Kempton Boxing Day Preview - 26/12/21

The first race of the day is the Novices' Hurdle over two miles and we are giving another chance to Broomfield Burg who drops back into this company from a handicap.

The five year old was a £90,000 purchase for JP McManus off the back of winning a three mile point to point by four lengths in October 2020.

Having needed his rules debut in a bumper at Newbury in January, he was then seen again in May when bolting up by close to nine lengths.

Stepped over to hurdles shortly after that he made it back to back successes at Warwick, when taking out a Novices' hurdle by close to 10 lengths.

Sent back to Newbury last time out he could only manage second behind a nice type for Paul Nicholls, with horse who finished behind stablemate Jonbon next time out back in third.

Looking to make the most of his handicap mark of 130 last time out at Cheltenham he was well backed but could not pass the hardy Lively Citizen and had to settle for second.

This flatter track should suit him better and he looks an obvious candidate.

A very competitive event on the card is the Class 3 Handicap Chase over 2m 4 1/2f and we are siding with the Paul Nicholls trained Danny Kirwan.

The eight year old looks to be very well handicapped off a mark of 133 coming into this event, having been a fair hurdler and looked to take to chasing well in October.

On his final start last term the gelding landed the second victory of his career over hurdles when taking out a Novices' Hurdle at Wincanton over 2m5f.

Switched to the bigger obstacles this term he was seen getting better and better the further the race went on and ultimately he finished a three lengths second to a next time out winner in Annual Invictus.

Not raised by the handicapper for that win he looks to have a big chance here at the weights, especially having won at the track before and now having his second run after a wind op, he should improve.

Big player.

The first big race of the day at Kempton is the Grade One Kauto Star Novices' Chase over three miles and although Paul Nicholls has a great record in the race we feel that Ahoy Senor is the superior animal at this trip.

The Lucinda Russell trained animal has only been seen five times under rules during his career, with his unexposed nature being a big helping hand in this event.

Starting his career off in a point to point at Didmarton when unseating his rider, he quickly rectified that in his final P2P at Kimble when a very easy winner.

Bought for £50,000 and given to Russell, he was seen making his bumper debut in January of this year, finishing a good second at Ayr over two miles.

Back at the same track but this time over fences, he got off the mark in style enjoying the step up in trip to 2m4f.

He finished off his hurdling campaign with a career best effort when stepping up to three miles for the first time under rules and going on to beat Bravemansgame at Aintree in the Grade One Sefton Novices' Hurdler.

Saved for fences off the back of that superb performance, he travelled lovely on chase debut at Carlisle but unfortunately unseated his rider.

Learning from that experience, last time out he was seen bolting up by 31 lengths in the Grade Two John Francome Novices Chase over 2m7f, clocking a superb time.

He looks a superstar stayer at this distance and having beaten Bravemansgame before he looks the value in this four runner affair.

The next Grade One event on the card is the two mile Christmas Hurdle and although well beaten in the event last term, we are hoping Epatante can regain her crown this year.

The JP McManus owned superstar has been seen 11 times since coming to England under the Seven Barrows handler and has gone on to land seven of her races, including four Grade One events.

Two seasons ago the British raider 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 was the mare to beat in the two mile hurdling division heading into last season and cemented that thought on seasonal debut when landing the Grade One Fighting Fifth, never coming off the Bridle.

However, from there her season went downhill, being dethroned by Silver Streak in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle and then being well beaten into third in her title defence of the Champion Hurdle.

She was last seen in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle, again finishing third behind Honeysuckle and Sharjah.

The seven year old this season is looking to get back to the top of the division and she made the first step to doing that when finishing in a dead heat with Not So Sleepy in the Grade One Fighting Fifth.

She is sure to improve for that run and looks the one to beat with the allowance.

The final Grade One of the afternoon is the feature King George VI Chase and this year we think it will go the way of Ireland with Gold Cup winner Minella Indo primed to go close for Henry De Bromhead.

The eight year old has raced 15 times during his career and has only finished outside the top three on two occasions.

Three seasons ago on his final two starts over hurdles he really came to life landing the Grade One Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham festival at a huge price of 50/1 and then backed that up at the Punchestown festival when landing another classy Grade One.

He went novice chasing and after running well on debut behind star mare Laurina, he landed a Beginners Chase at Navan before narrowly being beaten in the RSA Novices' Chase at the festival, With Champ pipping him on the line.

Coming out of novice company last term he started his season off at Wexford at the back end of October in the Grade Three Memorial Chase where he jumped the field into submission, going on to win the event by 25 lengths.

Having again put up another superb performance at Navan when beating Brahma Bull by close to eight lengths, his handler sent him to Leopardstown at Christmas in the Grade One Savills Chase.

Going off as favourite, many were looking for the gelding to put up a big run, but were left wanting more after falling for the first time in his career with a circuit to go.

He was then seen returning to some sort of form by finishing his race, but overall he was outclassed in the Irish Gold Cup behind Kemboy finishing a well beaten fourth.

This saw his price drift for the Cheltenham Gold Cup but under a masterful ride by Jack Kennedy he bounced back to form in a big way to land the Grade One feature.

Making his seasonal debut this term he had a good pipe opener in the Grade Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal, when just being edged out by a much fitter, Frodon and Galvin.

That run would have set him up perfectly for this event and being the highest rated horse in the race, class should prevail.

The final event at Kempton on Boxing Day is the 2m5f Handicap Hurdle and although up in the weights, the progressive nature of An Tailliur for Jonjo O'Neill is hard to look past.

The five year old has been a superstar for the yard this term, making his seasonal debut in May at Worcester when landing a 15 runner handicap hurdle off 101 and he has since won four of his last five races and now has a mark of 130.

Taking events over similar trips to today at Southwell, Warwick, Exeter and Taunton have seen him fly up the handicap, but with that in mind he still looks well in.

His only blemish this season came at Cheltenham when falling at the first flight, but he put that behind him last time out when winning at Taunton.

He looks a thorough stayer that should be in the mix once more if staying on an upward curve.

Hopefully the handicapper hasn't got him in his grasp.