Former William Hill King George VI Chase-winning rider Norman Williamson believes Smad Place could be the answer to this year's quality renewal on Saturday.
The retired Irish-born jockey took the Kempton showpiece in 1998 on the Venetia Williams-trained Teeton Mill, who was the last grey to land the prize.
Williamson is in a good position to assess the prospects of Alan King's Smad Place as there are similarities between the two horses.
Not only are the pair greys and good jumpers, but both won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury before heading for Kempton.
"It looks like Smad Place is improving. He was very impressive in the Hennessy and probably not unlike Teeton Mill as his jumping was electric," said Williams.
"He was fantastic and even though Kempton is a very flat track and tighter than Newbury, you need to jump because the fences come up thick and fast.
"I think it's a very good King George. There a few good ones in there, but from what he did at Newbury he will take a lot of beating.
"Don Cossack has done everything right and looks the one to beat, but I think the way Smad Place is ridden and the way he jumps it's going to take a good one to go by him up the straight. He'll probably turn it into a test of stamina."
Adrian Maguire gave Willie Mullins his sole success in the race to date with Florida Pearl in 2001 and the retired jockey, who now trains at Mallow in County Cork, would choose his number one hope Vautour given the chance.
"It's a small field, but it's a good race and I'd say there'll be plenty of pace on," he said.
"Don Cossack is an outstanding horse and is the highest rated, but I think it's a great opportunity for Vautour to shine even brighter. I don't see the course being a problem for him.
"The one for me, if I had the pick of any of them, would be Vautour. I think he's the unknown quantity. I hope there is a good gallop on as it would help him relax. For me he has more boot than any of them and if the ground is not too soft that would work to his advantage as well.
"There are a few of them that like to be handy or make it and that could just set it up for the likes of Don Cossack and Vautour. They'd be taking their time a bit, I'd say."