The final field for the King George was declared on Tuesday morning and it’s a cracking eight-runner line-up with superstar potential everywhere. Check out our expert tips for the King George’s Chase at Kempton, as well as details around the best horse racing betting offers available right now.
King George VI betting offers & free bets
The King George VI Chase at Kempton is arguably the biggest race of the festive period, so it’s a great time to sign up to UK betting sites. Tote’s offer stands out, with £40 in bonuses, whilst Coral are offering £50 in free bets when you place a £10 bet.
| Horse Racing Betting Sites | King George VI Betting Offers |
| Tote | Bet £10 get £40 in bonuses |
| Sky Bet | £40 in horse racing bets when you place a £10 bet |
| BOYLE Sports | £40 in Free Bets + Money back as a free bet if 2nd to SP favourite |
| BetMGM | Bet £10 get £40 in free bets |
| Coral | Get £50 in free bets when you bet £10 on horse racing |
| Parimatch | Bet £10 and get a £5 free bet every day for 7 days |
King George VI betting offers & free bets – Key T&Cs:
- Tote: New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on a selected game within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org
- Sky Bet: New customers only. First single & E/W bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 4 X £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets for Horse Racing only. Free bets are non withdrawable. Free bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply. 18+. GambleAware.org #ad
- BOYLE Sports: 18+ New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £40 in FREE Bets (FB) as £30 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. T&Cs Apply 18+. IRE/NI & UK online only. Max Free Bet £/€10. Win or win part of e/w outright singles. 5+ runners. 1st bet on each race. Free/void/antepost bets don’t qualify. In event of a dead heat, offer won’t apply. Applies to First Past the Post result. Unnamed 2nd Favs don’t qualify. Acc & Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
- BetMGM: New cust. Deposit £10+ in 7 days & bet on sports. Min odds apply. Reward = 4 x £10 Free Bets (2 x £10 Bet Builders & 2 x £10 Sports bet). Valid 7 days. Free bets not valid on e-sports & non UK/IE horse racing. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
- Coral: 18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £10 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 5x £10 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
- Parimatch: 18+ New customers only. Opt in and bet £10 on Horse Racing (odds 3.00+) within 7 days of registration. Get 7×5 Free Bets for Horse Racing (odds 3.00+), which expire 48 after accreditation. T&Cs Apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly.
King George VI Betting Tips
Willie Mullins has declared both Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File after their barnstorming tussle in the John Durkan at Punchestown and, with the dead eight declared, it promises to be a King George VI Chase for the ages on Boxing Day.
A field of eight means three places for punters to aim at and our expert has picked out two selections for the Kempton Grade 1.
- Selection: Fact To File @ 11/4
- Next Best: Banbridge @ 16/1
Early burn up on the cards
With the field confirmed it looks almost certain the King George is going to be run at a frantic pace.
Gaelic Warrior employed forcing tactics in the John Durkan at Punchestown – so much so that only Fact To File got within hailing distance at any point in the race.
Paul Townend’s mount certainly doesn’t have to lead, given his Aintree Bowl success last season was under a patient ride from Patrick Mullins. The Rich Ricci inmate is a massive contender on that win but he left absolutely nothing behind on his comeback and it could tax him now.
Il Est Francais set a phenomenal pace in this contest last year, as he did in the Grade 1 novice a year before that.
Trainer Tom George says: “We just have to hope he’s back to where he has been the last two times he’s been to Kempton,” indicating a familiar approach.
The Jukebox Man and Djelo are two more that have been known to get on with it and the likelihood is that the King George will be run at a fast tempo.
Fact To File to reverse home form
This race has always been touted as a perfect assignment for FACT TO FILE. The JP McManus-owned eight-year-old has a mix of speed and stamina that tees him up perfectly and he was far too good in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham (2m5½f) in the spring before struggling back over the minimum trip at Punchestown.
That came at the end of a busy season in which he’d twice mixed it with Galopin Des Champs over three miles.
His Ryanair form makes him an ideal candidate for this event and, while defeated by Gaelic Warrior on their respective comebacks, it was only a neck at the line and it looked for all the world as though Mark Walsh had timed things perfectly on the runner up, only for the leader to redouble his efforts.
That was a high-class race, featuring three 2025 Cheltenham Festival winners, and given that Fact To File was the only runner that got after Gaelic Warrior, it cannot be overlooked that he would have burned plenty fuel in running down a frontrunner that was doing his own thing.
With the prospect of pace in this race and no horse likely to get a soft lead, it should set up for Fact To File’s mix of pace and finishing power.
King George VI Selection: Fact To File @ 11/4
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Don’t discount Banbridge going close again
Jango Baie isn’t overlooked in any haste with the Nicky Henderson team in rude health. Last season’s Arkle winner is a player and he beat Il Est Francais on comeback at Ascot – though the latter surely didn’t give his true running and the wide margins that split the four finishers in that Ladbrokes 1965 Chase ensure it has to be treated with some caution.
Instead, last year’s winner BANBRDIGE is fancied to have a say, with three places for each-way purposes.
Joseph O’Brien’s charge hasn’t done much in three runs since but there are reasons to forgive them, with his stamina in doubt at Cheltenham and Aintree in the spring, and the Hilly Way at Cork over the minimum trip on his comeback.
This place clearly suits and a first-time visor could bring about improved concentration. Paul Townend gave him a super ride 12 months ago and he’s unlikely to be found wanting with Sean Bowen in the plate now.
The King George has a long tradition of seeing horses repeatedly going well in the race. Clan des Obeaux was unwanted in the market when he romped home in 2019, following his success a year before, and it would be folly to discount Banbridge.
King George VI Next Best: Banbridge @ 16/1
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