HAIL ROYALE
Game plan in ruins as Pagaille romps home
AN afternoon of shocks triggered tremors in the King George VI Chase betting as hotshot Bravemansgame was outmuscled at Haydock and Shishkin left Ascot in disgrace.
Bravemansgame, who gave Paul Nicholls a 13th King George triumph last Christmas, was the 6-4 favourite to follow up at Kempton on Boxing Day.
But the eight-year-old can now be backed at 11-4 after being floored by Royale Pagaille in the Betfair Chase.
Market rival Shishkin, a general 7-2 second choice at the start of trading, is now out to 5-1 after planting himself at the start of Ascot’s Nirvana Spa 1965 Chase and refusing to take part.
Punters sent Bravemansgame off at 8-11 for the Betfair Chase with
Daryl Jacob standing in for Nicholls’ stable jockey Harry Cobden, who was on riding duty at Ascot.
He moved with ease alongside Royale Pagaille entering the home straight.
But it was the 5-1 third choice who took his Haydock record to four wins and a second from five visits.
He responded to Charlie Deutsch’s urgings to win by six-and-a-half lengths, with last season’s Grand National hero Corach Rambler nine lengths away in third and defending champion Protektorat last of four. Trainer Venetia Williams said: “He’s been burning for a while at this level but not quite been able to catch fire. Today, he has.” Nicholls (left) said of the runner-up: “He was not good enough on the day – simple as that – and there are no excuses. “He jumped and travelled well. I thought he was going to win going to four out but he just didn’t quite pick up. We will now get him fresh for Kempton, which probably suits him better.”
Nicky Henderson’s next move with Shishkin is less obvious after the nineyear-old’s mulish display at the starting tapes of the 1965 Chase won by Cobden aboard Nicholls’ Pic D’orhy.
“What can I say?” was the Seven Barrows trainer’s response when quizzed.
“I don’t know what to do. He’s a quirky character at times, but he will always jump off. My biggest concern is if there was ever to be a repeat, then Kempton isn’t the place.”
Allaho is now 4-1 from 7-1 for the King George.
His trainer, Willie Mullins, saddled last year’s Champion Hurdle runner-up State Man to a routine 1-6 victory in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.