Ben Linfoot has a bet for every meeting in the UK on Boxing Day with the Nap running at Wolverhampton.
Boxing Day selections
AEOLIAN – 15:35 Wolverhampton (NAP)
Around 24 hours on from his Christmas message to the nation The King could have a winner at Wolverhampton with AEOLIAN in the Class 2 handicap over 1m4f. William Haggas’ three-year-old started life in handicaps off a lowly mark in the 80s but the penny dropped at Kempton last time when he improved a bundle for his all-weather debut and a 7lb hike in the weights might not be enough to stop him following up.
LAFFER CURVE – 11:52 Wetherby
Dan Skelton’s runners are always worth a second look at Wetherby and his LAFFER CURVE looks interesting on hurdling debut in the opening maiden hurdle. The daughter of Jack Hobbs has shown ability in a couple of bumpers, including at this track last time, and she can improve for seeing an obstacle under Charlie Todd.
KITZBUHEL – 13:20 Kempton
Joe & Marie Donnelly might still have nightmares about Shishkin at Kempton on Boxing Day but they could land a Grade 1 double on Friday with Sir Gino and KITZBUHEL. Willie Mullins’ five-year-old jumped efficiently on chasing debut at Punchestown and is clearly right at home going clockwise. He should stay as long as he settles and he simply looks to have a class edge on the home team here.
DIXIE COWBOY – 13:25 Sedgefield
Sam England’s DIXIE COWBOY can return to winning form back at Sedgefield in the Ready To Welcome The New Year Handicap Chase. The six-year-old has made a good start to his chasing career and won well on fencing debut last month. He ran well off his new mark at Hexham in heavy ground but should be more at home back at Sedgefield.
INDEEVAR BLUE – 13:40 Aintree
INDEEVAR BLUE can land in the 2m4f handicap hurdle at Aintree (13:40). Olly Murphy’s horse kept on well for second over two miles at Newbury on his reappearance and he’s very much bred for this 2m4f trip so further improvement could well be forthcoming.
KRUGER PARK – 13:42 Fontwell
Paul Nicholls’ KRUGER PARK looks well worth another go at 3m2f in the tigerbet.co.uk Extra Places Paid Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell. The seven-year-old has only tried the distance once before in heavy ground at the end of last season but that’s not enough evidence to doubt his stamina and he was running on again over three miles at Newbury last time when a close-up fourth.
YOU SOME GIRL – 14:57 Market Rasen
Rebecca Menzies’ YOU SOME GIRL is a fascinating runner in the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen. The eight-year-old Dylan Thomas mare has had just the one run over fences but bolted up in a three-runner field at Newcastle after a good round of jumping and is firmly filed in the unknown quantity drawer here, with Menzies four from 14 at Market Rasen in the month of December.
TINY TETLEY – 15:13 Wincanton
Philip Hobbs has won this Pertemps qualifier four times in the last 10 years and he and Johnson White are going for a hat-trick with TINY TETLEY. This horse has been chasing but hasn’t taken well to the bigger obstacles and reverts to hurdling here. Progressive over timber when last seen, he should enjoy the change in discipline.
Saturday selections
DOYEN DU BAR - 14:45 Wetherby (NAP)
Dan Skelton has won three of the last five renewals and is double handed but preference is for DOYEN DU BAR who shaped well on his seasonal reappearance and stable debut at Newbury. Progressive over fences last season, the nine-year-old's form has been franked time and again and his current mark is unlikely to be the ceiling of his ability while the forecast softer ground will also be in his favour.
KNIGHT TEMPLAR - 12:30 Chepstow
KNIGHT TEMPLAR may have found the run coming too soon when disappointing at Sandown when the testing ground may not have been in his favour either. Conditions will be riding quicker and his previous effort when a close third at Exeter suggested there are more races to be won with him in this sphere for all that the form of the race couldn't have worked out much worse at present. The booking of Sean Bowen can only be viewed as a positive.
DELLA CASA LUNGA - 13:20 Kempton
Last year's one-two are set to go to post and DELLA CASA LUNGA, racing from the same mark, is taken to come out on top again despite the presence of Miss Cynthia who is starting out for Skelton. The top-weight has only finished out of 'the three' once in five course runs (in the 2023 renewal) so is clearly well suited to the demands of this venue and looked to be on the way back to form here last time. She struggled after winning last year's renewal but kept on well in a Listed race over two miles five last month and will appreciate the step back up in trip.
FLOWSTATE - 16:00 Wolverhampton
The consistent FLOWSTATE was having his first start over seven furlongs when winning at Newcastle and can follow-up from his 3lb higher mark. Relatively unexposed on the all-weather after five starts, he's run well on both visits to this track and can open his account at this venue with his stamina now assured.
Want to know more about horse welfare within our sport?
2025-26 winners (Naps competition Oct 19 - Apr 25)
- Gazette Bourgeoise 7/2
- Supreme Malinas 7/2
- Heart Over Head 4/1
- Saint Cyr De Pail 7/2
- Westcombe 7/4
- Intervention 7/2
- One Big Bang 8/11
- Zryan 4/1
- David's Well 6/4 (NAP)
- Atreides 5/4
- Salver 6/4 (NAP)
- Castanea Breeze 3/1
- Ribble Vibe 6/4
- Medieval Gold 6/5
- Fierce Warrior 11/10
- Mambonumberfive 5/2 (NAP)
- Bibendum 85/40
- Seasmoke 10/3
- Teardrops 2/1
- Secret Vino 11/2
- Blenkinsop 7/4 (NAP)
- Roaring Conquest 6/4
- Molto Bene 7/4
- Nocte Volatus 11/4
- Sparkling Duke 9/2
- Chuggy 11/10
- Germanic 3/1
- Special John evens
- Fat Harry 5/4 (NAP)
- Formel Park 3/1 (NAP)
- Sixmilebridge 6/4 (NAP)
- On The Go 2/1 (NAP)
- Ikarak 13/8
- Clearpoint 3/1
- Bahadur 2/1 (NAP)
- L'Empire Vert 3/1 (NAP)
- Without Compromise 2/1
- Solarize 3/1
- Hartington 7/1
- Bloodsweatandtyres 9/2
- Pep Talking 13/2
- Tigers Moon 8/11
- Sea Poetry 2/1
- Fine Interview 7/2
- American Flight 7/1 (NAP)
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