The article provides a complete guide to Boxing Day Races, offering expert tips on various races scheduled at Kempton, Aintree, and Wetherby. It lists the most promising horses, including Klassical Dream, Tellherthename, Es Perfecto, and Karl Philippe, outlining their past performances and potential. The ultimate aim is to arm the readers with useful insights to enjoy and possibly benefit from the sport of kings on Boxing Day.
ITV Racing fans have got four Grade Ones to enjoy on Boxing Day. The Kauto Star, Christmas Hurdle and King George VI Chases headline the action at Kempton. Aintree's newly-created card features the Formby Novices' Hurdle, with Wetherby's Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase also featuring on the schedule.
Idalko Bihoue looked hugely progressive when winning at Cheltenham on his chasing debut and two-time chase winner, General Medrano lost nothing in defeat at Warwick to Brave Kingdom. Both hold appeal, but at a longer price, I'll side with ES PERFECTO (8/1), who made a pleasing start to life over fences at Cheltenham.
Alan King has had to be patient with this talented eight-year-old, who only ran twice in handicap hurdles last term, having spent 600 days on the sidelines. Es Perfecto jumped neatly around Cheltenham on his return to action, plugging on bravely behind the impressive Ginny's Destiny to finish a clear second.
Ginny's Destiny has won again since to give that form a timely boost. I have every confidence that Es Perfecto will make a better chaser than a hurdler, so he looks very well-treated off this mark of 123, given he reached a rating of 132 over the smaller obstacles.
1:05pm Aintree - Formby Novices' Hurdle Tips
The inaugural running of this Grade One, which has replaced Sandown's Tolworth Hurdle on the schedule, has attracted a competitive field. I'm keen to take on Gordon Elliott's Farren Glory, as the Royal Bond he won last month looked particularly weak. Mickael Seror sends July Flower over from France, but she was thrashed in the mares bumper run here during the Grand National meeting and I wouldn't fancy her to recapture her French form.
Jango Baie tops the betting, having made a winning start over hurdles at Ascot at the start of November. Nicky Henderson's star narrowly got the better of TELLHERTHENAME (6/1) that day, and Ben Pauling's four-year-old has since powered to a 14-length win at Huntingdon.
The second and fourth from that maiden hurdle at Huntingdon have both bolted up since and that extra run could give Tellherthename a fitness edge over the market leader. Pauling hasn't tasted Grade One success since Willoughby Court's victory in the 2017 Ballymore, but he looks to have an excellent chance of ending that wait on Boxing Day.
Jango Baie (R) and Tellherthename (L) will square off again at Aintree. (Getty)
1:20pm Kempton - Kauto Star Novices' Chase Tips
With Klassical Dream now set to run during the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, I've switched my allegiance to the talented GIOVINCO (5/2).
Having lost his unbeaten record when falling on his chasing debut at Carlisle, Giovinco toughed it out under top weight to open his account over fences at Aintree. Lucinda Russell's star then seemed to be travelling all over Stay Away Fay in the recent Esher Novices' Chase at Sandown, only to get outstayed by Paul Nicholls' Albert Bartlett winner on the uphill run to the line.
The conditions of this contest should be ideal for Stephen Mulqueen's mount, given his form around right-handed tracks. If he jumps and travels as well as he did at Sandown, then Giovinco will give anyone a run for their money.
Previous form around Wetherby is always valuable in the Rowland Meyrick and KARL PHILIPPE (10/1) strikes me as being particularly well-handicapped. Fergal O'Brien's eight-year-old beat a future Grade Two winner, Zanza in a two-and-a-half mile handicap here at Wetherby on his reappearance last term, before finishing a good second to The Paddy Pie on this card off a mark of 141.
Karl Philippe rounded off last season with top-ten finishes in two Graded handicaps around Cheltenham and another Premier Handicap at Aintree. Jack Hogan held his mount up out the back on his reappearance at Newbury, but was gaining on both Kandoo Kid and Frero Banbou as he crossed the line third. Karl Philippe has been dropped to a mark of 136 for those efforts and Hogan's claimer leaves him shouldering just 10-6.
1:55pm Kempton - Christmas Hurdle Tips
Not much to say here. CONSTITUTION HILL (1/7) wins if he completes the course unscathed. I'd back Nemean Lion to finish second ahead of Rubaud if he was confirmed, but that would be my only bet in the race.
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