ON December 20th 10 entries have been confirmed for the 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Tuesday, December 26th with the Nicky Henderson-trained Might Bite the current 13/8 favourite with the sponsors. The eight-year-old won Grade 1 contests at both the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree last season and was mightily impressive on his seasonal reappearance at Sandown last month, winning a listed contest by eight lengths.

Champion trainer Nicky Henderson will also be represented by Whisper. The nine-year-old put in a brilliant performance in defeat when finishing a close second in the recent Ladbrokes Trophy despite being at the top of the weights.

Following Bristol de Mai’s brilliant 57-length victory in the Betfair Chase, trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies will attempt to win the £225,000 Grade 1 contest for the first time as connections set their sights on the £1 million Jockey Club Triple Crown bonus.

Last year’s winner, Thistlecrack, returned to the track earlier this month after a 307-day absence as the nine-year-old finished fifth of six in the Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury. However, trainer Colin Tizzard felt that Thistlecrack needed the run and is confident of a better showing at Kempton. Tizzard has also left in dual Grade 1 winner Fox Norton. The seven-year-old is stepping up in trip having finished second in the Tingle Creek at Sandown over two miles.

Trainer Nick Williams and jockey Lizzie Kelly will be hoping Tea For Two can go a few better in this year’s renewal having finished a close fourth last season.

Outlander will be hoping to give Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud their first victory in the 32Red King George VI Chase. The nine-year-old was an impressive winner of the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal before finishing third behind Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase at Haydock. Gigginstown will also be represented by Noel Meade’s Disko. The six-year-old won the Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown at the end of last season and followed up that victory with an impressive win in a Grade 2 contest at Down Royal on his seasonal reappearance.

Gary Moore’s Traffic Fluide and the Tom George-trained Double Shuffle make up the runners.

To win the 32Red King George - the sponsors bet:

13/8 Might Bite

4 Bristol De Mai

7 Thistlecrack, Fox Norton

8 Whisper

14 Disko

25 Tea For Two

33 Outlander

50 Double Shuffle

66 Traffic Fluide

All entries:

Bristol de Mai (FR), Disko (FR), Double Shuffle (IRE), Fox Norton (FR), Might Bite (IRE)

Outlander (IRE), Tea For Two (GB), Thistlecrack (GB), Traffic Fluide (FR), Whisper (FR)