Bravemansgame is one of the leading 3m chasers in the UK and Ireland. He has an official rating of 171, which is just 1lb lower than the peak mark he achieved in early 2023. The gelding has won six of his 11 races over fences, while his career record reads nine wins from 19 starts under rules.
The eight-year-old recently featured in the 2023 King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. He won that Grade One contest in 2022, prevailing by 14 lengths ahead of Royale Pagaille and his stablemate Frodon respectively. In 2023 he came in 2nd place, after a shock win from outsider Hewick.
Under the hands of Harry Cobden, Bravemansgame was clear of his rivals approaching the final fence in the King George a year ago. Cobden was hoping his horse can do the same again in 2023 as he was second best in the King George VI Chase betting at 9/4 with talkSPORT BET, with only Allaho ahead of him in the horse racing odds at 6/4, but Hewick at 12/1 beat them both to it.
Bravemansgame was one of eight runners entered to feature in the 2023 King George VI Chase, a race over the distance of 3m. As well as the Ryanair Chase winner Allaho, Gerri Colombe, Shishkin, Royal Pagaille, The Real Whacker, Hewick, and Frodon, were in the running in what was an excellent renewal of the festive feature.
The King George is likely to be Bravemansgame’s last appearance before a second shot at the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival in March. On his debut in the race, the British horse finished second behind Galopin Des Champs in 2023. Those two horses were involved in a brilliant duel up the hill at Prestbury Park. Bravemansgame is 6/1* in the Cheltenham Festival betting to go one place better this season.
Bravemansgame Recent Form
Bravemansgame has featured twice so far in the 2023/24 Jumps season. He has finished second on both occasions, with runs coming in the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby and the Grade One Lancashire Chase at Haydock.
On what was his seasonal reappearance, Bravemansgame was second of four runners in the 2023 Charlie Hall Chase. He was travelling well throughout that 3m contest, but he made a mistake at the final fence. That error gave the momentum to Gentlemansgame, who stayed on better in the run to the finish line to come home just under two lengths ahead of the defending champion.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up was a long way clear of the third-placed horse, Midnight River, at Wetherby, while Ahoy Senor was pulled up by his rider Derek Fox, after struggling five fences from home.
Bravemansgame returned to action weeks later in the Lancashire Chase at Haydock. He went off as the 8/11 favourite for that contest where he was ridden by Daryl Jacob, as his regular rider, Cobden, had assignments at Ascot that afternoon. Once again, the Ditcheat-based horse had to settle for the runner-up prize, as Royale Pagaille took the race.
In a field of four runners, Bravemansgame was up with the early pace in the 3m race at Haydock. He was involved in a battle with dual-Peter Marsh Chase winner Royale Pagaille in the closing couple of furlongs, but he was unable to match his rival for pace.
Bravemansgame finished ahead of Grand National winner Corach Rambler in the Haydock feature, while the defending champion Protektorat was even further back in fourth place when he completed his race.
Who Trains Bravemansgame?
Bravemansgame is trained by Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls at Manor Farm Stables in Ditcheat, Somerset. He has been one of Nicholls’ leading horses the past three seasons, with wins coming in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle, Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, Charlie Hall Chase, and King George VI Chase.
Nicholls is one of the most successful Jumps trainers in history. He has been crowned Champion Trainer 14 times in Britain, he has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup four times, while he was victorious in the Grand National in 2012 when Neptune Collonges came out on top in the world’s most famous steeplechase.
One of Nicholls’ most successful horses so far in his career has been Kauto Star. He won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2007 and then became the first horse in history to regain his crown in the race in 2009.
Kauto Star was frequently at his best at Kempton as he won the King George VI Chase a record five times. When Bravemansgame was triumphant in the Boxing Day feature in 2022, it extended Nicholls’ record in the race to 13 wins.
Nicholls will be hoping Bravemansgame can add his name alongside See More Business, Kauto Star, and Denman by winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup later in the campaign. The eight-year-old looks part of a strong team of horses set to head to the Cheltenham Festival this season.
*All odds are correct at time of writing and are subject to change
