Banbridge at 20-1 in King George, Leave of Absence at 10-1 for Ascot

Banbridge is a value at 20-1 for the King George, while Leave of Absence drops to 10-1 for the Ascot race on Saturday.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 27, 2026 · 12:57 AM 2 min read

Key takeaways

Banbridge is offered at 20-1 for the King George, owned by Joseph O'Brien.

Leave of Absence's price fell to 10-1 for the Ascot race on Saturday.

Gaelic Warrior and Kitzbuhel lead the market but may not run.

Kocktail Bleu is highlighted for the Ascot meeting, though not yet priced.

ANTEPOST betting is fading, and bookmakers are tightening odds on most markets.

Nevertheless, diligent observers can still uncover occasional gems.

BANBRIDGE deserves support in this year's King George. The 20-1 price on Joseph O'Brien's ten-year-old is generous given his affinity for the race.

He lost by a nose in last year's edition, captured the trophy in 2024 and also holds the Silviniaco Conti title.

The going will be crucial for the horse, and a dry winter would be ideal; prospects look encouraging on that front.

His recent form has been inconsistent before each King George start, so his performances between now and Boxing Day need not cause alarm. A poor run could even improve his odds.

The market currently favors two Willie Mullins runners - Gaelic Warrior and Kitzbuhel - yet either could fail to appear.

Lulamba and Romeo Coolio also feature, but both still need to prove themselves at this level, and they are priced a quarter and a half of Banbridge's odds.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE (2.33 Ascot, Sat) has been cut back to 10-1 from 25s. That price remains generous and the horse could become the race favourite.

His recent performances are strong and his trainer will target this event. Conditions appear ideal.

Another contender worth noting is KOCKTAIL BLEU (3.43 Ascot, Saturday). He impressed at Chepstow and the shorter distance suits him, though the market has yet to assign a price.