There’s more from Kempton Park races on 27 December as the two-day Christmas Festival draws to a close. Two Grade 2s share top billing on this Saturday card with the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase and the Desert Orchid Chase. The latter is a limited handicap these days, but still attracts some notable horses to Greater London.
Far from being after the Lord Mayor’s show, the day after Boxing Day sees some intriguing handicaps run at the Sunbury-on-Thames venue. Following an introductory hurdle for juveniles, mares test their stamina over an extended three miles, while later on the card is a staying handicap chase and two-mile handicap hurdle.
These Kempton Park races on 27 December play their part in a glut of festive fixtures taking place in the British Isles between Christmas and New Year. While the course can suit frontrunning types with its tight turns and flat topography, you won’t see trainers put off from running their horses typically seen on more galloping track.
This is something our experts bear in mind when making their Saturday selections. Studying form and eyeing up the prices with online horse racing bookmakers is how they spend Christmastime. This card is just the latest in many major meetings throughout this period, so punters can check out the runners that have caught their eyes in all six contests…
Kempton Park Races Preview for Saturday, 27 December
12:45 – 2m Class 2 Introductory Juvenile Hurdle
After scoring by six lengths across the Channel on his only start, the form received a massive boost when the third home not only won next time out but also finished second in a Grade 1. Maestro Conti concedes 5lb and upwards to the field under a penalty, but could prove a smart prospect. Of those off the Flat, the 87-rated Whatsgoingonmarvin did best.
He now makes his debut for Mickey Bowen after victories on the level at a mile-and-a-quarter, mile and five furlongs and extended mile-and-three-quarters earlier in the year. Gary & Josh Moore have two runners here, meanwhile, and Zarakerjack wasn’t disgraced when runner-up over course and distance on hurdles bow last time. He needs to cut out jumping left, though.
1:20 – 3m 121y Class 2 Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
Tough 💪
Della Casa Lunga digs deep to prevail in the @Ladbrokes Mares’ Handicap Hurdle @kemptonparkrace for Richard Patrick and Clive Boultbee-Brooks 🔵⚫️ pic.twitter.com/EheLg2zyFc
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2024
Last year’s winner DELLA CASA LUNGA has topweight for the defence of her crown, but runs off the same mark as when successful at Kempton Park races 12 months ago. Six-year-olds seem to fare best here, however, with seven of the last eight victors from that age bracket. Star Walking chased home an in-form rival over this trip at Ascot last time, so should be on the premises again.
Harry Fry’s mare now meets Porter In The Park off worse terms from that encounter with Emma Lavelle booking a 10lb claimer again. Miss Cynthia makes her reappearance for Team Skelton and, while she wants a stamina test, she may also need the run. Greyval reverts to hurdles for Fergal O’Brien, meanwhile, after not really taking to fences.
Jamie Snowden’s Audacious Annie beat I’ve Madeupmymind by some eight lengths at Warwick in the spring. The latter was unlucky to take a tumble here two out last time, however, so could gain compensation off better terms despite being 1lb out of the handicap. Gaye Legacy and Holly Hartingo have run well in this race in previous seasons, but may now be vulnerable to younger generations.
1:55 – 2m Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase
A chaser going places!
Mambonumberfive 🕺 makes it two out of two over fences with an impressive performance at @NewburyRacing…@benpauling1 | @BenJone04644251 pic.twitter.com/3qRqHFOoKJ
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 28, 2025
He’s two from two over fences and landed the Adonis in this grade here in February as a juvenile hurdle. Give his large frame, steeplechasing was always going to the discipline for Mamboumberfive, who appeals most with the best betting sites to land the hat-trick. There are two more last time out winners from this sphere in Mirabad for the Skeltons and Gary & Josh Moore’s Hansard.
As the latter took a big step forward from his chasing bow around here when scoring at Lingfield last time, he’s no back number. Mirabad beat some useful hurdlers on his own successful debut over fences. Alnilam probably didn’t give his true running last time, but race terms are against him as he concedes 9lb to Mambonumberfive and 3lb to everything else.
2:30 – 2m Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase (A Limited Handicap)
He’s been a revelation for Team Skelton this season, improving to the tune of 31lb with the handicapper. Thistle Ask can confirm the Exeter form as he’ll need to go from the front again. Anything below 10st 6lb runs from out of the weights here, so Ryan’s Rocket is the last one who isn’t disadvantaged by that. He represents Fergal O’Brien and the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate, but isn’t the most consistent type.
Gabriel’s Getaway ran a blinder at Ascot from out of the handicap on his penultimate start, so being 3lb wrong might not be too much of an inconvenience for Anthony Honeyball. Boothill is finally getting some slack cut by the handicapper, but Fry’s veteran has two falls in this race under his belt. Sans Bruit should be suited by this flat, easy course but pulled up last season and seems to be a spring horse.
3:07 – 3m Class 3 Handicap Chase (0-135)
While Kap Vert remains open to any amount of further progress in this sphere, Montregard for Tom Lacey and JP McManus seeks a hat-trick. Although up another 6lb for following-up on Worcester success around Ascot, the fitting of a visor has worked the oracle and really improved him. Course and distance winner Beachcomber remains 7lb higher in the weights than when successful here, meanwhile.
Topweight Viroflay is a hunter chase for Paul Nicholls and daughter Olive, who takes 5lb off with her claim. He’s also a course winner, but connections must surely have another tilt at Punchestown in the spring in the back of their minds. Pennine Handicap Chase third Prince Zaltar doesn’t have a good strike rate over fences for the Skeltons.
Nicky Henderson runs two in the contest with the lightly-raced bottom weight Bective Abbey preferred to Wiseguy. The former has two seconds from as many starts in this sphere and won an Irish Point on good ground. With just eight career runs under his belt, Bective Abbey could well come into his own if building on his runner-up effort at Chepstow.
3:37 – 2m Class 3 Handicap Hurdle (0-140)
TRUSTINTIMES makes it four wins on the bounce!@HarryFryRacing1 pushes through in the last to deny Fortune De Mer.@Bryan_Carver_ pic.twitter.com/lpZcu60kmB
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) November 21, 2025
Wandering Ego, meanwhile, looks well-handicapped on his fourth behind Old Park Star here. Olly Murphy’s five-year-old tried in vain to give him 6lb over course and distance last time. The winner now has a 142 rating after following up in a Cheltenham novice and the second has gone one better since. Wandering Ego must be well-treated off an opening mark of just 124, then.
The best form arguably belongs to Gerry Feilden third Indemnity, but he keeps creeping up the weights for Lavelle and has another 2lb extra for defeat at Newbury. Nicholls’ Nardaran looked progressive before pulling up around Plumpton when seeking a hat-trick under a penalty last time, but could well bounce back after a short 40-day break.
