Boxing Day Preview 23/12/13

Merry Christmas to all of you, I truly hope you have a fantastic time over the next few days & make sure you enjoy what is my favourite part of the big day itself; Christmas Dinner.

Boxing Day for me has always been about the King George at Kempton although the last few years have been slightly different as I've attended my partner's families Boxing Day extravaganza which was certainly intimidating the first time I went & considering I am not overly bothered by crimble in general (far to much pressure put on people for 1 day) was genuinely surprised how much I enjoyed playing party games & mingling with what is now my extended family but this year...this year...I am going 30 mins down the road to Kempton Park which I am thoroughly looking forward to.

The card looks very good & perhaps the most interesting horse declared to run is taking part in the very first race in the shape of former Derby Fav Dubai Prince (see below) who made a hugely impressive debut over timber at Leicester recently, he had been entered in the Leopardstown Grade 1 later in the week so it certainly adds spice to the Kempton card that he turns up in this. In opposition is recent impressive course & distance winner Sgt Reckless who burst West Wizard's bubble that day. Fascino Rustico is a quality looking individual which is to be expected for his price tag, he will come in to his own over further eventually. Vaniteux a French import won impressively on his British debut beating the re-opposing Champagne At Tara also needs to be considered but I would be hopeful that Dubai Prince can take another step forward in his new career.

A quality Novices Handicap Chase is the 2nd race on Kempton's Boxing Day card with over half the field making there Chase debut. God's Own is a favourite of mine, he travels through his races like a horse with a good engine who will I believe will come into his own over fences, he was 2nd in a maiden PTP & has won around Kempton over hurdles already this season, my only issue is if the ground gets any worse I doubt it would suit as he seems to be best on top of the ground. Ericht has not quite gone on as hoped over hurdles & made a pleasing debut over fences at Doncaster latest, he is another with course form. Loose Chips was in great form at the start of last season with a bunch of gritty performances including twice at Kempton, his 2 chase runs have been less than impressive but he is fairly handicapped so has chances if the ground worsens. Urbain De Sivola came back with a cracking run over hurdles at Sandown recently & is respected on chase debut. Ohio Gold has lots of experience but is inherently beatable. 

Western Warhorse (see below) has plenty of quality about him & has run 2 fabulous races this season, a maiden PTP winner he must go well. 

Oscar Magic makes his chase debut after 2 mediocre runs so has it to prove in a tough race while Thunderstorm has been steadily progressive so far & is reasonably handicapped but whether he has the class of some of his opponents is open to debate. Roger Beantown has never really fulfilled his potential but ran a screamer at Sandown last time travelling strongly before tiring this will be his 3rd start this season so he will be nearing full fitness but this is a much better race. 

The renamed Feltham now The Kauto Star Novices Chase has attracted a small field in which the imposing Just A Par (see below) should win again, his jumping wasn't tremendously slick at Newbury until when he was quickening clear at the end of the race easily beating Third Intention who re-opposes on Thursday. He should have too much for Annacotty & Buachaill Alainn (who was behind him at Aintree last season). The one that may give him most to do is the improving Northern Raider Green Flag who has been very impressive in 3 starts so far.

Thank god that The New One is being allowed to run again in Thursday's Christmas Hurdle because if not the race would be a complete let down as it is now we have a pre Cheltenham match between the bridle horse My Tent Or Yours & the young pretender The New One. 

I can't say I wasn't impressed with My Tent Or Yours last time at Newcastle but he has still not won me over he is just not my type of horse a bully of lesser horses so I think he is in for a proper fight with in my opinion a speedier animal in the shape of The New One. Grumeti is the other most notable runner who ran a promising comeback race behind MTOY last time the problem on Thursday is that Alan King's horses are under a cloud. Sametegal steps back into Grade 1 company after an excellent run in Handicap company last time I wonder whether any more softening may bring him into contention. Duke Of Navan was outclassed last time & will need a fence to show his worth while Chapel House hopes just to not pull up like he has on 7 out of his last 8 starts if he does he will reward connections with £1300 for finishing last.

The feature event for the whole Christmas period is The King George over the years there have been many fabulous winners & equally fabulous renewals. Most people will have Kauto Star at the top of the tree with his 5 wins & rightly so but he was never an animal that I truly warmed to for one reason or another. My personal favourite King George winner that I have seen in my lifetime is One Man who was a dual winner himself who was to put it bluntly the best jumper of a fence I have ever seen. However my favourite renewal would have been Best Mate's hard fought defeat of the classy Marlborough in 2002. 

This year's renewal is a classy looking affair with 9 runners at present although it was said the other day that Riverside Theatre would be missing the race so it may well be 8 come Thursday.

Al Ferof (see below) was fancied by many last season before he got injured, he came back with an impressive jumping display at Ascot last time in a match race. Nothing new was learnt that day apart from his good health. I believe he can win on Thursday especially with his stable in great form this season. 

Champion Court again takes on horses better than himself & I'n sure he will again excel himself but most likely in 3rd or 4th. Cue Card was my major fancy last year when I had backed him at 50/1 AP but typically I was a year to soon as after his dominating victory in Haydock's Betfair Chase he rocketed to favouritism. His trainer Colin Tizzard said the other day that his yard has had a virus although Cue Card has shown no ill effects as yet it is a slight worry. 

Dynaste ran a superb race behind Cue Card & was a dominant winner of last season's Feltham, he looks primed to run a tremendous race. Long Run who won his 2nd King George in desperate conditions last season is back again, he has looked a shadow of his glory days this season & to me it looks as though his busy schedule as a young animal has caught up with him. Menorah is a quality animal who has been excellent over hurdles & fences, last season's step up to 3 miles at Aintree looked to hold the key to his chasing future & with a very good course record he may be the surprise of the race.

 Mount Benbulben (see below) is a horse I had earmarked for this event after his impressive win in Punchestown Champion Novice Chase last April. His jumping before that had looked sketchy but he is not the worst jumper of a fence as most of his errors were minor & the main issue is he can't go left handed so The King George is always going to be his 'Gold Cup', his unseat on his comeback was more to do with tiredness & the jockey than the horse. He will be primed for Thursday. 

Riverside Theatre may not run & is best fresh anyway so 2 weeks between races is not great & lastly Silviniaco Conti who is another one of those horses that I have little time for, I can't see him winning a King George. 

The last race on King George Day looks a good opportunity for the consistent Twelve Roses with the improving Junction Fourteen likely to give him most to do.

Leopardstown's big Christmas meeting begins on Thursday in which all of the attention will be focused on hot Arkle favourite Champagne Fever as he bids to enhance his reputation further, his stablemate Felix Yonger has already beaten 2 of his biggest opponents on Thursday in Defy Logic & Trifolium so the stable will have a handle on those 2. Ted Veale could be the one to give him a race however.

Hope you enjoy all the fabulous sport on offer over the next week the perfect way to digest all the food that the Festive Period throws at us all.

13:35 Kempton Park William Hill - Download The App Novices Limited Handicap Chase

Western Warhorse 9/2 WIN BetVictor

15:10 Kempton Park William Hill King George VI Chase Grade 1 

Al Ferof 4/1 WIN BetVictor / Stan James / Ladbrokes / Coral 

Mount Benbulben 14/1 E/W Skybet / Boylesports / Stan James / Coral / William Hill 1/4 odds 3 places

Al Ferof / Mount Benbulben Rev. Forecast

15:45 Kempton Park William Hill - Bet On The Move Handicap Hurdle 

Twelve Roses 4/1 WIN BetVictor 

@fttfracing