King George VI Chase Betting — Boxing Day Kempton
The King George VI Chase at Kempton Park is the headline race of Boxing Day and, after the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the second most prestigious staying chase in the British National Hunt calendar. A Grade 1 chase over 3 miles on a flat, right-handed circuit, the King George has been won by some of the greatest jumps horses of all time — Desert Orchid, Kauto Star, Silviniaco Conti, Might Bite, Clan Des Obeaux, Bravemansgame.
If you’re betting on the King George, the table below ranks the 10 best UK bookmakers for the 2026 renewal — judged on Boxing Day price boosts, Best Odds Guaranteed terms, non-runner concessions and ante-post market depth.
| Midnite | £30 in Free Bets | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply. 18+ New customers only. Place a £10+ bet at min odds 1/1 (2.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get £30 in Free Bets, valid for 7 days on selected bets only. Free stake not returned with winnings. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | |
| Betfred | £50 in Free Bets | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply. New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. | |
| QuinnBet | £25 Free Bet | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply. New UK Customers Only. Bet £10+ on any sportsbook markets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. No cash out. Get 50% back of your first day’s losses (until 23:59) as a Free Bet up to £25, valid for 7 days. Min. 3 bets required, with 2 bets being at least 50% of your largest stake. Place at least 1 bet of £10+ at odds 2.00+ to receive a £5 Free Bet even if your account is up or losses are under £5. Gamble Responsibly. T&CS Apply. | |
| 10Bet | £50 Deposit Match | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply.T&Cs apply. New players. Choose bonus at signup. Wager bonus 10x. Deposit used 1st. Any withdrawals void bonus. Valid 30 days. Odds, bet & payment limits. 18+. GambleAware. | |
| Betway | £30 Matched Free Bet | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply. *New UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football, Horse Racing, Tennis, Cricket or Basketball multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. 100 Free Spins on More Unusual Suspects (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Earn a £30 Uber Eats Voucher on successful Acca qualification. Debit Card deposit only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. 18+ GambleAware.org. Bet the Responsible Way. Full Terms apply | |
| Ladbrokes | £30 in Free Bets | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply.18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stake not returned). Restrictions + T&Cs apply. | |
| BetMGM | £40 in Free Bets | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply. 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 Play Responsibly. | |
| Coral | £50 in Free Bets | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply.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. | |
| Bet365 | £30 in Free Bets | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply.New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you five times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration required. | |
| William Hill | £30 in Free Bets | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply.New online customers only, min £10/€10 stake, win only, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 3 X £10/€10, 30 day expiry, free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply. |
King George VI Chase — Key Facts
- Course: Kempton Park Racecourse, Surrey
- Date: Boxing Day (26 December)
- Distance: 3 miles (4,828m)
- Fences: 18
- Grade: Grade 1 Chase (level weights + sex & age allowances)
- Minimum age: 5 years
- Prize money: £250,000 (winner takes approximately £140,000)
- First run: 1937 — established to mark the accession of King George VI
- Field size: Typically 6-10 runners (limited by the handicap-free Grade 1 conditions)
King George VI Chase — Boxing Day Offers for 2026
Boxing Day is the most-bet-on day of the British National Hunt calendar outside Cheltenham Festival week, and the big bookmakers compete aggressively for your custom. The standout offers for the 2026 King George are:
- Ladbrokes — long-time race sponsor; name-day price boosts, money-back specials on particular horses, and ante-post market from Cheltenham Festival week
- Coral — Boxing Day Price Boosts run from Christmas Eve; non-runner money back on the King George from late November
- Bet365 — Best Odds Guaranteed, non-runner money back, £5+ free stream of Kempton races
- William Hill — specialist chase markets (winning distance, jockey win, trainer win), BOG and NRMB
- Betfred — Christmas enhanced-odds specials on the top chasers; strong ante-post record
All offers 18+, new customers only, full T&Cs apply. See individual bookmaker reviews for full promo details.
Roll of Honour — The King George VI Chase Winners
The King George has been won by the greats of the sport. The modern roll of honour reads like a who’s who of staying chasers:
- Kauto Star — 5 wins (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011) — an unprecedented record that may never be matched
- Desert Orchid — 4 wins (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990) — Kempton’s defining horse, buried on the course after his death
- Wayward Lad — 3 wins (1982, 1983, 1985)
- Pendil, Silver Buck, The Dikler, Captain Christy — all 1970s and 80s multiple winners
Recent winners include Might Bite (2017), Clan Des Obeaux (2018, 2019), Frodon (2020), Tornado Flyer (2021), Bravemansgame (2022) and Hewick (2023) — a winner at 40/1 that will go down as one of the race’s great surprises.
Betting Strategy — What Wins the King George
1. Class over handicap form
The King George is a Grade 1 at level weights — there are no handicap concessions. Horses coming into the race need Grade 1 or Grade 2 chase form in the book. Handicap winners almost never step up in trip and grade to win a King George at their first attempt.
2. Jumping economy is everything at Kempton
Kempton’s flat, tight circuit rewards horses that jump quickly and accurately. Exuberant fluent jumpers dominate — sticky, deliberate chasers lose ground at every fence. Rule out horses with jumping errors in previous starts.
3. Prefer 8- and 9-year-olds
The statistics favour horses in their jumping prime: 8- and 9-year-olds have the best win rate, followed by 10-year-olds. 7-year-olds occasionally win but it’s the exception (Might Bite 2017, Bravemansgame 2022). Older horses (11+) struggle unless they have proven Kempton form.
4. Paul Nicholls dominates
Paul Nicholls’ Somerset yard has trained 12+ winners of the race in the post-Kauto Star era, including Kauto Star, Silviniaco Conti, Clan Des Obeaux and Bravemansgame. Nicholls runners are a default starting point for any King George analysis — particularly when backed by the stable.
5. Ante-post value evaporates fast
The market is slow to form for the King George — most firms price up in mid-November and tighten significantly once the Betfair Chase at Haydock is run. If you fancy a horse early, backing with Non-Runner Money Back protection (available at most major firms from the Betfair Chase onwards) is the sensible play.
The Betfair Chase & the trial races
The main trial for the King George is the Betfair Chase at Haydock (late November) — a Grade 1 over 3 miles on the “heavy” end of the going scale. A winner or close-up finisher at Haydock who has proven Kempton form is the ideal profile. Clan Des Obeaux, Bristol De Mai and Cyrname all used this route.
The Peterborough Chase (Huntingdon, December) and the Betfair Chase weekend are the other form-lines.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the King George VI Chase?
The King George VI Chase is run every year on Boxing Day (26 December) at Kempton Park Racecourse in Surrey, as the headline race of Kempton’s Christmas Festival.
What’s the biggest field a King George has had?
The King George VI Chase is a Grade 1 chase at level weights, so field sizes are small. Typical fields are 6-10 runners, though the race has occasionally gone off with as few as 4 (e.g. 2019) and as many as 13 (1970s).
Do bookmakers offer ante-post markets?
Yes. Most major UK firms open ante-post markets in October-November, with Non-Runner Money Back typically activated from the Betfair Chase in late November. Prices tighten significantly after the Betfair Chase.
Is the King George VI Chase televised?
Yes — the King George is a free-to-air ITV Racing feature in the UK, typically broadcast from about 1pm on Boxing Day with the race off at approximately 3pm. Bet365, William Hill and Coral all stream Kempton races to funded accounts as well.
What’s the connection to the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The King George has historically been a major stepping stone to the Cheltenham Gold Cup three months later — Kauto Star, Best Mate and Long Run all doubled up. The relationship has weakened somewhat since 2015 as more modern trainers protect their Gold Cup horses from the rigours of Boxing Day, but it remains the primary mid-season three-mile test.
How does Kempton’s track suit horses?
Kempton Park is a right-handed, flat, relatively tight galloping track. It rewards speed over stamina compared to, say, Newbury or Haydock, and jumping economy at speed is the key attribute. Horses that don’t handle left-handed tracks (Aintree, Cheltenham new course) often thrive at Kempton.
- Kempton Park Racecourse Guide — history, fixtures, how to visit
- Cheltenham Festival Betting — the spring jumps championship
- Grand National Betting — the April handicap showpiece
- Handicaps Explained — why Grade 1 entries differ from handicaps
- All UK Horse Racing Betting Sites
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