Paul Nicholls pictured at Ascot on Saturday

Betfair ambassador Paul Nicholls on Boxing Day runners

By Sporting Life

Horse Racing

Wed December 24, 2025 · 2h ago

Betfair ambassador Paul Nicholls talks through his Boxing Day runners around the country.

For more exclusive Paul Nicholls content visit https://www.betfair.com/betting/

If I could train any of the horses in the King George it would be Gaelic Warrior

I always look forward to Christmas racing, especially the King George at Kempton which I have won 13 times. I haven't got a runner in the race this year which is a shame but there was nothing quite ready in my yard. It is a fantastic renewal though, with Banbridge, Fact to File, Gaelic Warrior who was so impressive the other day, as well as Il Est Francais.

There are two decent horses from this country in there. Djelo is improving rapidly, and I was very impressed with Nicky's horse, Jango Baie the other day at Ascot. It is a very good, tough race but if Gaelic Warrior going right-handed is as good as he was last time he will take all the beating. If I could train any of the horses in the field, it would be Gaelic Warrior.

My best memory of the race was when Kauto Star won it for the fifth time. That was amazing, he was 11 years old, had been written off by some but he came back and won the Betfair Chase, beating Long Run, and then he did the same again in the King George. To win five from six starts in the race is incredible. I will never forget the reception he got that day.

Kauto Star enters the winners' enclosure under Ruby Walsh in 2011

13:35 Wetherby - Knappers Hill

We were thrilled with his seasonal return when he came fourth in a good race after two years off. The Jukebox Man won the race who has a great chance in the King George and Iroko was second who won the other day and is now favourite for the Grand National so that race could turn out to be strong form. It was a lovely return to action being beat by just eight lengths and he can only have improved for that run.

There are only five runners in this £50K race which surprised me. I have always had this race in the back of my mind for him. I think he is better left-handed based on what the lads tell me. Freddie said to me the other day: "Stick to left-handed tracks."

He is one of our best chances on Boxing Day. It is a good race, Konfusion was very impressive at Newcastle last time and will be hard to beat. Marble Sands won last time but is a little bit in and out. I can see my horse running very well.

13:20 Kempton - Blueking d'Oroux

He ran ok in the Rising Stars Novices' Chase at Wincanton last month. The ground was probably quick enough; he likes decent ground but jumped a little bit lazily. Three miles will suit him better, he stays well and the flat track will suit him here, and the fact the ground is dry and probably just on the easy side of good is perfect.

But just on the bare bones of his last race he needs to improve. He beat Kitzbuhel at Sandown in the spring and on his day Blueking is a good horse. He is in good shape, so he's got a chance definitely.

13:55 Kempton – Rubaud

He was second in this race two years ago to Constitution Hill and there is nothing on the level of Constitution Hill in there this year unless Sir Gino proves us all wrong. Sir Gino is obviously the one we have all got to beat if he is back to his very best - he is a very smart horse - but who knows?

Away from Sir Gino, this is an open-looking race. The one thing I would say is that Rubaud is in a lot better shape than he was when he went to Wincanton and won last time by pure guts. He loves Kempton and I don't think he has been beaten too often round there. He is a lively outsider but will need to give it his best.

15:40 Kempton - Paso Doble

I just hope he is not running too soon, he has very enthusiastic owners who love having runners at Kempton on Boxing Day, so I said I would run him here. I'm not sure how he is going to run but I hope it is not too soon.

15:40 Kempton – Emailandy

He has lost his way a bit but at least he has been consistent - he pulled up, pulled up, pulled up - so we have to give him that. We are putting a pair of blinkers on him, and he schooled well on Tuesday morning.

He is well capable but seems to have fallen out of love with the game. He didn't like jumping fences, wasn't right last year and, while it would surprise me if he won, it would not surprise me if he ran a lot better.

12:53 Wincanton – Clotilda

Freddie Keighley takes off seven pounds here, and she gets a handy four-year-old allowance, so she has got a lovely weight really. She ran very well at Exeter a month ago, but we were probably a bit far out of our ground when turning into the straight. We were a bit unlucky not to win and she is one of our best chances on Boxing Day.

14:03 Wincanton - Wicked Thoughts

He jumped very nicely when winning on his seasonal return at Taunton. I will have to make sure we are happy with the ground for him, so the more it dries out the better. He doesn't want the ground too soft. Ben Bromley takes a handy five pounds off to negate his rise of three. It's a good little race and we have got a chance.

15:13 Wincanton - Stay Away Fay

Another one who's consistent - pulling up repeatedly. Since he ran in the Cotswold Chase, I don't know what has gone wrong for him, he has been so disappointing. Anyway, I thought I would try something different and try Olive on him, see if he will go for a girl.

He didn't run particularly well the last day over fences, he hates fences and his heart is not in it. Back over hurdles, we might be able to qualify for the Pertemps or try to win one with him. He just might go for a girl. He is capable of running very well but the way he has run the last three or four times, I wish I knew the reason. We have got to keep trying.

15:13 Wincanton - Largy Poet

I don't know why he was so disappointing last time, although he is a bit like that from time to time, and didn’t run well last year at Christmas. He is rated at 137 now over fences which makes life impossible for him. We thought we would give him a spin over hurdles and try to find a race for him in the spring. He has it all to do.

15:13 Wincanton - Absolutely Doyen

He bolted in when winning at Ascot last month. He went up eight pounds for that win, but I have always had this race in mind. I'm glad it is going to be dry, that is ideal. With Freddie's claim, he is only going to carry 9st 11lbs. We hope he is progressive and think he is another lovely chance on Boxing Day.

13:42 Fontwell - Kruger Park

He is down a pound for coming fourth at Newbury last time. That wasn't very generous handicapping, because Kruger Park got beat by, I don't know how many lengths and was dropped only a pound. He has never been given a chance since he won. He has got 12st in this and Jay Tidball is taking five pounds off.

He will run well again like his form figures suggest. But handicapping is supposed to give horses a chance - if they are winning, they go up, if they are losing, they go down. He has got it all to do at the weight and his mark. He has a lot of things in his favour - heavy ground, left-handed - but I still think he is too high.

Betfair ambassador Paul Nicholls on Boxing Day runners

For more exclusive Paul Nicholls content visit https://www.betfair.com/betting/