Bravemansgame won the King George on Boxing Day to give the record-holding Paul Nicholls his 13th win in the race. The Ditcheat handler has won the race with six different horses and six of the last 10 renewals. Nicholls clearly farms this race and his record speaks for itself. He’s always looking ahead to try and find his next champion and judging by his recent comments, Monmiral could be the one. He’s currently available at 50-1 for next season’s King George. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Monmiral was odds-on to win the Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day but could manage no better than second. His trainer was unperturbed by this run and seemed not to be disappointed. Nicholls said: “It was a decent run. He’s still a big baby and I still think he’s quite weak.” It would seem that Monmiral is by no means the finished article, with plenty of physical development expected from this young horse. Already a Grade 1 winner at Aintree as a juvenile, he retains plenty of potential still.
Three miles is expected to be Monmiral’s cup of tea when he’s a stronger and more mature horse. His trainer added: “He’ll want three miles in time but until he has the strength to get the trip we’ll be running as we are. I’m pleased with him. He’ll keep progressing but he needs to mature a little bit.” With Nicholls’ track record, a run in the King George could well be on the cards in the future.
This horse has a similar profile to two-time King George winner Clan Des Obeaux, who Nicholls has made the comparison to. Clan Des Obeaux improved dramatically to win his first King George as a six-year-old. If any one can do it, Paul Nicholls can and it could be worth taking a punt on this horse at a massive ante post price.
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