Boxing Day racing tips: Free preview & best bets for every race on Saturday December 26

Boxing Day racing tips

KEMPTON: 12.40 Flic Ou Voyou, 1.15 Son Of Camas, 1.50 SHAN BLUE (NAP), 2.25 Epatante, 3.00 Cyrname, 3.35 Dream Berry.

LEOPARDSTOWN: 12.00 Hurricane Cliff, 12.30 El Barra, 1.05 Zanahiyr, 1.40 Big King, 2.15 Darver Star 2.50 Grand Partner, 3.25 Gateau De Miel.

LIMERICK: 12.15 On Guard, 12.47 Clondaw Secret, 1.22 Shadow Rider, 1.57 Rebel Early, 2.35 Asterion Forlonge, 3.07 Chalky White, 3.42 Ardera Ru.

WETHERBY: 11.50 Fairfield Ferrata, 12.20 Slainte Mhor, 12.53 Kangaroo Valley, 1.28 Johnbb, 2.05 Windsor Avenue, 2.40 Supremely Lucky, 3.13 Orkan.

WINCANTON: 12.25 Electric Annie, 12.59 Pink Legend, 1.34 Sizing Cusimano, 2.10 Glockenspiel, 2.45 Southfield Harvest, 3.19 Keep Moving, 3.50 Young William.

WOLVERHAMPTON: 1.45 Fashion Free, 2.20 Big Country, 2.55 My Girl Maggie, 3.30 Papa Stour, 4.05 Boosala, 4.35 Donny Marlow, 5.05 Final Voyage.

DOUBLE: Shan Blue and Epatante

Cyrname can deny stable companion Clan Des Obeaux a hat-trick in a fascinating renewal of the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton.

Paul Nicholls has dominated the Boxing Day showpiece over the last couple of decades, with four individual horses providing him with 11 King George victories.

This year the Ditcheat handler fires a four-pronged assault, with last year’s one-two, Clan Des Obeaux and Cyrname, joined by Frodon and Real Steel, although by the trainer’s admission the latter pair look to be running for place money at best.

Clan Des Obeaux’s Kempton form is certainly a level above anything he has achieved elsewhere and Cyrname was firmly put in his place when 21 lengths behind 12 months ago.

That is clearly a significant gap to bridge, but there is little doubt Cyrname was still feeling the effects of a gruelling Ascot tussle with Altior a month earlier, whereas this year he has had an extra three weeks to recover from a facile comeback win in the Charlie Hall.

Indeed, it is almost a role reversal this time around, as Clan Des Obeaux was the one who ended up in a real scrap in testing conditions on his November reappearance when chasing home Haydock specialist Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase.

Cyrname put any questions about whether he stays three miles to bed at Wetherby in October, while it was also noticeable how much more tractable he appears to be, meaning it is unlikely to be a major issue if he is taken on for the lead.

It is worth mentioning that like Clan Des Obeaux, Cyrname is two from three at Kempton and although it is difficult to be too confident about who will come out on top either way, Harry Cobden’s mount, who is officially rated 5lb superior, gets the vote.

The Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle appears a far more straightforward puzzle to solve, with defending champion Epatante impossible to oppose.

Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old propelled herself towards the top of the two-mile hurdling division when winning this Grade One contest last year before shooting clear in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The JP McManus-owned mare looked better than ever when laughing at a race-fit Sceau Royal on her return to action in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and it would be a major surprise if she does not extend her winning streak.

Shan Blue is fancied to make it three from three over fences in the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.

A useful novice hurdler for Dan Skelton last term, the six-year-old has already taken his game to another level since having his attentions switched to the larger obstacles, with slick and accurate jumping the hallmark of back-to-back wins at Wetherby.

Shan Blue faces a step up in class for his latest assignment, but has proven he stays three miles, which cannot be said of some of his chief rivals.

Windsor Avenue is given another chance to prove his worth in the big race at Wetherby, the William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.

The eight-year-old has won two bumpers, twice over hurdles and two races over fences for Brian Ellison, and made a promising start to the current campaign when runner-up to Imperial Aura at Carlisle.

With the latter giving the form a major boost with a subsequent Grade Two success at Ascot, Windsor Avenue looked a leading contender for the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham earlier this month.

However, he was hampered at the start and never really recovered, eventually being pulled up by Brian Hughes.

Ellison’s charge is clearly better than he showed at Prestbury Park and if he sees out the three-mile trip he is capable of making his presence felt from his current mark of 147.

The Nicholls-trained Southfield Harvest rates the best bet at Wincanton.

The Chepstow bumper winner has run three times over hurdles this year, with a Ludlow success sandwiched by runner-up finishes at Wincanton and Ascot respectively.

He lines up for the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle on an opening perch of 130, which looks a nice starting point for a horse open to plenty of improvement.

Papa Stour has won three of his five starts since joining Stuart Williams and can continue his excellent run of form in the Bombardier British-Hopped Amber Beer Handicap at Wolverhampton.

The five-year-old has gone up 4lb for his latest triumph at Kempton, but the style of that success suggested he might still have a little bit up his sleeve.

Darver Star is expected to take Grade One honours for Gavin Cromwell in the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown, while the Willie Mullins-trained Asterion Forlonge rates the one to beat in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick.