TO peruse a list of King George VI Chase winners is to envisage a cavalcade of equine ghosts from Christmases past parade, each a star jumper. The Grand National has a firmer grip on the public imagination and the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the most prestigious prize in steeplechasing, but the backlist of King George winners surpasses both for undiluted quality.
This may be because Kempton Park’s Boxing Day showpiece allows runners to return for repeat helpings.