With excitement building ahead of the 2011 King George, we decided to track down three of the greatest National Hunt personalities of all-time to answer a Q&A about the famous Kempton Park showpiece.

Michael Dickinson, Richard Dunwoody and Paul Nicholls have been associated with 16 of the last 32 King George winners – and all are true racing legends in their own right. We asked the trio about their top Kempton Park tips for this year’s renewal, their outstanding memories of the great race as well as what will be on their Christmas dinner plate on 25th December!

Don’t forget to visit our King George betting centre for the best odds on every race at this year’s meeting, as well as expert King George tips from the three-time Racing Post NAPS Champion Paul Jacobs.

Michael Dickinson (MD), Richard Dunwoody (RD), Paul Nicholls (PN)

1/ What is your favourite King George memory?
MD - It was in 1982, when we had 12 winners in a day, including 1st and 3rd in the King George. We had 20 runners and they were all in the first three except for one. Considering we only had 55 horses in our stable as opposed to the modern trainers who have 250 horses, we are proud of that achievement.
RD – Flying home on Desert Orchid in 1990, what an experience! He was one of the greatest horses I ever rode, especially around Kempton.
PN – It has to be Kauto Star in 2009. It was an awesome performance – he travelled like a true champion throughout the race.

2/ Kauto Star or Long Run?
MD – Long Run.
RD – Kauto Star.
PN – Master Minded!

3/ If you hadn’t forged a career in horse racing what would you have done for a living?
MD – I would have liked to have been either a farmer or a quarry owner and I would have loved to have owned an airport.
RD – Put on three stone, played rugby or driven cars…probably a taxi driver.
PN – I honestly never gave anything else a thought.

4/ Gravy or cranberry sauce?
MD – Both.
RD – Both!
PN – I think I’ll have both…

5/ What would be your ideal Christmas present be?
MD – A good days foxhunting.
RD – A Nikon D3x (whatever that is) and flights to Kabul.
PN – Kauto Star or Master Minded winning the King George.

6/ Turkey or goose?
All three of our esteemed guests exclaimed TURKEY!

7/ Who was your racing hero when you were growing up?
MD – Vincent O’Brien – a genius, a gentleman and a true master of his craft.
RD – Lester Piggott – quite simply the greatest jockey ever to sit on the back of a horse. He made it look so easy.
PN – Fred Winter, one of the greatest jockeys of all-time and then an even greater trainer. Of course he won this great race no fewer than five times as a trainer and jockey.

8/ The whip rules – needed to be changed or a step too far?
MD - Leave them - they are just about right.
RD - From what I have seen and heard they seem ridiculous in the extreme...
PN – They are about right now, but it’s impossible to please everyone on this subject.

9/ Tell us the most outstanding performance you have witnessed in the Kempton Park showpiece?
MD – We’ve had so many great times at Kempton so it’s hard to put one on a pedestal.
RD – Kauto Star’s four wins and especially his 2009 performance.
PN – Kauto Star 2009 – he was a machine that day.

*We would like to thank Michael Dickinson, Paul Nicholls and Richard Dunwoody for taking part in the Q&A. Be sure to visit Richard's website for more information about the three-time champion jockey.