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ITV Racing Tips on December 26th - Boxing Day best bets at Kempton, Aintree and Wetherby

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Tue 24 Dec 2024 09:24

Jon Vine 24 Dec 2024

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Tips for the ITV races on Thursday 26th December
Kempton, Aintree and Wetherby feature on the Boxing Day schedule
Miami Magic, Tahmuras and Lossiemouth feature in our selections

Expired

Paul Townend riding Lossiemouth (pink) clear the last to win The Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse. (Getty)

Thursday's Tips

ITV Racing Schedule
12:45pm Kempton - Novices' Handicap Chase Tips
1:05pm Aintree - Formby Novices' Hurdle Tips
1:20pm Kempton - Kauto Star Novices' Chase Tips
1:35pm Wetherby - Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase Tips
1:55pm Kempton - Christmas Hurdle Tips
2:30pm Kempton - King George VI Chase Tips

ITV Racing fans have a sensational afternoon of action to enjoy on Boxing Day. Three Grade Ones headline a quality card at Kempton, which includes the Christmas Hurdle and the King George VI Chase. Further Grade One action comes courtesy of the Formby Novices' Hurdle at Kempton, as Wetherby chips in with the historic Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.

Here are my best betting tips for Boxing Day.

ITV Racing Schedule

Time	Track	Title
12:45pm	Kempton	Ladbrokes Racing Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3) 2m4½f
1:05pm	Aintree	Formby Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m1f
1:20pm	Kempton	Kauto Star Novices' Chase (In Memory Of Nigel Clark) (Grade 1) 3m
1:35pm	Wetherby	Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m
1:55pm	Kempton	Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m
2:30pm	Kempton	Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1) 3m

ITV Racing Tips - Thursday 26th December

12:45pm Kempton - Novices' Handicap Chase Tips

We kick the Boxing Day action off with a competitive novices' handicap chase, where keen going sorts like Range, El Rio and Leave Of Absence will ensure a nice tempo throughout. A fast pace on good ground should suit ES PERFECTO (7/1), who finished third in a high-quality renewal of this contest 12 months ago.

Alan King's nine-year-old began his second campaign as a novice with a fine course-and-distance victory here in November, beating two progressive rivals fairly comfortably. King's horses remain in good form and Gavin Sheehan is no stranger to big Boxing Day success. I fancy they'll go well off what remains a workable mark.

1:05pm Aintree - Formby Novices' Hurdle Tips

Six of Britain's most exciting novice hurdlers will clash in this Grade One. On ratings, Potters Charm has it in the bag. However, the favourite is dropping down to the minimum distance for the first time over hurdles and there will be no hiding places, as the pace is likely to be red-hot. This is by no means a forgone conclusion.

With three paid places available, I'm going to have an each-way punt on MIAMI MAGIC (8/1). Stuart Edmunds' star has produced two flawless jumping displays over hurdles this term, bolting up at both Fakenham and Kempton, having been forced to make most of the running.

Charlie Hammonds' mount was held up on his sole bumper start here at Aintree, where he was only beaten a head by a talented runner of Nicky Henderson's. It's a long way home for anyone trying to lead from pillar to post at Aintree. Unlike Roadlesstravelled and Celtic Dino, Miami Magic doesn't have to make all to win. A stalking ride from Hammond could pay dividends.

1:20pm Kempton - Kauto Star Novices' Chase Tips

If there is a horse with genuine Cheltenham Festival-winning credentials in this Grade One, then it's THE JUKEBOX MAN (Evens). Ben Pauling's star placed in top novice hurdles at Cheltenham and Aintree last spring, and made the ideal start to life over fences in the John Francombe at Newbury.

Ben Jones' mount jumped his way to the front early in that Grade Two and never looked back. Prestigious leaps at the final two fences sealed victory for The Jukebox Man and I fancy the favourite would have beaten Masaccio more comfortably had Jones not wrestled with the leader to avoid a clash with the elbow on the run to the line.

Masaccio is certainly respected, as he's definitely improved for going over fences. Hyland and White Rhino are admirable contenders too, but on terms of pure talent and jumping ability, The Jukebox Man is the most likely winner.

1:35pm Wetherby - Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase Tips

It's been 18 years since Paul Nicholls won his only Rowland Meyrick and he's sent very few runners up to Wetherby on Boxing Day since that success in 2008. On Thursday, Nicholls will be represented by TAHMURAS (9/2), who ran well for a long way behind Trelawne and Iroko on his reappearance at Haydock.

Nick Schofield's mount cruised to victory in a novices handicap chase off a mark of 138 last season. Tahmuras was then narrowly beaten at both Exeter and in the Pendil Novices' Chase at Kempton, clocking RPRs of 149 in both races. Nicholls' seven-year-old - who was a Grade One winner over hurdles - is completely unexposed as a staying chaser and could be well-treated off this mark of 143.

1:55pm Kempton - Christmas Hurdle Tips

The clash we were all hoping for is on. LOSSIEMOUTH (10/11) takes on Constitution Hill at Kempton!

Michael Buckley issued a passionate defence of his star hurdler this week, claiming that Constitution Hill has never been injured. However, after recovering from colic, Nicky Henderson said it was "a pocket of bruising pressing on a nerve near his pastern" that caused his lameness before the Fighting Fifth. I'm no vet, but that sounds like an injury to me.

The defending champion must be revved up to the gills to take down Lossiemouth, who made the most of that handy sex allowance when defeating Teahupoo in the Hatton's Grace. While some were keen to crab that performance at Fairyhouse, Paul Townend's mount showed plenty of gears to claim a comfortable victory, as they only really got racing in the final half-mile of the contest. Good ground around a speed track like Kempton should suit Willie Mullins' raider. I can't see Constitution Hill being fit enough to cope with her.

2:30pm Kempton - King George VI Chase Tips

Read our full guide to the 2024 King George VI Chase to find out who we've backed in the Boxing Day feature at Kempton.

Visit our King George VI Chase Live Stream page if you want to watch any race on Thursday via a mobile device.

Verdict

ITV Racing at Kempton, Aintree and Wetherby

Boxing Day Best Bets:

Lossiemouth

1:55pm Kempton

@10/11 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £40

in free bets

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Bet at BOYLE Sports

The Jukebox Man

1:20pm Kempton

@1/1 - 5 Units

£30 Free Bet

Use promo code NEWBONUS

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Bet at Hollywood bets

Tahmuras

1:35pm Wetherby

@9/2 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

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Bet at bet365

Miami Magic E/W

1:05pm Aintree

@8/1 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Bet at bet365