Bacchanal looks best

Back Bacchanal to make your Christmas go with an even bigger swing in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

There's a rich irony in the fact that Kempton's plans to offload the jewel in its crown for an all-weather flat track have coincided with one of the most compelling contests of the last decade.

Any race featuring Best Mate and Florida Pearl is worth enduring the heavy traffic which will swamp Sunbury, but this one has also drawn the outstanding two-miler Flagship Uberalles and two other formidable chasers in Bacchanal and Native Upmanship.

So who will be lifting the trophy come half past two on Thursday afternoon?

Bookmakers clearly feel that Best Mate's connections are the most likely recipients, and the horse who "thinks he's Arkle" according to Henrietta Knight might just start earning comparison with the greats if he can add this £87,000 prize to his Gold Cup success.

And yet, there remains a nagging doubt over whether Best Mate really deserves to be as short as 11-10 for a race this hot. Granted, he's a superb jumper who never runs a bad race, yet defeats in an Ascot handicap and this race last year show that he isn't invincible.

The circumstances surrounding his defeat in last year's King George revolved around tactics, as Best Mate was ridden for acceleration in a steadilyrun race and could never quite reel in the more enterprisingly-ridden Florida Pearl.

Tony McCoy remains convinced he would have won had he let his partner roll from the fourth last that day. The champ will surely be playing his hand earlier this time and, given that Florida Pearl's preparation has been hindered by a setback, it will be a big surprise if he doesn't reverse the form.