Charlie McCann’s Horse Racing Tips for Boxing Day

Plenty of rain is due to hit Kempton Park on Friday morning, but the ground should be no worse than good to soft for their Boxing Day highlight, with Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and race day due to be dry.

1.20pm Kempton - Thyme Hill

I thought McFabulous just had to be pointed in the right direction in the Grade 2 Rising Stars on his chase debut at Wincanton, but he was pulled up early in the race by Harry Cobden, who suggested the gelding had lost his action. Since then, the Paul Nicholls-trained charge has gained a couple of bloodless successes, including over three miles on good ground at Newbury.

I highlight the fact that he has won over today’s trip, but I am still unconvinced that three miles on soft ground will be his optimum conditions.

Stablemate Gelino Bello won the Grade 1 Novice Hurdle at Aintree back in the spring but has not looked a natural over fences. Indeed, he has only won two matches to date and jumped markedly right at Exeter last time. That said, it would be no surprise if he was the best of the Nicholls pair, even though Harry Cobden has chosen McFabulous.

Dan Skelton saddled the winner of this corresponding race two years ago with Shan Blue, and he relies on the mare Galia Des Liteaux who won a listed mares’ contest at Bangor-on-Dee on her chase debut. She could be called the winner a long way out last time, she receives 7lbs from the boys, and the form has been franked – albeit not at this level. Her stablemate was my fancy for the race, but it would appear that they don’t think the ground will be soft enough – he is likely to reappear at Warwick.

THYME HILL has not yet looked a natural over fences, but I think he can reverse Newbury form with McFabulous on 3lbs better terms, in the hope that this is more of a stamina test than was the case at the Berkshire track.

Philip Hobbs fits his former Grade 1 winning hurdler with cheekpieces for the first time, hoping the headgear can help him focus. He jumped slowly at the open ditch in the home straight on both circuits at Newbury, and the hope is that Hobbs has given the 8-year-old plenty of home-schooling on the Minehead gallops.

Charlie's Tip

1.20pm Kempton

Thyme Hill can land this for trainer Phillip Hobbs

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Kempton

December 26, 2022

1:20 pm GMT

2.30pm Kempton - Bravemansgame (Nap of the Day)

The King George VI Chase is the midwinter highlight of the season, and it is a fascinating – if slightly below par – renewal of the Kempton showpiece.

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L’Homme Presse has been the springer in the market but is a better horse going left-handed. If there is a Gold Cup winner in the field, it is the Venetia Williams’ trained 7-year-old who is the highest-rated horse in the field. That said, I am not convinced this is the “right” race for him, and I don’t understand why there is a reluctance to make the journey across the Irish Sea. With Galopin Des Champs not entered and Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard disappointing at Haydock on his reappearance, I believe the Savills Chase at Leopardstown should be his Christmas target.

Envoi Allen won the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal on his reappearance, but I remember watching and thinking, well, something has got to win as the field blundered its way around the course. Others make more appeal.

BRAVEMANSGAME will never win a Cheltenham Gold Cup and should go the Aintree/Punchestown route after Kempton, but I thought his Charlie Hall success at Wetherby was very good and I will be disappointed if he does not give trainer Paul Nicholls a 13th victory in the Boxing Day showpiece.

Nicholls also saddles Hitman and Frodon, and the former would have been the recommendation over shorter, but I don’t think he will stay in what is sure to be a proper test. Bryony Frost will ensure an end-to-end gallop, and you can put a line through last year’s form when Frosty and Rachel Blackmore – on Minella Indo – went off as if their tails were on fire. In the circumstances, Frodon ran a terrific race to be beaten just over twenty lengths.

3.40pm Kempton - Grey Dawning

I hope it’s a happy Christmas for the Skelton yard, as I will be very disappointed if GREY DAWNING is still rated in the low 120s by the end of the season.

The selection has only been beaten once in four career starts and would have won at Aintree on his seasonal reappearance had he not made a horlicks of the second last at Aintree on his hurdles debut. He made no mistake at Exeter last time, beating a subsequent winner now rated 131 in receipt of 3lbs – including jockey’s allowance. The more rain, the better for the selection, although this 2m 5f trip will likely stretch his stamina.

There are any number of dangers, but the main threats are likely to come from Storm Dennis, who sneaks into the race at the foot of the weights, Bourbali and Ivaldi.

Charlie's Tip

3.40pm Kempton

Grey Dawning is the one to beat for the Skelton boys

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Kempton

December 26, 2022

3:40 pm GMT

2.03pm Wincanton - Ede’iffs Elton

EDE’IFFS ELTON was pulled up on his seasonal reappearance but had not been asked a serious question when coming down at the second last at Hereford in his penultimate start. He was a never nearer 4L third at Exeter over 2m 3f last time and will appreciate the slight step back up in trip this afternoon.

The selection finished runner-up in the 3m 1f chase on the card 12 months ago from a 7lbs lower mark, and he has an excellent course record, having won half of his six starts at Wincanton. I expect jockey Bryan Carver – who won on his sole previous ride on the each-way recommendation – to make plenty of use of his mount who can lead but will not get a soft time up front in such a competitive heat.

Charlie's Tip

2.03pm Wincanton

Ede’iffs Elton looks overpriced in this contest

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Wincanton

December 26, 2022

2:03 pm GMT

2.35pm Newcastle - Heroique De Maulde

The feature at Gosforth Park is the valuable 2m 4f handicap chase, and there looks a strong gallop guaranteed, which I hope will suit HEROIQUE DE MAULDE who finished runner-up over C&D on his British debut under Brian Hughes from a 4lbs lower mark.

The selection won a couple over fences in his native France and jumped soundly on his British debut when just edged out by a subsequent winner. He was a bit keen – and jumped slightly right – here last month, but he remains potentially well-treated. Heltenham and Just Don’t Know are considered the main dangers to the each-way recommendation, with the former representing the Dan Skelton yard who, have runners at all eight jumps meetings in Britain this afternoon.

Charlie's Tip

2.35pm Newcastle

Heroique De Maulde can land this under Brian Hughes

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Newcastle

December 26, 2022

2:35 pm GMT

2.20pm Leopardstown - Fil Dor

FIL DOR was an impressive winner on his chase debut from Saint Roi and can confirm the form with the Willie Mullins-trained novice on 2lbs worse terms. The grey has the size and scope to make up into a top-class chaser at around the minimum trip, and, as a 4-year-old, he receives a valuable 6lbs from his elders. He finished runner-up to Vauban in three successive Grade 1 juvenile hurdles last season but appreciated the transition to fences last time.

His stablemate Hollow Games also made a winning chase debut at Navan, but his time was substantially slower than that of Fil Dor, and Hollow Games is likely to need further in time.

* Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.

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