Lewis favours Edredon for King George run

Edredon Bleu is likely to bid for a repeat win in the Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton on Sunday with stable companion Best Mate swerving the race despite being left in at yesterday’s five-day declaration stage.

The pair feature among 16 still in the race, with owner Jim Lewis leaving Best Mate engaged as an alternative to the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

Best Mate was sent to Ireland this time last year and the nine-year-old is on course to come back here, with Edredon Bleu carrying the owner’s famous claret and blue colours at Kempton.

The latter beat Tiutchev by a length and a quarter last Christmas when battling up the run-in to score at 25-1.

“Best Mate will run in Leopardstown unless there is a monsoon, a gale or something similar,” Lewis said. “He is due to go across on Boxing Day.

“Obviously, if things change then we would have to consider the King George, but that would be a second preference and we hope Edredon Bleu will run at Kempton.

“With the ground good to soft at the moment, Edredon would be the favourite of mine to start.”