{"id":71717,"date":"2025-12-06T11:59:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T11:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=71717"},"modified":"2025-12-07T07:15:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T07:15:43","slug":"hilly-way-chase-runners-betting-tips-cork-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/hilly-way-chase-runners-betting-tips-cork-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"King George Hero Banbridge To Return In Sunday’s Hilly Way Chase"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2024 King George VI Chase winner Banbridge will make his seasonal reappearance on Sunday in the Grade Two Hilly Way Chase – where he’s expected to take on last year’s winner Energumene again, Found A Fifty and last season’s Arkle Novices’ Chase third Majborough – in what looks an early Christmas cracker.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

2025 King George Winner Banbridge Returns In Hilly Way Chase – The Race He Unseated In Last Year<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Banbridge starts his King George VI Chase defence preparation this Sunday in the Grade Two Hilly Way Chase at Cork – but will be hoping to keep his jockey on his back this time.<\/p>\n

Twelve months ago, Banbridge was still in with every chance when he unseated Richard Deegan at the last, which left Energumene to win as he liked (watch below).<\/p>\n

That success gave Energumene his third win in the Hilly Way, after also taking the prize in 2021 and 2022 – he’s also back for more in 2025.<\/p>\n

No horse has ever won the Hilly Way Chase four times.<\/p>\n

At this stage, there could only be a maximum of five Hilly Way Chase runners.<\/p>\n

However, the small, but select field does feature other big names like Found A Fifty and Majborough.<\/p>\n

Despite the stellar opposition – Banbridge will still head into Sunday’s big race as the top-rated (166).<\/p>\n

What Price Is Banbridge To Repeat King George Win?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Banbridge is a best-priced 14\/1 for the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, which will be shown live on the ITV Racing<\/a> schedule.<\/p>\n

The Joseph O’Brien-trained nine year-old will be looking to become the first ‘back-to-back’<\/em> winner since Clan des Obeaux, who won in 2018 and 2019.<\/p>\n

A good run in the Hilly Way Chase will give connections a better idea if he’ll be heading back to Kempton this Christmas.<\/p>\n

Recent John Durkan Memorial Chase winner Gaelic Warrior is the current King George VI Chase favourite<\/a> with the best horse racing betting sites.<\/p>\n

WATCH: Banbridge Winning The 2024 King George VI Chase at Kempton<\/strong><\/h3>\n