3 minute read

The Ladbrokes King George VI Chase was billed as a battle between Cyrname and Lostintranslation, with bookmakers struggling to separate the pair in the build-up.

Instead it was last year's winner Clan Des Obeaux who did not just come out on top, but absolutely pulverised the opposition, finishing 21 lengths ahead of his stablemate, who occupies the box next to him at home, and giving Paul Nicholls an incredible 11th win in the race.

Clan Des Obeaux  became the 15th multiple winner of the Christmas classic, joining the Nicholls-trained See More Business, Kauto Star and Silviniaco Conti as a name engraved more than once on the famous trophy.

But if the champion trainer enjoyed the victory his joy was nothing compared to the man on board – who now has as many Grade 1 wins as Nicholls has King Georges.

When Sam Twiston-Davies lost the Nicholls job at the end of the 2017-18 season he knew plenty of days like this would be lost with it. He appreciates them all the more for it and it clearly meant a lot with the elated rider giving the air some punch as he crossed the line in splendid isolation.

Explaining the incredible emotion he said: "When you leave an operation like Paul's you think days like this are going to be incredibly hard to come by, so to ride one for Paul with such a good chance in a race like this is a real buzz."

It was also some buzz for the 19,000 watching. With every fence from seven out the Kempton crowd lifted, the atmosphere building to a dizzying crescendo. From the third-last the roars drowned out Simon Holt's commentary over the PA system and from the back of the second-last they knew – barring a calamity at the final fence – last year's winner and this year's would be one and the same. Clan Des Obeaux absolutely pinged it for good measure.

"The last thing Paul said before we went out was to try not to hit the front too soon – but when I turned in travelling so well I was thinking, how can I try to keep this as smooth as I can without doing anything silly?" explained the rider. "I decided that once we got over two out we would just have to go. Luckily he winged the last and did it really well."

Yet Twiston-Davies could also sympathise with Harry Cobden, who cemented his new position on this day last year on Clan Des Obeaux, but opted for the runner-up this time. "It's incredibly tough for Harry. He is Paul's number-one and these decisions are always incredibly hard to make," said a magnanimous Twiston-Davies. "I can't thank him enough for how he helped me prepare for the race. That shows the character of the man. I have a lot of respect for him."

There is as much respect for Twiston-Davies down at Ditcheat, with Nicholls delighted for the man who made the effort to part on good terms. "It's fantastic for Sam and we're lucky he's still so keen to ride for us, he comes and schools once a week and I'm chuffed to bits to give him a fantastic winner like that. Harry just made the wrong call today," said Nicholls.

"I always said it was a tough call and there wasn't much between them. I knew the more it rained today the more it'd suit Clan, he's stronger and better than he was last year. He's only seven so he's entitled to have improved and the key is to have him nice and fresh like he was today."

After last season's effort it would be easy now to characterise Clan Des Obeaux as something of a Silviniaco Conti or Wayward Lad, a horse capable of dominating at Kempton but not suited by Cheltenham. But like the great Desert Orchid, whose statue overlooks the parade ring here, Nicholls would no longer be surprised if he had a Cheltenham Gold Cup in him.

"He's only seven, he could come back year-on-year and it's the ideal race for him, but Cheltenham's a definite possibility for him this season as I do think he's that much stronger," he said of the horse William Hill went a standout 7-1 about for the Gold Cup. "It may be a case of going straight there fresh with him as he is so good fresh, so I'll talk to the boys and see. In last year's Gold Cup he didn't quite get the trip, but if he's a bit stronger this year – plus some better ground – it might put him right in the picture."

On Cyrname, who went off the 5-4 favourite, he added: "I don't think Cyrname had his normal zest, he just ran a bit flat. Harry had to niggle him a couple of times and he may not have got over his run the other day, he may just have had an off day, but who knows. He's still run well and finished second and it's great to have a one-two."