Gerri Colombe finds a way around King George
Gerri Colombe to Skip King George VI Chase in Favor of Leopardstown Run
In a surprising twist, Gerri Colombe has opted out of competing in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase on Boxing Day and will instead take part in a race at Leopardstown. The decision comes as the ground conditions at Kempton’s Sunbury track may not be suitable for the talented seven-year-old.
Gordon Elliott’s charge has an impressive record over fences, winning five out of six starts. His only defeat came by a narrow margin when he finished second by a short head at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. Returning triumphantly last month with a close victory in the Champion Chase at Down Royal, Gerri Colombe had been considered one of the top contenders for Kempton’s Christmas feature.
However, concerns about the current ground conditions being described as good to soft, good in places have led his connections to choose an alternative option closer to home. This decision raises expectations for an exciting field in the upcoming Savills Chase on December 28.
The reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup champion Galopin Des Champs could potentially represent Willie Mullins’ stable in Leopardstown’s Grade One contest. Another horse worth watching is Fastorslow, trained by Martin Brassil, who has defeated Galopin Des Champs on their last two encounters.
Elliott explained their reasoning behind skipping King George VI Chase: “The ground is just drying up too much at Kempton and we’re concerned that it might be too firm for him there. So we’ve decided to keep him closer to home and run him at Leopardstown where conditions are more favorable.”
Paddy Power currently offers odds of 11-4 for Gerri Colombe winning the race at Leopardstown, making him a strong contender. Galopin Des Champs is the favorite at 6-4, closely followed by Fastorslow with odds of 5-2.
In terms of the King George VI Chase, Allaho from Mullins’ stable is currently leading the betting market as the 11-8 favorite, while defending champion Bravemansgame trained by Paul Nicholls is second-favorite at 2-1.