KEMPTON PARK 14:30

All 9 ran. Fences: 18.

Time: 5m 59.9s Closing Sectional: (2.5f): 37.1s (101.1%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 114%, Betfair SP 102.6%

Despite the absence of Allaho, who missed the race due to a setback, and the Betfair Chase winner Protektorat, never a likely runner, this looked a strong renewal of the King George on paper and didn't disappoint, 2 of last season's top novices pulling clear of their rivals in the straight before L'Homme Presse's last-fence spill when coming off second best removed any doubt over an outcome that provided Paul Nicholls with an incredible thirteenth win in the Christmas showpiece; the overall time of a soundly-run contest supports a pretty high view of the form, the performances of the pair the best in this race since the late Cue Card and Vautour fought out the finish in 2015/16, and a rematch between the 2 in the Cheltenham Gold Cup is very much in the cards, when Galopin des Champs and a back-to-form A Plus Tard will provide a sterner test.

BRAVEMANSGAME (FR) took his form to another level, taking his biggest test to date in his stride with a very polished performance, very much at home against this quality of opposition, that he was unfazed by L'Homme Presse jumping left in front of him all the more to his credit, the one question remaining so far as the Gold Cup is concerned being whether he has the requisite stamina, the doubts raised more by what went on prerace (in a red hood, on his toes and taken straight to the start rather than parading) than his actual performance, though it was a pity L'Homme Presse departed, removing any threat on the run-in; in touch, jumped soundly, travelled well, tracked pace back straight, shaken up before 3 out, every chance soon after, led before last, in control when left clear there; he's set to go straight to Cheltenham.

ROYALE PAGAILLE (FR) shaped as if retaining all his ability after 9 months off, these conditions placing barely enough emphasis on stamina for him; waited with, not fluent third, tracked pace before halfway, shaken up when mistake thirteenth, tapped for foot after, kept on straight, left second last; he's currently on the same BHA mark as that from which he won the Peter Marsh last season, so a hat-trick bid in that race seems likely to be next up, with a third bid at the Cheltenham Gold Cup also on the cards.

FRODON (FR) seemed much more his old self than he had at Haydock, back going with customary enthusiasm, but this was a stronger field than he had beaten in 2020 and he wasn't good enough to maintain the lead in the straight, the effort telling late on; led, jumped fluently, went with zest, shaken up home turn, headed before 3 out, weakened next; he's been a grand servant, though he's rising 11 and his chances of another win at this level are surely slim.

ELDORADO ALLEN (FR) on paper had a similar chance to the winner on their running at Wetherby, but the market took a rather more realistic view of their respective chances and he wasn't competitive from quite a long way out; off pace, labouring before twelfth.

AHOY SENOR (IRE) was below form, continuing to find the transition from top novice to contender at the highest level a bit of a struggle, not asked to lead this time and not able to go with the principals on the run to home, that he didn't finish the race better than the third and fourth disappointing; prominent, took keen hold, lost place briefly halfway, shaken up 4 out, weakened entering straight; he has plenty to prove for the time being.

MILLERS BANK ran well below form, rather surprisingly tried in first-time cheekpieces considering he was back at 3m, though essentially he found the company too hot; held up, mistake first, labouring fourteenth.

ENVOI ALLEN (FR) had looked right back on track when winning at Down Royal, but it's back to the drawing board after this lacklustre display when well backed, never in much of a rhythm and in trouble a mile from home; held up, jumped none too fluently, labouring before twelfth.

L'HOMME PRESSE (FR) wouldn't have beaten the winner, even had he jumped the last cleanly, but he still went almost all the way to confirming the performance he'd put up in the Rehearsal, a return right handed not absolutely ideal, his chance of turning the tables on the winner in the Cheltenham Gold Cup by no means forlorn, perhaps the more likely to be suited by the extra distance, too; handy, jumped left, travelled well, close up halfway, led before 3 out, headed approaching last, held when unseated rider there; one very much to consider wherever he goes for the remainder of the season.

HITMAN (FR) didn't give his running back in a much stronger contest, his mistake at the ditch before the back straight enough to end any chance he had, beaten well before stamina became a factor over an extra 2f and said to have bled; held up, bad mistake eleventh, pushed along after, pulled up straight, reportedly bled.