{"title":"King George VI Chase Betting Odds | Parimatch","description":"Bet on this year’s King George VI Chase with Parimatch. Look for value in our King George VI Chase odds ahead of this prestigious Boxing Day steeplechase.","custom_path":"/en-gb/pages/horse-racing/king-george-vi-chase-betting","heading":"King George VI Chase Odds \u0026 Betting","heading_tag":"h1","nofollow":false,"noindex":false,"has_custom_schema":true,"schema_json":[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"When is the 2026 King George VI Chase?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The race is scheduled for 2.30pm on Saturday 26 December 2026 at Kempton Park. It headlines the opening day of the two-day Christmas Festival."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who is the favourite in the 2026 King George VI Chase odds?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The entries and final field have not yet been confirmed. The latest favourite will be shown at the top of this page once Parimatch opens or updates the market."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Who won the 2025 King George VI Chase?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Jukebox Man won the 2025 King George VI Chase under Ben Jones after a close four-way photo finish."}}]}],"has_toc":false,"alternate_languages":[],"copy_sections":[{"toc_title":"","title":"\u003ch2 class=\"bvs-h2\"\u003eKing George VI Chase Betting Odds 2026\u003c/h2\u003e","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe King George VI Chase returns to Kempton Park on Saturday 26 December 2026, bringing many of the leading staying chasers together for the biggest British jumps race of the Christmas period.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLive King George VI Chase odds will appear above once the market is available. Entries have not yet been published, so any names discussed during the summer should be treated as possible contenders rather than confirmed runners.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor today’s meetings and prices from across Britain and Ireland, browse the latest \u003ca href=\"https://www.parimatch.co.uk/en-gb/sports/364\"\u003ehorse racing odds\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"toc_title":"","title":"\u003ch2 class=\"bvs-h2\"\u003eWhen Is the 2026 King George VI Chase?\u003c/h2\u003e","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe 2026 race is scheduled for \u003cstrong\u003e2.30pm on Boxing Day\u003c/strong\u003e, Saturday 26 December.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKing George VI Chase Day opens Kempton’s two-day Christmas Festival. The current Saturday card also includes the Christmas Hurdle and Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, with further racing taking place on Sunday 27 December. Times and race names remain subject to change.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe King George is a Grade 1 steeplechase run over three miles. Horses jump 18 fences around Kempton, a relatively flat and fast right-handed course where losing rhythm can be costly.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt also occupies an important point in the staying chase season. The race forms the middle leg of The Jockey Club Chase Triple Crown, after the Betfair Chase at Haydock and before the Cheltenham Gold Cup.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat creates a natural link with the latest \u003ca href=\"https://www.parimatch.co.uk/en-gb/pages/horse-racing/cheltenham-festival\"\u003eCheltenham Festival odds\u003c/a\u003e, although Kempton and Cheltenham reward different qualities.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"toc_title":"","title":"\u003ch2 class=\"bvs-h2\"\u003eKing George VI Chase Odds for 2026\u003c/h2\u003e","content":"\u003cp\u003eThere is no reliable 2026 favourite yet.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe leading staying chasers still have their autumn campaigns ahead of them. Some will begin at Haydock, Down Royal or Punchestown. Others may not reappear until late November or early December.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne strong comeback can transform the market. So can a below-par run.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEarly King George VI Chase odds may offer larger prices, but they arrive before entries, final plans and jockey bookings are known. A horse can be prominent in the betting without ever travelling to Kempton.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCheck the rules attached to the selection before confirming an ante-post bet. Unless non-runner money-back protection is clearly included, the stake may be lost if the horse does not line up.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrices will appear at the top of this page once Parimatch opens or updates the market.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"toc_title":"","title":"\u003ch2 class=\"bvs-h2\"\u003eWhen Will the 2026 Runners Be Confirmed?\u003c/h2\u003e","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe official 2026 King George entries have not yet been released.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor comparison, the initial list for the 2025 race was published on 25 November. Twenty horses remained at that stage, before the field was reduced further during December.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe same timetable is not guaranteed for 2026, but the picture should become clearer during the final weeks before Christmas.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTrainers may enter more than one horse before making a final choice. Ground conditions, performances in autumn races and the wellbeing of each runner can all change those plans.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEven a strong public statement should not be treated as a declaration. The final field is only settled shortly before the race.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"toc_title":"","title":"\u003ch2 class=\"bvs-h2\"\u003eWhat Type of Horse Does Kempton Suit?\u003c/h2\u003e","content":"\u003cp\u003eKempton does not present the same stamina test as Cheltenham or Aintree.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThree miles still needs to be seen out, yet the sharper track often places greater emphasis on travelling speed and accurate jumping. A horse that becomes outpaced midway through the race may struggle to recover before the home straight.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere is little time to reorganise after a mistake either.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe fences arrive regularly, so a chaser that jumps economically can maintain its position without using unnecessary energy. A runner that spends too long in the air or repeatedly adjusts before take-off may find itself under pressure sooner than expected.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Jukebox Man offered a useful recent example. Before winning the 2025 King George, he had already taken the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase over the same course and distance.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCourse form is helpful. It is not compulsory.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"toc_title":"","title":"\u003ch2 class=\"bvs-h2\"\u003eKey Form Clues Before Boxing Day\u003c/h2\u003e","content":"\u003ch3 class=\"bvs-h3\"\u003eThe Betfair Chase\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Betfair Chase at Haydock is the first leg of The Jockey Club Chase Triple Crown and usually provides an early test for established three-mile chasers.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHaydock can become a severe stamina examination on soft ground. Kempton is generally sharper, so a horse may perform differently when faced with a faster surface and tighter track.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLook at more than the finishing order. How well did the horse jump? Did it travel comfortably? Was it still responding near the finish?\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3 class=\"bvs-h3\"\u003eThe John Durkan Chase\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePunchestown’s John Durkan Memorial Chase has become another important early-season contest.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts distance is shorter than the King George, but it regularly attracts high-class Irish chasers. A runner showing plenty of speed there may later step up to three miles at Kempton.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe extra distance remains a genuine test. Racing strongly over two and a half miles does not prove that the horse will finish with the same purpose on Boxing Day.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3 class=\"bvs-h3\"\u003eCheltenham’s November and December Meetings\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eCheltenham can reveal useful clues, particularly when established chasers make their seasonal returns.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIts undulating course is very different from Kempton. A horse that stays on strongly up the Cheltenham hill may still lack the tactical pace needed on Boxing Day. The reverse can also apply.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRecent racing analysis and meeting previews can be found through the \u003ca href=\"https://www.parimatch.co.uk/blog/sports/horse-racing/\"\u003ehorse racing blog\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3 class=\"bvs-h3\"\u003ePrevious Kempton Form\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eExperience at Kempton deserves attention because the track has a distinctive rhythm.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Kauto Star Novices’ Chase is run over the King George course and distance on the same card. Previous winners often return as older horses with stronger form and more chasing experience.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot every promising novice develops into a King George contender. Those that do already have evidence that the course suits them.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"toc_title":"","title":"\u003ch2 class=\"bvs-h2\"\u003eWhat to Check Before Betting\u003c/h2\u003e","content":"\u003ch3 class=\"bvs-h3\"\u003eJumping Speed\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eKempton rewards horses that clear their fences without losing momentum.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA chaser can jump safely but slowly. That may be manageable in a long-distance race on testing ground, yet it becomes a larger weakness when the field is moving quickly.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWatch how much ground a runner gains or loses at each obstacle. The final result does not tell the full story.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3 class=\"bvs-h3\"\u003eForm Over Three Miles\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA horse stepping up from two and a half miles may possess enough stamina. It still needs to prove it.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eConsider how the runner finishes its races and whether it settles during the early stages. Pulling hard can make the final half-mile much more difficult.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePast form over three miles is reassuring, particularly when it came in a strongly run Grade 1.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3 class=\"bvs-h3\"\u003eRunning Direction\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eKempton is right-handed.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSome horses clearly perform better going one way than the other. A tendency to jump left can cost ground and interfere with the horse’s rhythm around a right-handed track.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne awkward performance is not enough to establish a fixed preference. A repeated pattern carries more weight.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3 class=\"bvs-h3\"\u003eThe Likely Pace\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA small field can still produce a strong gallop when several horses prefer racing prominently.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf nobody wants the lead, the tempo may remain steady before increasing sharply. That can suit a runner with more speed than its rivals.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWait until the final declarations before drawing a firm conclusion. Pace is difficult to assess while the field remains uncertain.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3 class=\"bvs-h3\"\u003eGround Conditions\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eKempton’s ground can change quickly during a wet or cold Christmas period.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSofter conditions increase the stamina demand. Better ground can place additional pressure on jumping and tactical speed.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCheck the official going report during race week rather than relying on a forecast made several weeks earlier.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"toc_title":"","title":"\u003ch2 class=\"bvs-h2\"\u003eKing George VI Chase Betting Markets\u003c/h2\u003e","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe range of available options should increase as Boxing Day approaches.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3 class=\"bvs-h3\"\u003eWin Betting\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA win bet requires your selected horse to finish first.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe potential return is based on the accepted odds shown on the betslip, subject to the settlement rules.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3 class=\"bvs-h3\"\u003eAnte-Post Betting\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnte-post betting allows you to back a possible runner before the final field is known.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe attraction is securing an early price. The risk is that the horse may be withdrawn, redirected elsewhere or fail to reach the race.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCheck for non-runner protection before placing the wager. Do not assume it is included simply because the race is several months away.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3 class=\"bvs-h3\"\u003eEach-Way Betting\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn each-way wager is split into two equal bets.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne half backs the horse to win. The other backs it to finish within the advertised place positions.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA £5 each-way selection costs £10 in total.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlace terms depend on the field and the offer displayed at the time. The race does not automatically pay three places every year. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.parimatch.co.uk/en-gb/bet-calculator/each-way\"\u003eeach-way calculator\u003c/a\u003e can help estimate a possible return using the relevant odds and place fraction.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3 class=\"bvs-h3\"\u003eForecast Betting\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA straight forecast requires the first two horses in the correct order. A reverse forecast covers either finishing order.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmall Grade 1 fields may appear easier to assess, but one jumping error can completely alter the result.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePotential forecast returns can be checked with the \u003ca href=\"https://www.parimatch.co.uk/en-gb/bet-calculator/forecast\"\u003eforecast calculator\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3 class=\"bvs-h3\"\u003eMultiples\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe King George can be combined with selections from other Boxing Day races.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery leg must win for a standard multiple to succeed. Adding further horses increases the possible return but also gives the bet more ways to lose.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"toc_title":"","title":"\u003ch2 class=\"bvs-h2\"\u003eWho Won the 2025 King George VI Chase?\u003c/h2\u003e","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe Jukebox Man won the 2025 King George VI Chase under Ben Jones for trainer Ben Pauling.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe finish was exceptionally tight. Four horses crossed the line separated by only half a length, with the result settled through a photo.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Jukebox Man had entered the race after winning over the same course and distance as a novice. His Kempton experience did not guarantee victory, but it gave bettors solid evidence that he handled the track.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAny price attached to the 2025 result is now historical. It should not be treated as an indication of the odds for the 2026 race.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"toc_title":"","title":"\u003ch2 class=\"bvs-h2\"\u003eRecent King George VI Chase Winners\u003c/h2\u003e","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe five latest winners are:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2025:\u003c/strong\u003e The Jukebox Man, ridden by Ben Jones.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2024:\u003c/strong\u003e Banbridge, ridden by Paul Townend.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2023:\u003c/strong\u003e Hewick, ridden by Gavin Sheehan.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2022:\u003c/strong\u003e Bravemansgame, ridden by Harry Cobden.\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2021:\u003c/strong\u003e Tornado Flyer, ridden by Danny Mullins.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat sequence includes British and Irish-trained winners, favourites and bigger-priced selections. There is no single recent trend strong enough to replace a proper assessment of the current field.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKing George runners may later be considered for Aintree, although the National demands far more stamina. The latest \u003ca href=\"https://www.parimatch.co.uk/en-gb/pages/horse-racing/grand-national\"\u003eGrand National odds\u003c/a\u003e cover that separate spring target.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"toc_title":"","title":"\u003ch2 class=\"bvs-h2\"\u003eKing George VI Chase History and Records\u003c/h2\u003e","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe King George VI Chase was first run in February 1937 and named after the newly crowned monarch. Southern Hero won the inaugural edition and remains the oldest winner at 12.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter racing resumed following the Second World War, the contest moved to Boxing Day and grew into Kempton’s defining jumps race.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKauto Star holds the record with five victories. He won four consecutive renewals from 2006 to 2009 before returning to regain the race in 2011.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDesert Orchid won four times, while Wayward Lad collected three victories during the 1980s.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePaul Nicholls is the most successful trainer with 13 wins. His latest came through Bravemansgame in 2022, following victories with See More Business, Kauto Star, Silviniaco Conti, Clan Des Obeaux and Frodon.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRecords provide useful context, particularly when a stable has repeatedly prepared horses for Kempton. The individual runner’s current form still matters more than the trainer’s historical total.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"toc_title":"","title":"\u003ch2 class=\"bvs-h2\"\u003eHow to Bet on the 2026 King George VI Chase\u003c/h2\u003e","content":"\u003cp\u003eLog in to Parimatch and open the horse racing section. Find the King George VI Chase market, choose your horse and select the available bet type.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEnter your stake and review the accepted odds and potential return. For an ante-post or each-way wager, check the non-runner and place conditions before confirming.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAny active racing promotions will appear with the latest \u003ca href=\"https://www.parimatch.co.uk/en-gb/offer/all\"\u003ebetting offers\u003c/a\u003e. Offers may be added, amended or removed before Boxing Day, so rely on the terms displayed when placing the bet.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSet a budget before racing begins and keep stakes within an amount you can afford to lose. Deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion tools are available through Safer Gambling.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e18+ | T\u0026amp;Cs apply | Please gamble responsibly.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"}]}