The year feels like it's flown by once again and here we are looking at the end of December with our season on the flat already finished at Kempton but we return over the jumps for one more big meeting. So on Boxing Day the NH meeting at Kempton Park will be our final event till next year comes around and it of course will feature King George VI Chase.
Will Cue Card be able to repeat his win of last year win, and will Willie Mullins send over another of his top horses to contest this Grade 1 contest (nope it would seem not). There are of course plenty of supporting events including the Feltham Novices Chase won last year by Lizzie Kelly on Tea for Two and the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle which was won by Faugheen before his season was ended by injury.
We will have a 6 race card on Monday, plenty of quality events leading up to the King George VI itself at 3:10pm.
Here are our thoughts and selections for the rest of the card;
12:55 William Hill On Your Mobile Novices' Hurdle
(4yo+, Class 2, 2m)
We kick off the Boxing day meeting with a decent novice hurdle, although just the eight runners declared over the weekend we can some good competition with the major yards represented as expected.
JENKINS seems to be the likely favourite having won a maiden hurdle at Newbury and from the strong Henderson yard, could be odds on so the value option could be GLARING with Richard Johnson in the saddle.
13:30 William Hill Winter Festival Novices' Limited Handicap Chase
(4yo+, Class 3, 2m 4f 110y)
Tricky little handicap chase now with just the seven declared so each-way options are limited. We will take two against the field in this with GOLD PRESENT and POKER SCHOOL both in decent form and should go well again here.
14:05 Kauto Star Novices' Chase (In Memory Of Nigel Clark) -- Formerly The Feltham Novices' Chase
(Grade 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 3m)
We've got 10 declared for the Grade 1 Feltham Novices Chase, they might keep messing about with the name of these contests but for me it'll always be the Feltham. Our winner from last year TEA FOR TWO will now be going for the King George race later so it does often bring forward a future star (Coneygree won this before taking the Gold Cup too).
Not too many Irish raiders this year which might be down to the terrible weather being experienced so the fact that Tony Martin has sent over ANIBALE FLY who has run well this term even in his most recent defeat at Fairyhouse.
The home challenge is dominated by Paul Nicholls with two, PRESENT MAN / FRODON and Nicky Henderson is also double handed with CARACCI APACHE / MIGHT BITE.
14:40 Williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle
(Grade 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 2m)
A small but select field of five declared for the major supporting race on King George Day, this Grade 1 hurdle has often been the main race for the English Champion Hurdle hopes though recently the Irish have come over and plundered. No Irish representative this year and looks like a match between THE NEW ONE and YANWORTH.
THE NEW ONE was a comfortable winner over My Tent or Yours at Cheltenham a few weeks ago and should be too good again. Goes well here and is the one to beat at Xmas before being well beaten once he returns to Cheltenham in March for the big one.
15:15 William Hill King George VI Chase
(Grade 1) (4yo+, Class 1, 3m)
The feature race now and a strong but select field as you would expect with most in with a shout of the crown. Last years victor CUE CARD looks the likely favourite with the form in the book, his chance is obvious but the fly in the ointment is provided by stablemate THISTLECRACK. This top class staying hurdler has taken well to fences and rather than going for the Feltham Chase earlier in the card is bumped straight into top class company. Wouldn't be the biggest shock if he takes this, but it's his first real test for a while.
Of the remaining runners Silviniaco Conti is not the horse that won this in 2013 and 2014 and has been beaten comprehensively by Cue Card in the Betfair Chase, and Josses Hill comfortably beat last year’s Feltham Novices winner Tea For Two in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon but there are stamina concerns here.
15:45 William Hill World Darts Championship Handicap Hurdle
(3yo+, Class 3, 2m 5f)
Our finale for this year is a handicap hurdle, has 16 declared and I guarantee at least one will drop out to spoil the 4 places here.
Plenty with chances, you shouldn't ignore the Pipe horses in handicaps and they have DELL ARCA at 16/1 here might have joint top weight but Tom Scu can bring about some improvement after a decent lay off and catching him fresh could be the best time.
Gary Moore won this last year and has two outsiders at the bottom end of the weights today, so have a look at KING COOL and MR FICKLE in the place markets if there's still 4 places on offer both about 50/1 and having been racing around Towcester might prefer this flat track closer to home.
If INSTANT KARMA stays this new trip could be a rare jumps winner for Michael Bell.
Enjoy your Boxing Day and all the best for the end of the year for those of you disappointed that we didn't have a White Christmas here's what it would have looked like.
We'll be back with a new season in January 2017.
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