Banbridge won a thrilling King George for Joseph O'Brien and Paul Townend at Kempton today.

Racing over three miles for the first time, Townend bided his time on the eight-year-old son of Doyen as French raider Il Est Francais made the running, jumping boldly and many lengths clear. He seemed to have the race sewn up with precise jumps over the fourth and third last, still six lengths clear two out with Banbridge the only one to close the gap.

However, on a wrong stride coming to the last, James Reveley was forced to shorten and slow up and Townend got a faster jump out of Banbridge to take the avantage, which he held to the line, the 7/1 shot winning by a length and three quarters for Ronnie Bartlett.

Townend said on ITV: "My worry was there was nothing to close the gap. But I knew when I seen James riding going to the second last, it was really on."

"We wanted to line up competitively, I was conscious with the cheekpieces that he might do too much. I jumped into the back of Splllane's Tower at the first or second and made up my mind. I've had two outside winners this season and both were for Joseph."

Joseph O'Brien said: "It's special. I'm delighted to win for Ronnie and his team. He's been a special horse for us over a number of years. To win a race like the King George is dream stuff. I feel sorry for JJ, who has a great association with the horse and wasn't able to come here today, but Paul gave him a fantastic ride.

"I actually thought Il Est Francais was gone, to be honest, turning for home, but our horse made a sustained run all the way to the line. His resolution and stamina was tested, but he had enough for today.

"I grew up watching races like this and to win it is a dream come through."

“The horse was healthy and in great order and the rest is history now. Good ground makes all the difference with this horse, if it’s not good ground or good to soft you are wasting your time.

“He’s entitled to a Gold Cup entry now and he will have an entry and we will wait and see. If not there, there is the Ryanair or Aintree."

Of the beaten horses, Grey Dawning made an early mistake and was pulled up (never travelled thereafter). Envoi Allen unseated Rachael Blackmore five out and Spillane's Tower (fifth) never really got into it.

James Reveley reported on the second: "It's a shame, he pinged every fence but was just running out of petrol coming to two out. I couldn't ask him for a big one at the last he was meeting it wrong. i had to let him pop, whether he would have won, I don't know. He was running his heart out."

Charlie Deutch reported he was "over the moon" with how L'Homme Presse had run in third.

Paddy Power made Banbridge 4 from 16 for Ryanair Chase and 33 from 50 Cheltenham Gold Cup.