Edredon Bleu win King George VI Chase

Edredon Bleu proved a more than able substitute for Best Mate with a memorable victory in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton Park today.

With last year’s winner Best Mate rerouted to Leopardstown for Sunday’s Ericsson Chase, Edredon Bleu stepped into the breach for trainer Henrietta Knight and owner Jim Lewis.

And the 11-year-old, a 25-1 shot, got the better of Tiutchev, with First Gold back in third.

Jim Culloty settled Edredon Bleu at the head of affairs tracked by First Gold and Valley Henry, with La Landiere and Jair Du Cochet, the 2-1 favourite, in touch on the outside.

The market leader ruined his chance with a bad blunder going down the back for the first time and was eventually pulled up.

First Gold went on with five of the 19 fences left to jump and Edreon Bleu looked beaten, but he would not be denied and, rallying gallantly for Culloty, he was back in front approaching the third-last and jumped the the final obstacles in great style.

Edredon Bleu ran on to score by a length and a quarter from Tiutchev, who was returned at 20-1, with a length back to First Gold (11-4).