a couple firms went 10-1.
Bravemansgame thrashed 12-1 runner-up Royale Pagaille by 14 lengths with Sun Racing columnist Bryony Frost a gallant third on 18-1 Frodon.
The 9-4 favourite L’Homme Presse looked booked for second spot until dramatically unseating Charlie Deutsch at the last, leaving 11-4 Bravemansgame free to saunter home.
But it’s John Dance, a DJ and one of the owners of Bravemansgame, who could be showing some serious moves of his own come March.
Nicholls, who recently spoke of becoming a dad at 60, said after the race: “He stayed on really strongly. He’s a very good horse when he’s right.
“Frodon is 10 going on 11 and he ran a cracker too.
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“You’ve always got to look forward and not back.
“Bravemansgame will go straight to the Gold Cup now – I just hope it’s slightly better ground.
“You’ve got to go and give it a go, if it’s nice ground I’m very happy to run him.
“He’s mature enough to get the trip at Cheltenham, we’ve got to give it our best shot.
“Horses like this find you rather than the other way. We have been lucky and we have some other lovely young horses at home. It is fantastic and I feel very lucky.
“You never dream of days like this and once you have a taste of it you never want it to go away.”
Dance poked fun at those who claimed his seven-year-old gelding is given more praise than he deserves by tweeting after the race: “Still overrated?”
He followed the post with an emoji of corks popping and a winking face emoji.
However, there was big disappointment for the likes of Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead.
Their Grade 1 winner Envoi Allen was backed but found nothing all race, leaving more questions about his future.
He was last of the seven to finish, with 11-1 Hitman pulled up and L’Homme Presse unseating.
King George full result
1st 11-4 Bravemansgame
2nd 12-1 Royale Pagaille
3rd 18-1 Frodon
4th 18-1 Eldorado Allen
5th 12-1 Ahoy Senor
6th 40-1 Millers Bank
7th 4-1 Envoi Allen
PU 11-1 hitman
UR 9-4f L’Homme Presse
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