With no racing Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there is an acute feeling of anticipation leading up to the feast of racing on Boxing Day. There are a whopping 10 meetings in the UK and 3 in Ireland on the 26th with Kempton and Leopardstown stand-outs. As if that wasn’t enough we have the Coral Welsh National on Tuesday. So much racing, so little time!
The Feltham Novice Chase on Boxing Day has been won by a different trainer in each of last six years but a name that has eluded that roll of honour since the turn of the millennium is that of PIPE. This year the stable have a potential chasing superstar on their hands with GRANDS CRUS, the only horse to get Big Bucks off the bridle in three years. He has gone chasing with early success, winning two good quality novice chases. He currently heads the betting for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham and, given a clear round, he should just edge out the Nicky Henderson trained Bobs Worth.
The showpiece event at Kempton on Monday is the King George, a race which may turn Kauto Star from a superstar into a legend. He may have had this season’s day in the sun at Haydock in the Betfair Chase and the second that day, LONG RUN, is expected to turn the form around.
Master Minded, Somersby and Captain Chris are all untested over the trip, all competed in two mile races at last years Cheltenham Festival. Kauto Star was cherry ripe for Haydock, and may struggle to replicate that effort here whereas Diamond Harry would appear to need cut in the ground. That leaves Nacarat and Golan Way, the two outsiders, who could represent some each way value. However Long Run will have conditions, ground and trip to suit and, even allowing for his scratchy jumping, he looks to have what it takes to taste glory for a second successive year.
The focus of racing in Ireland over the festive period is the meeting at Leopardstown, which has four Grade 1’s and some top handicap chases on offer. Two stand outs over this period look to be BIG ZEB and QUITO DE LA ROQUE, in the two mile and three mile Grade 1 chases respectively. Colm Murphy’s former Champion Chaser Big Zeb won his seasonal reappearance in style, beating Paul Nolan’s Noble Prince. The current Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Chase winner should be too good for his rivals such as Golden Silver and Forpadytheplaster and should be able to defend his crown before, hopefully, going on to further glory at Cheltenham in March.
QUITO DE LA ROQUE is the most promising staying chaser in Ireland, and Gigginstown Stud’s imposing specimen was nothing short of impressive when out battling his rivals JNWine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal. The seven year old gelding has won six of his seven starts over fences, his only loss occurring when second to eventual RSA Chase winner Bostons Angel last year in a novice chase at the same meeting. His form from his Punchestown and Aintree Grade 1 wins last year are working out really well and, if he is to aspire to his Cheltenham target, he should be better than the likes of seasoned campaigners Cooldine, Joncol and Magnanimity.
Kempton 14.00 – Grands Crus
Kempton 15.10 – Long Run & Nacarat (Ew)
Leopardstown 27/12 13.25 – Big Zeb (Nb)
Leopardstown 28/12 13.55 – Quito De La Roque (Nap)
The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner
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