The Kempton Park Boxing Day races represent the very best horse racing action in Britain on a huge day for the sport. There are not one, not two, but three Grade 1 events on the card, so expect to see some top equine stars turning out.
Headlining proceedings is the King George VI Chase of 2024 with a bigger field than recent years. The supporting card isn’t too shabby either with an epic clash in the Christmas Hurdle between the returning Constitution Hill and wonder-mare Lossiemouth.
First of the three Grade 1s, though, is the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase. In and around these big races, there is a novices’ limited handicap chase, maiden hurdle and handicap hurdle. We asked our horse racing experts for their detailed analysis of all the action from the Sunbury-on-Thames venue.
Kempton Park Boxing Day Preview 2024
12:45 – 2m 4f 110y Class 3 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (0-130)
Trends suggest younger horses are ones to concentrate on, but last year’s third ES PERFECTO looks a good each way bet. Although rising 10, Alan King’s charge scored over course and distance last time out. Es Perfecto is now 5lb higher and 3lb higher than 12 months ago, but that piece of form has worked out pretty well.
El Rio returned this autumn in good form with consecutive wins for the Kim Bailey stable around Huntingdon and Sandown. While the handicapper upped him 12lbs for those successes, he may scale greater heights over fences. Topweight Range needs to show he can win away from Chepstow for Sam Thomas, however.
Asta La Pasta stayed on into third at Newbury behind two younger rivals last time out, meanwhile. Nudged up 2lb for that placed effort down in trip, Dan Skelton’s charge previously won an effective match at this distance. Asta La Pasta finished ahead of a subsequent Grade 2 second last time, so has claims.
1:20 – 3m Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase
A rematch between John Francome 1-2 The Jukebox Man and MASACCIO on the Kempton Park Boxing Day card with preference for the latter. King’s runner stayed on into a two-length second behind the Ben Pauling stable star at Newbury, getting much closer than he did in the Challow in the process.
Masaccio is the only previous course winner in the line-up, so there shouldn’t be such a big difference in price with The Jukebox Man. Hyland has back-to-back victories at Cheltenham this autumn, but all his form is left-handed. That’s a concern for Nicky Henderson’s charge.
White Rhino is unbeaten over fences, but perhaps luckily. Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero’s runner found himself left in front three out when an ill-fated, talented rival came down at Haydock. Welcom To Cartries needed his first run last season, so should strip fitter for his Sandown reappearance on this second try over fences.
1:55 – 2m Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle
There’s not much between Willie Mullins’ mare and Constitution Hill with horse racing betting sites, but the sex allowance swings the vote. On all known form, the other two in the Kempton Park Boxing Day Grade 1 hurdle line-up are in their own separate battle for third place.
Lump Sum scored over course and distance in the Dovecote as a novice. He also chased home Sir Gino in the Fighting Fifth up at Newcastle after landing the Welsh Champion Hurdle. Thomas’ charge is older than Greatwood hero Burdett Road, but 2lb ahead of the James Owen runner. Lump Sum has achieved more, so can avoid the wooden spoon.
2:30 – 3m Grade 1 King George VI Chase
Joseph O’Brien books Paul Townend for the ride and steps his charge significantly up in trip after a unlucky unseat in the Hilly Way last time. Also in contention for the Kempton Park Boxing Day feature is last season’s Kauto Star hero Il Est Francais, but he’s flopped twice since.
That is a concern, as is the forecast good ground for leading British hope Grey Dawning. Corbetts Cross, representing JP McManus like Spillane’s Tower, might find this trip around such a tight track too sharp, meanwhile. L’Homme Presse goes well fresh and Venetia Williams keeps saddling winners at the bigger meetings, so he has claims.
Last year’s runner-up Bravemansgame commands respect on his course record after never finishing out of the top two. It has been two years since Paul Nicholls’ charge last won a race, though, and he might be vulnerable to younger legs. Envoi Allen didn’t fire in this in 2022, yet tries again for Rachael Blackmore and Henry De Bromhead.
The other French runners in the line-up, General En Chef and Juntos Ganamos, are more difficult to assess than Il Est Francais. They help make up the numbers, though, with the field completed by last year’s fourth The Real Whacker. In-form Patrick Neville’s charge took the Charlie Hall at Wetherby last time, but this demands more.
3:05 – 2m Class 2 Maiden Hurdle
It looks a good starting point for Kientzheim to get her head in front receiving weight all-round. Of those with hurdles form, Stratford second Moonshine Man posted a much improved effort there. Henrietta Knight’s charge could take another step forward for that.
If Beau Quali returned to the form of his Chepstow second two starts ago, then he has claims for Team Skelton. A mark of 118 doesn’t set a very high standard, however, and Flat convert Rascallion bumped into a subsequent winner around Ludlow last month on debut for Keiran Burke, so can also have a say in the finish.
3:40 – 2m 5f Class 3 Handicap Hurdle (0-140)
Henderson runs three in the Kempton Park Boxing Day finale and in might pay to side with EAST INDIA EXPRESS despite a quick turnaround from Ascot. He just prevailed on that more galloping track six days prior to this assignment, but the handicapper hasn’t had time to reassess him. Freddie Gordon again takes the ride and 5lb off East India Express.
Last year’s 1-2 Mahons Glory and Emailandy take each other on again. The former, trained by Neville, has been disappointing since. Emailandy, running in the Big Buck’s silks, is 4lb above his last winning mark for Nicholls, which is a concern. Henderson also has Doddiethegreat in the line-up, but he’s only won in five and four-horse fields over hurdles.
King Of The Road meets In The Air again after they fought out a close finish around Taunton in November. The former is bottom weight and one of two for the Pauling stable, alongside Samuel Spade. In The Air tries this trip for the first time, meanwhile. Hermino AA and Supreme Gift are last time out winners over further dropping back.
