For horse racing fan, the King George VI Chase is one of the highlights of the National Hunt season. Taking place over three miles, runners and riders need to negotiate 18 fences as they compete to reach the finishing post and claim victory in the classic steeplechase event. Here’s how you can watch the action on your TV or mobile device this Christmas.
When and where is it run?
The King George VI Chase takes place at Kempton Park on Boxing Day each year. In line with previous years, it is scheduled to start at 3.05pm.
It’s is the headline event in the packed two-day Christmas Festival, with races beginning at 12.50pm.
Where can I watch the race?
The King George VI has historically always been broadcast on free-to-air TV, and this year is no different.
ITV has the rights to the event, having taken over horse racing duties from Channel 4 in 2017. You can watch the action at both Kempton and Weatherby across the Christmas period by navigating to ITV on your TV. Alternatively, you can stream live on the ITV Hub, either through the web portal or dedicated apps for Android and iOS.
You’ll need to be in the UK to access the ITV Hub content, as it’s still covered by the UK broadcasting laws.
If you’re outside of the UK, you may be able to use a VPN to access the content. Check out our pick of the best VPNs, with the front runner NordVPN being the VPN of choice, but be aware that using a VPN in this way may break the terms and conditions of any streaming service you use.
Another possible avenue for watching the race online is by using Racing TV. Previously known as Racing UK, the website also offers apps for Android and iOS, which allow users to see racing coverage from TV stations, replays of the full day’s racing card, plus a variety of stats, news pieces, and betting features that integrate with several major bookmakers across the UK. The 2019 rebrand has also added live streaming from Ireland and Chelmsford, and the former will have its own dedicated channel from 26 December.
For more tips on how to see the various festive entertainment on offer, read our How to watch the Queen’s speech, Best Christmas TV 2019, and Best Christmas movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Now TV guides.
Author: Martyn Casserly, Contributor
Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.