Guide to Boxing Day’s ITV Racing

A proper Christmas cracker awaits on Boxing Day as an epic renewal of the King George VI Chase takes centre stage. Ten contenders compete for the crown, but as well as that we have two other Grade 1’s where Santini bids to enhance his RSA claims as the best three mile novice around and Buveur D’Air goes for back to back Christmas Hurdles. A couple of handicaps including the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby make for an excellent festive day of racing action. Our ITV Racing tips are live!

King George to savour on Boxing Day bonanza

We are being treated to an extra present this Christmas as the King George VI Chase promises to be one of the best races of the season. Reigning champion Might Bite looks overpriced in the betting considering he won last years renewal and the ground looks spot on for him. Despite his poor run at Haydock last time, you can always forgive a horse one bad effort. Waiting Patiently is a fascinating contender for Ruth Jefferson – being undefeated in six starts over fences. Politologue is another interesting runner considering he’s a complete unknown over the distance and the form of his last two starts reads very well. Throw in Gold Cup hero Native River and Betfair Chase victor Bristol De Mai, it’s a race for the ages.

Our King George VI tips are on site!

Buveur D’Air to assert his authority

In what has appeared a relatively weak two mile hurdling division in the past couple of years, Buveur D’Air has taken the division by storm and simply stamped his class over and over again. Beaten in just the solitary start over hurdles by Altior and Min, Nicky Henderson’s superstar is back in action in the Christmas Hurdle against just four rivals. If The Cap Fits may end up being his biggest threat, considering his four from five record over hurdles, but he may well need further based on his latest run. Verdana Blue should really appreciate the underfoot conditions and is already a Grade 2 winner this season, but Global Citizen is a horse going the right way with a good attitude so cannot be taken lightly.

Our Christmas Hurdle tips are on site!

Going Reports

Kempton – Good to Soft, Good in places

Leopardstown – Hurdles – Yielding, Chase – Good, Yielding in places

Wetherby – Soft, Good to Soft in places

Sedgefield – Soft, Heavy in places

Down Royal – Yielding

Huntingdon – Soft, Good to Soft in places

Market Rasen – Hurdles – Good to Soft, Soft in places, Chase – Soft

Fontwell – Soft

Limerick – Hurdles – Heavy, Soft to Heavy in places, Chase – Soft, Soft to Heavy in places

Wincanton – Good to Soft, Good in places

Wolverhampton – Standard

Market Movers

1.15pm Fontwell – Hillary John (16/1 into 8/1)

2.55pm Leopardstown – Tisamystery (10/1 into 5/1)

3.00pm Fontwell – Hows Vienna (33/1 into 10/1)

3.15pm Sedgefield – Danced Every Dance (18/1 into 6/1)

3.30pm Market Rasen – The Major General (8/1 into 4/1)

Saturday’s Tips

Four of the last six Next Best tips have landed so we aim to continue that good run over Christmas with our Wolverhampton tip. We’ve also had 50/1 and 33/1 Early Value tips placed last week, we have a 28/1 shot for Boxing Day’s racing.

Stat Of The Day

Paul Nicholls has a 27% strike rate with handicap debutants in the past year. He saddles Southfield Torr (12.20pm Wincanton) and Envoye Special (1.20pm Kempton) today.