Kempton Boxing Day Preview

The first race of the day on Boxing Day sees the two mile Novices' Hurdle and Third Time Lucki for the Skelton team will be looking to kickstart their Christmas with a win in this event.

Having finished second in a point to point he was given to the Skelton yard and he ran in four bumpers last term winning two of them and placing on his final start.

He managed to finish a staying on fourth in the Grade One Champion Bumper behind Ferny Hollow, Appreciate It and Queens Brook, that have all gone on to frank the form.

Being moved over timber this season the gelding made an impressive start when winning his first two races at Uttoxeter and Wetherby with ease.

Last time out he was stepped up to the Grade Two Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham and finished a good second, having let the winner get to far away from the pack and unable to catch.

He is now being dropped back down to this event and if running to form will be very hard to beat.

Killer Clown is our selection in the Novices Limited Handicap Chase and the Emma Lavelle trained runner looks to have a huge chance at the weights.

The six year old has progressively got better this term when taken over the bigger obstacles, having shown glimpses of form over hurdles last season.

Having unseated his rider on chase debut, he then went to Uttoxeter and finished a good sixth of 18 in a handicap chase showing that he jumped fairly well.

Last time out the gelding stepped up again to finish third behind Alnadam at Sandown and although having to reverse the form he is getting a stone off the favourite, which should make all the difference.

The Big Breakaway for Colin Tizzard will be looking to bounce back to form in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices' Chase on Boxing Day and we believe he has the scope to do so.

He was impressive without beating anything on his first three starts over hurdles last season, and he then took that form to a different level when fourth in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the festival, a race which is working out really well form wise.

Always bought to be a chaser, the Dorset handler sent him over the bigger obstacles at Cheltenham in November and he got off to a superb start landing a Novices' Chase over three miles by 10 lengths.

With the world at his feet, strangely he was dropped in trip last time out at Exeter in a 2m3f Novices' Chase and although taking on what looked a weak field, the star got beat by Bold Plan for Evan Williams.

His jumping that day was below par and it did not go to plan for the five year old however, going back up to three miles should see him back to his best and if living up to his potential has to be in the mix.

Epatante is the short priced favourite to land back to back renewals of the Christmas Hurdle and it would be the shock of the meeting if she doesn't do just that.

The JP McManus owned superstar has been seen seven times since coming to England under Nicky Henderson and has gone on to land six of her races, including three Grade One events

Last season she started off in the Gerry Feilden Intermediate Hurdle at Newbury and then on her final start before Cheltenham landing the Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

This set her up perfectly for the Champion Hurdle when going off favourite and under a cool ride by Barry Geraghty went on to land the prestigious event with ease.

She is the mare to beat in the two mile hurdling division again this season and cemented that thought on seasonal debut when landing the Grade One Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, never coming off the Bridle.

Although a short price for the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day, it would be a big surprise if she did not land back to back renewals of the race and looks to be a solid bet in the treble.

Dual King George VI Chase winner Clan Des Obeaux is our selection for the Boxing Day feature race with Paul Nicholls looking for his 12th victory in the Grade One at Kempton.

Last season he started his term off over in Northern Ireland in November with Nicholls sending him into the Grade One Champion Chase at Down Royal and he finished a smart second behind Road To Respect and it worked out to be the perfect prep run ahead of the King George VI.

He went on to become a dual King George winner on Boxing Day and will look to add a third on the 26th having had a superb prep run at Haydock.

Having not gone down the same route as last year with heading over to Down Royal, Nicholls took Clan Des Obeaux to the Mersyside track for the Grade One Betfair Chase.

Having ran a stormer the whole way round, the heavy ground in the final stages told and saw him finish a close second to triple winner of the race Bristol De Mai.

Fitness wise that race would have put him spot on for his third tilt at the King George and showing how well he handles the track could be the difference between him and stablemate Cyrname.

The final event of the afternoon at Kempton is the Class 3 Handicap Hurdle over 2m5f and the horse that catches the eye is Barbados Blue for Nicky Henderson.

The six year old mare holds bundles of ability, but looks to be a slightly fragile horse only racing four times for the yard and not being seen on track for close to 600 days.

However, the mare could be very special if fit enough for her return, racing four times, winning twice and placing twice with her run back in May 2019 looking very special.

Over course and distance at Kempton Barbados Blue won a three runner event by 30 lengths last time out which looks a very nice run.

Making her seasonal debut in this event she is getting some serious weight off the rest of the field being the bottom weight and this could very much underrate how good she is.