For just the second year in its storied history, Aintree Boxing Day races happen. After the Merseyside track just outside Liverpool served up plenty of drama in 2023, there’s another fine card of action on 26 December. The main event is the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle.
This race, formerly the Tolworth but transferred from Sandown in 2023, headlines the Aintree action. Supporting contests include handicap hurdles and chases with small fields because of the glut of meetings elsewhere on Boxing Day.
In and around Christmas, there is lots for horse racing betting sites to price up then. As ever with the key festive fixtures, we turn to our experts who follow this sport closely for their analysis of the best of the action from Merseyside.
Aintree Boxing Day Preview
11:55 – 2m 4f Class 4 Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (0-120)
Few in-form females on show, and it might pay to side with the four-year-old bottom weight CRYSTAL GLANCE. She shaped nicely when chasing home the now 124-rated Slugger at Doncaster by a length the last day. Crystal Glance now has Ben Smith taking the ride and 7lb off with his claim, which offsets the 3lb rise with the handicapper.
Of the others, Little Miss Dante often flatters to deceive but could have a race in her at this relatively low level. Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen have better chances on the card, however. Could Be Trouble and Lavida Adiva are others to consider in a trappy opening contest.
12:30 – 2m 3f 200y Class 2 Handicap Chase (0-150)
This can go to one of the Murphy-Bowen runners who appeal on the Aintree Boxing Day card in WESTERNINTHEPARK. The six-year-old chased home Peaky Boy at Cheltenham during the November Meeting and had December Gold Cup fourth Guard Your Dreams in behind him in third.
Topweight Richmond Lake won over course and distance off this mark during last season’s Becher Chase meeting. The trouble is forecast conditions should be totally different to the heavy ground Donald McCain’s runner relishes. Imperial Saint has two course wins under his belt, meanwhile, but has stamina to prove over fences for the Philip Hobbs stable.
Bottom weight Petit Tonnerre has proved costly to follow, but should appreciate going back up in trip. He makes plenty of mistakes, so the hope will be a slower pace over the intermediate distance might help. Nothing in the field has as much upside to it as Westerninthepark, though.
1:05 – 2m 209y Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle
Smart horse klaxon 🚨
Roadlesstravelled makes just about all the running to land the Grade 2 Newton Novices’ Hurdle.
That slick jump at the last sealed it.@oneill_racing | @JJONeillJnr | @BetfairRacing pic.twitter.com/DI8xISAU0R
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) November 23, 2024
The feature of Aintree Boxing Day races can go to Jonjo O’Neill inmate ROADLESSTRAVELLED after his Haydock form was franked by re-opposing runner-up Country Mile in the meantime. This trip on a flat track looks perfect for him, whereas the exploits of Potters Charm over further have come at undulating courses.
Quite why Nigel Twiston-Davies doesn’t go for the Challow at Newbury on 28 December instead is something of a mystery. Roadlesstravelled is joint-second best on ratings to Potters Charm with Country Mile, but there’s no reason why he shouldn’t confirm the placings from the other Merseyside track with Dan Skelton’s runner.
Celtic Dino, Junker D’Allier and Miami Magic all arrive here after winning their last two races. What these horses currently lack is graded form, but further progress cannot be ruled out for any of them. They will have to very useful to hit the frame, however, as even rank outsider Good And Clever could go well after his Newbury second to a big money buy.
1:40 – 2m 4f Class 2 Handicap Hurdle
Connections will certainly be dreaming now! 💭@NGRichardsRace FLORIDA DREAMS (IRE) lands G2 Weatherbys https://t.co/MT1rOLY2jn NH Flat Race at Aintree under Danny McMenamin.
5yo bred by Rita Moran & bought from Ralahine Stud @Goffs1866 Arkle Sale. 🇮🇪pic.twitter.com/UWcfrzWVBu
— ITM (@IREthoroughbred) April 15, 2023
FLORIDA DREAMS returns to Aintree on Boxing Day after his bumper heroics here in the spring of 2023 stepped up in trip. This test should be perfect for Nicky Richards’ charge who got up around the really undulating course of Ayr from a subsequent winner on reappearance.
A fine fifth in the Greatwood Hurdle last month, that form suddenly looks good as Florida Dreams finished in front of last Saturday’s Ladbroke winner Fiercely Proud. Last year’s winner Bingoo is off the same mark as when successful 12 months ago for Jimmy Moffatt and Charlotte Jones, meanwhile.
In-form Murphy runner Act Of Authority seeks a hat-trick with Bowen taking over in the saddle from stable conditional Lewis Saunders. The cosy nature of his Wetherby win suggests he has something in hand despite a big rise. All of the leading online bookmakers fear Act Of Authority. El Jefe sprung a big shock when winning at the Grand National Festival, but could repeat the dose off 4lb higher.
2:15 – 3m 210y Class 3 Handicap Chase (0-130)
Ikarak won last time out over hurdles for Murphy and Bowen, yet remains unexposed as a long-distance chaser. He could give Fortunate Man something to think about here. Duke Of Deception hit the frame at Wetherby when we last saw him, meanwhile, and bids to go one better than when runner-up in this race 12 months ago.
Gustavian was also second at this meeting last year over a sharper trip, but is better at this distance. For evidence of that, look no further than Anthony Honeyball’s charge finishing third in the Badger Beers around Wincanton from 4lb out of the weights.
2:50 – 1m 7f 176y Class 3 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
Impossible to rule any of the four runners out, but BOOSTER BOB ran third to two useful horses around Warwick last time out. This assignment at the Aintree Boxing Day races looks easier for Murphy and Bowen than hitting the frame behind a subsequent Listed second. The betting suggests Doyen Du Bar is the main market rival of Booster Bob.
Pauline Robson’s charge made all at a steady pace around Ayr the last day, but hasn’t won a race over obstacles outside Scotland. Inedit Star is a three-time steeplechasing second who, on French hurdles form wants further than this trip for Nick Kent.
Topweight Ballee makes his debut over fences here for the Hobbs yard after two poor hurdling efforts either side of a summer break. He chased home El Jefe at the Grand National Festival here in April, but has only ever won races at Taunton in his career so far.
