The teams at both Sporting Life and Timeform provide their best bets for Boxing Day with tips across all UK meetings.
Timeform
David Johnson, Flat handicapper
Carey Street - 13:45 Wolverhampton
Aldrich Bay is likely to be a warm order following his seven-length win at Lingfield last time, while entries on the 27th and 28th suggest connections think there might be an opportunity to run him from a lenient mark under a penalty should he get the job done. However, from 12 lb higher than last time, I’m not sure his task is completely straightforward and Carey Street appeals as a value alternative. This will be just his third start for Linda Stubbs, and there was plenty to like about his most recent, shaping best over course and distance when in front for a long way but reeled back by one who was suited by coming from further back. A mark 1 lb higher here isn’t insurmountable, and he should be bang there if having slightly less use made of him.
Adam Houghton, senior content editor
Shan Blue – 13:50 Kempton
Shan Blue rates a fascinating contender for the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase after winning a couple of low-key affairs at Wetherby by an aggregate margin of 30 lengths. He left a couple of useful rivals in his wake last time and demonstrated all the hallmarks of a high-class staying chaser in the making, notably a fast and fluent jumping technique. He sets the standard on form and remains open to more improvement, while the sharp test that this race provides should play more to his strengths than chief market rival The Big Breakaway, who has looked laboured at various stages of his burgeoning career over fences.
Phil Turner, chase handicapper
Springtown Lake – 14:05 Wetherby
Wetherby’s Boxing Day showpiece, the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, has attracted a field which is thin on unexposed runners, so it’s no surprise to see second-chaser Canelo put in as favourite on the back of two good efforts, particularly as he looks well worth another try at three miles. Canelo has already thrown in several stinkers during his fledgling chasing career, though, so it could pay to side with fellow southern raider Springtown Lake instead. There are no such consistency concerns with him, whilst his reappearance second at Aintree (form which has worked out well) suggests he’s very competitively-handicapped too. In addition, the stoutly-bred Springtown Lake is another who looks long overdue another try at this sort of trip and makes plenty of appeal at current odds of around 7/1.
Ben Fearnley, racing analyst
Cyrname – 15.00 Kempton
Cyrname’s bruising encounter with Altior at Ascot last November provides a very valid excuse for his tame finish in this race last season – he was beaten over 20 lengths despite being upsides the winner at the second-last. Cyrname proved his stamina for three miles when sauntering to victory in the Charlie Hall on his return and looks a good bet to reverse last year’s King George form with Clan des Obeaux, particularly given his stablemate has a gruelling reappearance – against Bristol de Mai in the Haydock mud – to overcome himself this time around. Cyrname is 7 lb better than Clan des Obeaux on Timeform ratings and really should be clear favourite, particularly given the concerns over Santini (wants more of a test) and Lostintranslation (more miss than hit since his Betfair Chase win last season).
Sporting Life
Ben Linfoot
Duc De Beauchene – 2.45 Wincanton
If at first you don’t succeed, try try again. David Pipe ran Duc De Beauchene in the Pertemps qualifier at Wincanton on Boxing Day last year without success, but he brings the same horse to the same race this time around and he looks well primed for a second crack at the contest. He travelled strongly at Uttoxeter on his reappearance, so strongly the stewards held an enquiry into the ride Tom Scudamore gave him for second, but the tender handling was understandable once the winner had flown on this gelding’s first start for 262 days. That form looks good – Cheltenham winner Come On Teddy was back in fourth – and the selection should strip fitter for the run, while the drop in trip by two furlongs looks in his favour, as well.
David Ord
Imperial Icon - 12.53 Wetherby
He's the only previous winner over timber in the field and Imperial Icon can successfully concede weight all round in the William Hill Extra Places Every Day Novices' Handicap Hurdle. He was stepping up in trip when getting off the mark at Hereford and showed a great attitude to come out on top in a driving finish. He's up six pounds here but there's more to come and he can strike again.
Matt Brocklebank
One For The Team - 1.50 Kempton
More rain would have been preferable but the Kauto Star Novices' Chase always turns into a proper test and that should really suit Nick Williams' horse. He’s not blown anyone away yet, including the official handicapper who only has him on 140, but the six-year-old is coming into this undetected as a consequence, and I really liked his staying-on second to Next Destination in the John Francome at Newbury. Time will tell precisely what he bumped into in Berkshire but I suspect it was something rather special and his Boxing Day rivals are no more frightening in reality (though a couple are rated a good bit higher at this stage).
