ANTEPOST: Shan to turn Kempton blue over Christmas

With Chepstow’s jumps opener ready to start a week this Friday, we thought it would about time to put up one for one of the highlight races of the season, the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

With the Autumn nights getting closer, the more stable tours are popping up weekly and Dan Skelton gave a snippet of some of his stars in a Sporting Life update recently. The one that caught the eye was regarding SHAN BLUE below;

The Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day beckons for Shan Blue, who impressed over course and distance in last year’s Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, should his comeback in the Grade Two bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby go to plan.

Skelton said: “He was a revelation over fences last season. He jumped hurdles like he wanted a fence and they helped him grow up a lot. I will start him off in the Charlie Hall as he is good around Wetherby and he will then have an entry in the King George. At Cheltenham, we tried something unusual as Envoi Allen was in the race but ultimately Shan wasn’t at his best as he gave it his all in the Kauto Star and Scilly Isles. The Charlie Hall is mission one, then the King George".

As stated above the Charlie Hall is the first target, then hopefully all being well to the King George and having looked at the market for the King George he is standout 50/1 with Betfair/Paddy Power.

I feel this could be one of those horses again to put in his best efforts fresh and early in the season. When he ran in the Scilly Isles at Sandown in February you couldn't help but feel the heavy ground that day and being legless up the tiring Sandown hill had an knock-on effect on his spring efforts in the Marsh Novices Chase & Mildmay Novices Chases respectively. Although Harry Skelton's ride in the Marsh was an unusual one, it's likely he was definitely over the top by Aintree after a hard season.

Shan Blue has a lot in his favour going into this season for this race. Having won the Kauto Star Novices Chase last year at the same meeting, whilst his well balanced running style and outstanding jumping suits the tight track at Kempton compared to those heavy topped novice chasers he might meet.

The opposition will no doubt be from Paul Nicholls team with the yard having won it 6 times in past decade with current title holder Frodon, & dual winner and the reinvigorated Clan Des Obeaux leading the line for Nicholls this year. It's hoped that a young improving horse like Shan Blue can find some more improvement from his novice year to reach the ability of said horses.

The the other UK runners include dual Grade 1 novice chaser Chantry House who is the most likely to take the step up and improve as a 2nd season chaser. He is unexposed at the trip, however his trainer hasn't mentioned the King George as a cemented target at this stage and the 10/1 currently doesn't appeal. He has the beating of Shan Blue on 2 occasions and will be a major player if he turns up in this. It wouldn't surprise me to see him take in the 2nd season chasers Future Stars race at Sandown in the early part of the season. Other horses to note are Espoir De Romay, who was running a cracker against Chantry House at Aintree, and Imperial Aura.

Finally you have the possible Irish runners with 2 that may come over from the Mullins yard in the shape of Ryanair winner Allaho & Asterion Forlonge. Even one of those top class horses being sent over would spice up the race, and Willie Mullins has sent over Footpad and Vautour in recent times. As always with Willie Mullins bingo, you can never be sure what he will send over so it's not worth guessing at this early stage.

With the lack of contenders for this race currently, the bet has to be Shan Blue at a massive 50/1 with Paddy Power/Betfair. Back it each way before the price shortens.

Selection: Shan Blue - 1pt e/w @ 50/1 for the King George VI Chase at Kempton (26th December 2021)

Written by @Ruby_Tuesday59