A fantastic festive period of racing starting at Kempton on Boxing Day, with four Grade 1 races on the card, including the Long Walk Hurdle. This race has been transferred from the abandoned Ascot meeting, with Champ and Paisley Park renewing rivalry once again after one of the races of the season at Newbury when Champ just came out on top. These two ten-year-olds are a massive crowd puller, however there is a question as to whether Kempton will suit either of them as much as Ascot. The King George VI Chase is a fascinating renewal, with so many different angles and whilst L’Homme Presse has been front of mind ever since it was announced that this was his target Venetia Williams’ other runner Royal Pagaille has serious each way claims and can chase home his stablemate. What a meeting and this is without mentioning the brilliant Constitution Hill, who is Unibet 1/7 on to take the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson. Constitution Hill was stunning in the Supreme at Cheltenham in March and equally impressive last month at Newcastle in the Fighting Fifth when cruising to victory, with stablemate Epatante in second. We can applaud Constitution Hill, who is unopposable here and Epatante will chase him home once again.
Elsewhere, this looks the best Rowland Meyrick in years at Wetherby, whilst in Ireland there is Grade 1 action at Leopardstown and Limerick.
December 27th Kempton features the Desert Orchid Chase with Edwardstone looking to follow up on his brilliant victory in the Tingle Creek at Sandown and the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow is one of my favourite races of the season.
The Irish action doesn’t stop and there are an array of equine stars on show including in the Savills Chase Grade 1 at Leopardstown on December 28th.
There is plenty of racing action so #goracing.
Enjoy whether at a racecourse or watching #athome on ITV and Racing TV.
Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas and New Year.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
12.45 Kempton – Long Walk Hurdle Grade 1 (3m ½f)
Not So Sleepy is worth a small each way wager on his first start over three miles with concerns about Champ and Paisley Park being do effective at Kempton, whilst there are question marks with both Miranda and Goshen. Not So Sleepy looks like he will stay the trip and there is no doubting his talent on the flat and over hurdles so with a chance here.
1.20 Kempton – Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (In Memory of Nigel Clark) Grade 1 (3m)
Galia Des Liteaux flies the Skelton flag with interestingly stablemate Ballygrifincottage not declared. This mare was a pointer winner on her sole start in points and showed on chasing debut in the heavy at Bangor in a mares’ novice that she is an exciting chaser prospect when she led from three out after jumping well winning by nine lengths. Galia Des Liteaux is the least experienced in the field, having only her fifth career start under rules and this unexposed type has a strong chance with her seven-pound allowance.
1.35 Wetherby – Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (3m)
Fanion d’Estruval (nap) has strong each way claims at a minimal in a cracking renewal of the Rowland Meyrick. On his sole appearance this season in the big handicap chase at Newbury, when seventh to Le Milos, he was running over three miles for this first time and with the fast pace throughout he lost all chance after a ragged start to the race which left him well out the back. He picked up beaten horses that day, however he gave every indication that this distance is well within his compass and rewatch his staying on third to Fakir d’Oudairies in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase last season over two miles five furlongs to support this case too. He has that touch of class and is a strong fancy here.
1.55 Kempton – Christmas Hurdle Grade 1 (2m)
Epatante can chase home stable companion Constitution Hill to give Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson the 1-2 in the Christmas Hurdle. Constitution Hill was breathtaking in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle last month when absolutely cruising to victory and whilst Epatante could be no match on that occasion this eight-year-old, who was second in the 2022 Unibet Champion Hurdle, still has loads of ability. Epatante has finished in the first two in twelve of her sixteen starts and her record in the Christmas Hurdle reads 121.
2.30 Kempton – King George VI Chase Grade 1 (3m)
L’ Homme Presse has been my idea of the winner of the King George VI Chase as soon as his trainer Venetia Williams announced that this was his target. Ground will not be an issue with the course looking to ride good to soft with soft at the quickest, with at the time of writing on Christmas Eve the forecast is dry.
This seven-year-old went from a rating of 128 at the start of last season and finished on a mark of 164, with five wins on the bounce, including the Brown Advisory at The Festival, when beating Ahoy Senor. L’Homme Presse’s only blip was at Aintree when a distant third (Bravemansgame fourth) behind Ahoy Senor, when never looking like he was travelling at Aintree, which we know can happen at this meeting at the end of the season.
However, L’Homme Presse showed he was right back to his best on seasonal debut when shouldering top weight in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle last month when winning much more comfortably than the official length margin. Charlie Deutsch clearly had future races in mind and L’Homme Presse having jumped the last with ears pricked travelled smoothy to the line with Overdrive right at the bottom of the weights in second. L’Homme Presse has a great chance here to take the King George VI Chase and though he hasn’t run at Kempton before he was successful three times on right-handed tracks last season. He looks the most obvious Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup contender in the field too.
Royal Pagaille can make this a 1-2 for the Venetia Williams team on his first start of the season, as there will be no doubts over fitness. He was due to run in the big handicap at Haydock in November, however he had a minor setback, and it is very interesting that he is coming here rather than carrying top weight in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow. Away from L’Homme Presse there is very little difference in the ratings for all the runners bar Millers Bank and whilst all Royal Pagaille’s wins have been in the soft/heavy he has run some really races on good to soft, including when fifth in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup to A Plus Tard. Royal Pagaille has course form too, having won at the 2020 festival when easily winning a Handicap Chase in impressive style and his top weight performance in talking the Peter Marsh this year at Haydock beating Sam Brown was a classy victory. Royal Pagaille looks good each way value with ground and course to suit.
