Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Boxing Day
KEMPTON PARK
Race 3 LADBROKES CHRISTMAS HURDLE (Grade 1)
No1 CELTIC DINO
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Dylan Johnston
All eyes will be on SIR GINO, elevated to be his trainer’s number one hurdler following the latest setback to Constitution Hill, but one that can shake up the odds on favourite is CELTIC DINO. The Welsh Champion Hurdle winner was narrowly denied by Wodhooh in a Grade 2 at Ascot but this cut back to two miles will favour him. The six-year-old looks stronger and more the complete article this season, and if serving it up from the front can post a minor upset. Reigning champion hurdler GOLDEN ACE landed an incident packed Fighting Fifth to gain a bloodless success at Newcastle last month, but the run at least shows she is firmly back in the groove.
Race 4 LADBROKES KING GEORGE VI CHASE
No8 THE JUKEBOX MAN
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Ben Jones
Several new faces engage in the race of the day, notwithstanding THE JUKEBOX MAN who is an exciting addition as he tries to stretch his winning record as a chaser to four. Injury curtailed his activities following an impressive triumph at this meeting last year, but when returning at Haydock his jumping contained a rarely seen economy of effort, and he put his rivals away with the minimum of fuss. With other natural front runners in the field it’s unlikely that he will lead, with his trainer envisaging him turning for home three or four lengths off the pace. The 2023 King George winner IL EST FRANCAIS has blotted his copybook a few times since that memorable display, and even the addition of Harry Cobden on his back is unlikely to spark a revival. The 2024 winner BANBRIDGE also has it to do on recent evidence leaving FACT TO FILE as potentially the best of the Irish-trained runners. He looks ultra solid and possibly more reliable in terms of running up to his current form than GAELIC WARRIOR. JANGO BAIE is going to enjoy stretching out to three miles on a track that will suit, and has a definite chance of giving his trainer a first win in this since 2017.
Prediction: 1st THE JUKEBOX MAN, 2nd Fact To File, 3rd Jango Baie
Race 6 No5 ONEWAYWEST (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Elliott England
By his own admission Pauling regards ONEWAYWEST as one of his best chances over the Christmas weekend. The progressive six-year-old has been partner by England on both winning starts this season, and having worked well since his latest success is strongly fancied to complete a hat-trick.
AINTREE
Race 2 No3 JOSH THE BOSS
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Mr Jamie Nield
It’s good to have Aintree on the Boxing Day roster and JOSH THE BOSS comes across as one of the day’s best bets in this two and a half miles handicap chase. The selection is a course winner over hurdles and looked good value for his recent Doncaster success. Though carrying 7lb more he can complete a hat-trick.
Race 3 WILLIAMNHILL FORMBY NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 1)
No5 STARMOUNT (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Kielan Woods
The career of STARMOUNT was temporarily halted after he got jarred up after a gallop at Worcester racecourse, but he came back to bolt up at Wetherby on Rules debut. The former winning pointer looks to have the X-factor required for this considerable rise up the class ladder, and can further enhance his claims as being one of the best novices in Pauling’s talent filled stable.
Race 5 No2 BLENKINSOP
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: David Bass
BLENKINSOP took advantage of some lenient handicapping to win just as he liked at Exeter and is now 5lb higher. That flatter course suited him better than Cheltenham, and now on the similar Mildmay Course he can serve up another success at the main expense of FORTUNATE MAN.
WETHERBY
Race 4 No3 OUR POWER
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Mr Harvey Barfoot
KONFUSION made mincemeat of his opponents in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle but a value bet against him is the veteran OUR POWER, who can notch a first success in more than two years. An early faller over the National fences on his seasonal reappearance, he made only modest late headway at Ascot, but may re-ignite now racing left handed on a course that is new territory for him.
Race 5 No2 GLEN ROAD (Nap)
Trainer: Sue Smith – Jockey: Peter Kavanagh
GLEN ROAD impressed with the way he dispatched his foes at Kelso and just needs to operate as effectively over this slightly shorter trip to make this a fifth triumph from his last seven outings.
WINCANTON
Race 1 No2 ALFIE’S PRINCESS (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Robbie Dunne
ALFIE’S PRINCESS missed an opportunity when her intended first run back was washed out last week. Injury has restricted her movements of late, but she brings very good form to the table, and has schooled nicely over practice fences at home.
Race 2 No1 CHARISMA CAT
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
CHARISMA CAT finished second n a much better race than this on her first run over hurdles at Newbury, and if turning up in the same frame of mind will take out this novices’ hurdle on the way to better things.
Race 3 No7 PILSDON PEN (Each Way)
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Rex Dingle
Recent course winner PILSDON PEN might have needed the race and scored in spite of that fitness issue, which makes the possibility of him going forward in this tougher race greater. Should he do that the bold jumper can add to his good record at Wincanton, and for a trainer whose horses are firmly in the zone.
Race 5 No4 CLASSIC KING
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Rex Dingle
CLASSIC KING has his quirks and proved a tad disappointing when out of the money at Newbury last time. He appeals as one not to give up on, because if in the mood can prove a threat to the best of his opponents in this three mile handicap hurdle.
MARKET RASEN
Race 1 No2 JAPETUS
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
JAPETUS looked assured when taking out a maiden hurdle over this course and distance and can now rise to the occasion to confirm his star potential with a defeat of FOUR SPRINGS, in what should be a very good viewing contest and easily the best quality race on this card.
Race 5 No4 RED DELTA
Trainer: Fiona Needham – Jockey: Jack Andrew
RED DELTA battled to the line only to be outpointed by Fierce Warrior at Doncaster to show he’s a young stayer with a future in long distance handicap chases. This longer trip can prove just what the doctor ordered for the chestnut.
Race 6 No1 SMART DECISION (Nap)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Mr William Easterby
Easterby is doing well with his small team of jumpers and especially SMART DECISION, who after posting a fourth hurdling success at Leicester can defy his big weight.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 2 No2 HEART BEATS TRUE (Nap)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
HEART BEATS TRUE made no mistake when opening her account in a Southwell novice and can now successfully graduate into the handicap arena by following-up in this back end of year nursery.
Race 8 No9 KEEP TALKING (Each Way)
Trainer: Stan Moore – Jockey: Kieren O’Neill
There’s not much of KEEP TALKING, but the Mohaather filly wasn’t far away on her latest start here and at a double figure price is a speculative advice to get into the shake-up.
