With Boxing Day taking place on a Friday this week, we will have a bumper edition of tips covering live racing on both Friday 26th and Saturday 27th December.
Kempton’s Christmas Festival spans both days with ITV covering four races live on Friday and five on Saturday. Joining Kempton on Friday will be racing from Aintree and Wetherby, whilst Saturday will be Welsh Grand National day with ITV in attendance for four races at Chepstow.
Friday 26th December 2025
- 12:45 Kempton: “Get Your Ladbrokes Free Kempton Bet” Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase – Noble Park @ 7/4
- 1:05 Aintree: William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle – Mydaddypaddy @ 4/9
- 1:20 Kempton: Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase – Salver @ 10/3
- 1:35 Wetherby: William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase – Konfusion @ 5/6
- 1:55 Kempton: Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle – Golden Ace @ 10/3
- 2:30 Kempton: Ladbrokes King George VI Chase – Gaelic Warrior @ 5/2
The live racing on ITV begins with a novices’ handicap chase before the Formby Novices’; Hurdle at Aintree, a Grade 1 over 2m1f. All eyes will be on Dan Slelton’s Mydaddypaddy who is unbeaten in his career so far and is the ante post favourite for March’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
In the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, Kitzbuhel for Willie Mullins will be the likely favourite but we are opting for Gary and Josh Moore’s Salver who was far too good for the rest of the runners in the Esher Novies’ Chase at Sandown earlier in the month.
The Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase is next before Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle. Nicky Henderson’s Sir Gino makes his return to the track after a lengthy absence, but we’ll be opting for Jeremy Scott’s Golden Ace who’s jumping has been impeccable in winning the Champion Hurdle last season and the Fighting Fifth Hurdle in November even if rivals made mistakes.
The King George VI Chase looks set for a blockbuster clash between the Willie Mullins duo of Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File who were first and second in the John Durkan Memorial Chase, and last season’s Arkle winner Jango Baie for Nicky Henderson. Throw into the mix The Jukebox Man, Peterborough Chase winner Djelo and the first and second from this race last year in Banbridge and Il Est Francais and we should be in for a classic renewal.
Saturday 27th December 2025
- 1:05 Chepstow: Coral Racing Club “Join For Free” Handicap Chase – Ballybreeze @ 5/1
- 1:20 Kempton: “Join Ladbrokes Bet £5 Get £30” Mares’ Handicap Hurdle – Miss Cynthia @ 9/2
- 1:40 Chepstow: Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle – Manlaga @ 5/2
- 1:55 Kempton: Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase – Mambonumberfive @ 3/1
- 2:10 Chepstow: Join Coral “Bet £10 Get £50” Handicap Hurdle – Santos Blue @ 4/1
- 2:30 Kempton: Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase – Gabriel’s Getaway @ 4/1
- 2:50 Chepstow: Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase – O’Connell @ 8/1
- 3:07 Kempton: Ladbrokes “Big Football Bet Builder Boosts” Handicap Chase – Beachcomber @ 9/1
- 3:37 Kempton: Ladbrokes “Get Rewarded With Ladbucks” Handicap Hurdle – Nardaran @ 10/1
The live action on Saturday kicks-off with a handicap chase and a handicap hurdle before the first graded race of the day in Chepstow’s Finale Juvenile Hurdle, where watching the betting will be crucial.
Lump Sum, who leads the betting for the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase, was no match for Lulamba in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase earlier in the month with Alnilam pulling up in that contest after a bad mistake. Our pick goes to Ben Pauling’s Mambonumberfive who is stepping up from handicap company but is two from two this season.
A Chepstow handicap hurdle is followed by the Desert Orchid Chase before the big betting heat of the day, the Welsh Grand National. Local favourite Jubilee Express, last year’s winner Mr Vango and Irish Grand National champ Haiti Couleurs will all be popular choices. Our selection at slightly bigger odds is O’Connell for Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith who won Sandown’s London National well and will suit the extended trip.
The televised racing concludes with a handicap chase and a handicap hurdle both back at Kempton.