Free racing Kempton tips: Simon Holt previews the action on Boxing Day

Racing betting tips: Saturday, December 26

1pt win Champagne Well in 1.15 Kempton at 11/1

2pts win If The Cap Fits in 1.50 Kempton at 4/1

2pts win Santini in 3.00 Kempton at 6/1

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After weeks of ante-post betting during which the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase looked likely to develop into a match between the Paul Nicholls-trained stablemates Clan Des Obeaux and Cyrname, Nicky Henderson threw a late spanner into the works after having the "wild idea" to supplement the Gold Cup runner-up SANTINI for Kempton's mid-winter classic on Boxing Day.

Given that Santini was immediately installed as third favourite behind the aforementioned pair, the idea is not so wild after all and, while Kempton may not suit this strong, strapping stayer as well as Cheltenham, the King George can often develop into a slog.

Seldom is there any hanging about in this race over the flat three miles and, with little chance of a breather on the way round, this can be both a test of class and stamina.

Santini's fast-finishing second behind Al Boum Photo at Cheltenham in March (with the re-opposing Lostintranslation just over a length away in third, and Real Steel (sixth) and Clan Des Obeaux, who dislikes Cheltenham, eighth) suggests he has his share of both attributes and, as a result of that effort, he is second best here on official ratings behind Cyrname.

Nico De Boinville's mount has run just once before over this course and distance and, while looking a bit short of tactical pace, he stayed on strongly to take third in the 2018 Kauto Star Novices' Chase behind a bang-in-form La Bague Au Roi (receiving her mare's allowance) and Topofthegame. The latter narrowly confirmed the placings three months later in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham.

In retrospect, it wasn't such a bad run round Kempton after all and, as he is likely to improve from his first outing of the season (as last year) when beaten by Lake View Lad at Aintree, Santini now appeals to me as the value bet in the market.

A feature of the King George roll of honour is the number of multiple winners, and Clan Des Obeaux (Sam Twiston-Davies) bids to emulate Wayward Lad by winning for the third time (Desert Orchid won four, Kauto Star five). Kempton clearly suits him well and, while this looks a slightly tougher field than in the past two years, a reappearance second behind Haydock specialist Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase (Lostintranslation a well beaten third) suggests this fine jumper will be very competitive once again.

Last year, Cyrname was fully 21 lengths behind his stablemate after emptying quickly from the second last but Nicholls seems convinced he wasn't anywhere near his best.

When on-song, Harry Cobden's mount is a sight to behold and, if his comfortable reappearance win in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby proved anything, it is that he stays three miles and has returned in good shape following the fall at Kempton last February which curtailed his 2019/20 campaign.

At his best, Cyrname is capable of tearing his rivals apart and Frodon, another member of the Nicholls team (the trainer bids for a remarkable 12th King George success) is likely to give him a decent lead just as Aye Right did at Wetherby.

It is difficult to see any other winner except for Lostintranslation if he can reproduce his Gold Cup effort. But he was well beaten here 12 months ago as well as in last month's Betfair Chase and, while ground conditions could be more suitable for him at fast-draining Kempton than the heavy going at Haydock, it's a guess how he will perform.

In the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase, IF THE CAP FITS is taken to bounce back from a disappointing defeat at Sandown last time with cheek pieces now re-applied.

Harry Fry's eight-year-old, who won the opening novice hurdle on this card in 2017, faces stiff opposition in Shan Blue, Enrilo and The Big Breakway but is the one to beat on his best form and boasts an official rating of 160.

Impressive on his chasing debut when slamming Fiddlerontheroof at Ffos Las, he was never travelling smoothly against Pym early last month and clearly needs to perform much better here.

But, wearing cheekpieces, If The Cap Fits showed what he is capable of when beating Roksana in a Grade One at Aintree in April, 2019 and again when landing a Grade Two at Ascot from Call Me Lord six months later and, on those performances, he should not be only third in the betting.

Earlier, CHAMPAGNE WELL can also prove over-priced in the Play Ladbrokes 5-A-Side On Football Novices' Limited Handicap Chase after chasing home Golan Fortune (a runner in the Kauto Star) at Ludlow over three miles last time.

Paddy Brennan's mount had every chance with the winner until approaching the last that day and this drop in trip with cheekpieces fitted for the first time could see him go very close.

A decent novice hurdler last season when winning at Cheltenham and runner-up on three other occasions, Champagne Well is rated 5lb lower over fences and can prove a threat to the likely favourite Alnadam who has gone up 8lb for winning at Sandown.

Posted at 0945 GMT on 24/12/20