Dynaste and not Cue Card the one to beat in King George

Leaving aside the possibility of Cue Card being impacted by a virus in the yard of Colin Tizzard, it is still not Cue Card that is the actual horse to beat in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Instead, that honour falls to Dynaste, who is only second best in the King George betting at 7/2, behind Cue Card at 5/2.

The reasoning behind this is fairly obvious, with Cue Card winning the Betfair Chase in November ahead of Dynaste in second.

However, there is every reason to believe that this form will be reversed in the Xmas showpiece, with Dynaste putting in a superstar performance on his sole previous visit to Kempton, when running away with the Feltham Chase a year ago.

Cue Card has only finished out of the first three once since being sent chasing and this was also on his only previous trip to Kempton, when not looking entirely comfortable in the King George 12 months ago.

The fact he will be sent to dictate from the front this time may help Cue Card settle better and set a more appropriate gallop, but there are doubts as to whether he is completely at his best going right-handed.

Dynaste should not only enjoy the course direction, but also the sharper nature of Kempton and he is sure to be one of these sitting on the tails of the leaders as they enter the final mile.

His prospects will be even better should Cue Card make some early jumping errors similar to last year or if the Betfair Chase winner is given some company for much of the contest in the battle for an uncontested lead.

With French-bred horses winning eight of the last 10 King George renewals too, this may be the factor that tips the cap totally in favour of Dynaste, especially as British-bred runners are without a victory in this period.