Boxing Day racing is a tradition akin to roast turkey, crackers and presents for horse racing fans, with Kempton, Aintree & Wetherby all hosting races live on ITV on Friday 26 December.
The ITV7 competition will be running as well, so you can potentially make it a very merry Christmas by predicting the winner of all seven terrestrial races, with a £50,000 jackpot guaranteed up for grabs. However, it is also a Jackpot Jumper competition, which means that £100,000 will be won if Sir Gino wins the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and you pick all seven winners.
GG tipster Joe Napier provides his selections for the competition below as a guide for what should be a pulsating day of racing, including the King George VI Chase.
Race 1 – 1.05 Aintree – William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Few of these could have done much more so far over hurdles, with Idaho Sun and Starmount looking very promising in particular. However, Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite Mydaddypaddy has made such an impression that he is trumping the Irish in that particular betting market as things stand and Dan Skelton clearly thinks the world of him. He won on the bridle on debut, then beat two fellow winners in a Haydock introductory hurdle in similar fashion. The sky is the limit for him and it would be disappointing if he could not prevail here.
Race 2 – 1.20 Kempton – Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
The first three home in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle at Sandown on their jumps finale day have all gone over fences this season and head here, with the market having them in reverse order to their placings that day. Blueking d’Oroux has yet to impress over hurdles though, so it is reasonable that both Salver and Kitzbuhel are preferred, with the former selected to back up his victory, also at Sandown, in the Grade 2 Esher Novices’ Chase earlier in December. The five-year-old brushed through some of his fences, but is a through stayer of this trip, which may not necessarily be the case for Willie Mullins’ charge.
Race 3 – 1.35 Wetherby – William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase
Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith can do little wrong with their staying chasers and Konfusion can claim this small-field running of the Rowland Meyrick even up 10lb in the handicap. Knappers Hill adds an intriguing element to the race on his second run back from a long absence, but the selection won by 15 lengths in Newcastle’s Rehearsal Chase last time out, setting a strong gallop and staying on remorselessly, with the third winning at Doncaster since having been broken by the gallop Konfusion was able to keep. He is rising swiftly through the ranks and the ground should be quick enough for him by Boxing Day.
Race 4 – 1.40 Aintree – William Hill Daily Bet Boosts Handicap Hurdle
One with a chance at a big price in the ITV7 on Boxing Day is Dedicated Hero for Sandy Thomson. A Grade 2-winning novice last season, the six-year-old will have needed the run on his reappearance at Carlisle before being unable to get involved in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham behind runaway winner Alexei. However, he was on the heels of third that day, but will appreciate this step back up to 2m4f given his efforts last season, and he has been eased 3lb in the handicap so far this campaign, which is generous.
Race 5 – 1.55 Kempton – Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1)
Both Golden Ace and Celtic Dino can make this a rigid enough test for the returning Sir Gino, but if Nicky Henderson’s star shows up in anything like his best for, he should be winning this en route to a potential Champion Hurdle bid. The reason for his long absence is a concern given he had an infection in his hind legs, but he must have overcome that fully for Nicky Henderson to entertain racing him again and the Champion Hurdle picture has opened up for him to have a serious crack at it. If on his game, he would be a surprise loser.
Race 6 – 2.10 Wetherby – William Hill Epic Boosts Daily Handicap Hurdle
Be The Difference is chasing a four-timer, but it is the hat-trick seeking Glen Road who is preferred for the in-form Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith yard. Third over 2m3f here on his reappearance, he followed that up with a convincing victory over 2m5 1/2f on soft ground from the front, while he then beli9ed a 6lb rise to win again at Market Rasen over another furlong further. He will stay this trip thoroughly, will prefer the going, which is likely to be on the softer side of good, and should be fighting out the finish again at the very least.
Race 7 – 2.30 Kempton – Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1)
This year’s edition of the King George looks set to be a phenomenal encounter, with improving 2025 Arkle hero Jango Baie taking on Willie Mullins’ John Durkan one-two in Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File. It is Fact To File who gets the verdict, however, as there is plenty of early pace in the race which will force a change of tactics aboard Gaelic Warrior compared to Punchestown, with Jango Baie still having something to prove at this level. The selection came to beat his stablemate in the John Durkan, but perhaps engaged that rival’s fighting instinct too soon as Gaelic Warrior battled back to win. However, this flat test at 3m has so long promised to suit the horse in JP McManus’s silks, with his Ryanair Chase victory testament to his ability under similar conditions the other way around. He can gain Closutton bragging rights back at Kempton.
