Santini can deliver the goods in the Kempton showpiece on Boxing Day, according to our gallops insider who has all the latest whispers.
Santini - 3.00 Kempton, Saturday
Santini can reward Nicky Henderson's decision to supplement him for the King George VI Chase by landing the Ladbrokes-sponsored feature at Kempton on Boxing Day. The Champion trainer was originally heading to Cheltenham next month with the Gold Cup runner up, but that race is now an option for his other blue riband candidate, Champ, and he is not too willing to see his two star chasers take one another on so close to the Festival.
Although the course may not be totally to his liking, this race does require a horse to stay the three miles well, and there looks a real prospect that ground conditions may require the ability to see out the trip well.
Although he is a real lazy horse at home and often on the racecourse, his class cannot be denied, and another reason for his appearance here, is the fact he is on such great terms with himself at the moment.
He has taken his recent outing at Aintree well, and even though he was beaten, he was clearly disadvantaged by the decision to remove a good number of the fences because of a low, blinding sun.
Mr One More - 1.15 Kempton, Saturday
Mr One More looks a potentially useful prospect and should go well on his fencing bow in the Play Ladbrokes 5-A-Side Novices Handicap Chase.
A useful novice hurdler three seasons ago, he has had his share of training problems since, but showed there is still plenty of ability left when chasing home Antunes to the tune of half a length at Chepstow on his return from 21 month absence five weeks ago.
Although the winner has let the form down with a performance too bad to be true subsequently, the third Lieutenant Rocco, has since finished a close second to Fusil Raffles in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham, suggesting that the selection may be nicely handicapped here.
Connections have given him plenty of time to recover from the outing, and he gets the vote in a very interesting race over Nicky Henderson's chasing debutant Son Of Camas. He is expected to leave his dismal reappearance at the Paddy Power meeting well behind.
If The Cap Fits - 1.50 Kempton, Saturday
If The Cap Fits, a stablemate of Mr One More, can put a disappointing effort at Sandown behind him in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase.
One of the best staying hurdlers over the past couple of seasons, he appeared to run a bit flat at the Esher course, even though the winner Pym, is a smart performer on his day.
If The Cap Fits had looked impressive when beating Fiddlerontheroof on his only previous outing over fences at Ffos Las in October, and if he reproduced that sort of performance here, he should be right in the thick of things at the finish.
Riggs - 3.35 Kempton, Saturday
Riggs is a horse on the up and he should go well in the Ladbrokes Committed to Safer Gambling Handicap Hurdle.
Dan Skelton had very high hopes the six year old would step up on his solid comeback effort at Ascot and he duly delivered, running out an emphatic winner in what looked a decent handicap at Uttoxeter.
He has more on his plate here, but connections are more than hopeful he can progress again, and he just gets the vote ahead of Nicky Henderson's unexposed trio of Barbados Blue, Monte Cristo and Rathhill.
Crealion - 3.19 Wincanton, Saturday
Crealion looks worth an each-way interest in the Mid Season Handicap Chase at Wincanton.
Tom George's gelding produced an improved performance when a respectable fifth to the promising Glajou in a decent event at Southwell last time, and may be worth taking a chance with on this much softer ground, and over a more demanding trip.
Ha D'or - 1.05 Leopardstown, Saturday
There is some great racing at Leopardstown as well as on the domestic scene on Boxing Day, and we can pass on a big message for Ha D'or in the Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle.
Willie Mullins has a very high opinion of this French bred son of Nidor, who left his native land with an emphatic win in a AQPS flat race at Senonnes-Pouance behind him. He has worked exceptionally since his arrival, and will be fancied to run a big race despite some very hot opposition.
Heross Du Seuil - 12.45 Kempton, Sunday
Henderson looks set for another busy day on Sunday with two more headline stars Altior and Shishkin running in their respective races the Desert Orchid Chase and the Wayward Lad Chase.
Both should go in, and it would also be no surprise to see newcomer Heross Du Seuil run a big race in the opening Get Your Ladbrokes £1 Bet Juvenile Hurdle.
The winner of a conditions event on the flat in France, he carries the same colours of Shiskin's owner Joe Donnelly, and is expected to go well.
Make a note also of Gary Moore's entry Jalwan. He carries the colours of the Noel Fehily syndicate, and has been doing some sterling preparatory work in the build up to his hurdling bow.
Both horses should be noted going forward.
Springfield Fox - 2.50 Chepstow, Sunday
Springfield Fox, a stablemate of Crealion, appears nicely handicapped and looks the principal each-way value to floor hot favourite Secret Reprieve in the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.
George has brought this seven year old along gradually and placed him to win two novice handicaps on this course and at Exeter from his three starts over fences last season.
Although he did not jump too well and eventually unseated in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival in March, he remains a very sound staying prospect and has jockey in-form James Bowen aboard here.
He will be sharper for his comeback run behind Oscar Elite over hurdles at the meeting here earlier in the month, and he will have no problem handling the ground.
