Conti gives Nicholls an eighth King George

Paul Nicholls claimed his first William Hill King George VI Chase of the post-Kauto Star era as Silviniaco Conti hunted down Cue Card in the final stages of Kempton’s St Stephen’s feature.

Kauto Star, who two years ago closed out his own fifth of what are now eight Nicholls victories, led the field onto the course before 100-30 favourite Cue Card assumed responsibility for the vast majority of the three miles.

Jumping bravely and moving swiftly with his head held characteristically high, Cue Card appeared to have the Grade One in hand across nearly every blade of grass until just before the last fence, where he was overcome by his exertions on what was very testing ground and quickly passed and beaten three and a half lengths by Noel Fehily and Silviniaco Conti.