Nicholls’ high hopes for Clan Des Obeaux and Cyrname in King George VI Chase
Paul Nicholls expects Clan Des Obeaux and Cyrname to serve up a Boxing Day treat in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase.
Clan Des Obeaux has won the last two renewals of the Kempton Park showpiece, leaving stablemate Cyrname some 21 lengths behind 12 months ago.
However, there is little to separate the pair at the top of the betting for the rematch, with Clan Desobeauxwarmingupforhis hat- trick bid with a runner- up finish behind Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase, andcyrname oozing class on his Charlie Hall comeback.
Nicholls said: "Clan is the defending champ, he's won two and you do get horses winning multiple King Georges. To win three would be brilliant, but Cyrname has a good record around Kempton and is in a completely different place compared to last year.
"I don't think there's much between Cyrname and Clan. Clan has the advantage as he has such a great track record and has won the last two, so it will be very interesting."
Reflecting on Clan Des Obeaux's latest Haydock effort, Nicholls said: "I think it was one of his best runs, considering the ground. Obviouslyitsuitedbristol Demai, wholovesthat heavy ground. It wasashameitrained.
"Clan always does comeonfor a run, but I made sure he was ready for Haydock because we went there hoping we might win. If the ground had been different it may well have been a different result, but he ran well
in the circumstances. I think three and a quarter miles, as it almost was, on that ground, is far enough for him on his stamina- thetimeoftheracewaswell over seven minutes.
"Kemptonobviouslysuitshim a lot better and he's ready now."
Having just inflicted a first defeat over jumps on Altior at Ascot, Cyrname was all the rage for last year's King George, but proved no match for Clan Des Obeaux.
Butnicholls expects the eightyear- old to make more of a race
of it today, having had an extra three weeks to recover from a less bruising first run of the season at Wetherby.
"Cyrname has had the ideal preparation," said the Ditcheat handler.
"I didn't want to run him after winning the Charlie Hall as it gaveusagoodeighttotenweeks to prepare him for Kempton, unlike last year, when he had a hard race at Ascot.
"He'sverywell. Hewasn'tright last year as he never really got over the Ascot race. He ran well
in the King George to besecond, but was nowhere near his best.
"He looks great now and is more relaxed in everything he does, which means he can get three miles.
"He's got a good record at Kemptonanddoesn't have to go tearing off in front like he used to - he's a different animal now."
Nicholls also saddles Frodon and Real Steel in a bid to add to his haul of 11 King George wins.
Frodon was last seen in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree, while Real Steel was third in the 1965 Chase at Ascot on his first start for the yard, after finishing sixth in last season's Cheltenhamgoldcupwhentrained by Willie Mullins.
Nichollsadded:" It wasawaste of time for Frodon at Aintree - it was like the last time he went there when they took all the fences out. It's probably not the ideal track for him, he never got in a rhythm.
"He deserves to be in the lineup. He's got a mountain to climb to beat the others, but he deserves to be there.”