Boxing Day Racing: Your Guide To All The Festive Meets

Boxing Day has long been one of the biggest days in the horse racing calendar and for many, heading to the track is more traditional than enjoying the football over the Christmas period.

Which means only one thing, plenty of opportunity for enjoying a bet of the horses.

There are meets up and down the country on Boxing Day, and it’s always worth keeping an eye on. That’s why we’ve created this handy guide, perfect for placing your festive horse racing bets…

 

Boxing Day Horse Racing Free Bets

 

12:45 Kempton

The 12:45 is the first Grade 1 of four from Kempton, the Long Walk Hurdle for the staying hurdlers over an extended 3 miles.

I’m happy to take on Champ here as he’s obviously not getting any younger and he often runs his best race of the season first time up. Paisley Park is a serious danger on soft ground here if they go quick as he’ll be staying on strongest.

However, it’s GOSHEN (7/2) NB for me here. His record going right-handed is strong and this flat track should play to his strengths. He wasn’t stopping last time out at Ascot over 2 and half when putting Brewin’upastorm away and I think he might get his own way in front and can set steady fractions. Obviously, Not So Sleepy could go from the front but running over 3m for the first time, they may try and take a lead. Goshen has recently been shaping as though a step up in trip would suit him well and he’s definitely got the most scope for improvement in this line-up.

Miranda deserves a mention but the price has gone on her and the form of her victory in a 3 runner mares hurdle last time out is sceptical.

 

1:20 Kempton

Next up is the Kauto Star Novices Chase, a Grade 1 for the novice chases over 3m.

Paul Nicholls has a strong record in this race and he holds a strong hand with McFabulous and Gelino Bello here. McFabulous has impressed with his jumping and is a worthy favourite. I think if the ground dries out on the chase course he’ll be well supported.

I’m happy to support the Dan Skelton mare in GALIA DES LITEAUX (11/4) NAP. She gets weight off her rivals here and Skelton must be confident to let her take her chance alone as the well fancied Ballygriffincottage was pulled out at the finals declarations stage. The selection was an impressive winner on chase debut at Bangor last month and she’ll relish any undercut conditions more than her rivals. I think Skelton may try and make this a stamina test and use her strengths.

 

1:35 Wetherby

The one race from Wetherby is a very competitive renewal of the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.

Shan Blue is the obvious one off his current mark but he’s too short in a race of this nature. The one I like is TOP VILLE BEN (22/1) EW at a big price. This is always his Gold Cup and he’s ran two absolute crackers in it over the last three years. In 2019, he won it well before faltering close to home in a war of attrition behind Good Bob Bobby and Lord Du Mesnil. I don’t think the 2022 with stretch his stamina as much as it did last year and he has to come into each-way consideration at big prices given the fact he’s off 6lb lower this year.

 

1:55 Kempton 

The 1:55 is the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle over 2m where red-hot favourite Constitution Hill the star in show. I’ll look at the betting without market.

Not a strong selection by any means by METIER (betting without fav) 9/1 will do. He’s the one who’s most suited by any cut in the ground and he’s won the Tolworth Hurdle on deep ground as a novice. He ran a cracker on the flat winning a decent competitive handicap last time out and hopefully he can transfer that form to hurdles. He’s value at around 9/1.

 

2:30 Kempton

The Christmas feature comes up at 2:30 and it is the King George VI Chase over 3 miles.

Bravemansgame was my long term fancy for this but I have my doubts on the underfoot conditions. Kempton is a tougher test of stamina than people think especially in a race of this nature. I just don’t fancy him in a battle and he will do well to win this on the bridle. Paul Nicholls’ other contender Hitman has a lot to prove still for me and im happy to ignore him.

I have no doubt L’HOMME PRESSE (9/4) is the best horse in this race. He jumps well, finds plenty off the bridle and enjoys undercut conditions. He won the Brown Advisory Chase at Cheltenham this year before running flat at Aintree after a hard season. He returned to winning ways on his seasonal return defying a lofty weight at Newcastle in the Rehearsal Chase and he should now be spot on for this.

I’ll also have a small saver on AHOY SENOR (16/1). I think we will know our fate early on as I’d expect him to go either very close to winning or being beat early on. He has some engine and clearly has the ability to win a race like this. He has beat both the market leaders at Aintree only 8 months ago and his second run this season was obviously a lot better than his first. Hopefully he can come forward again and he shouldn’t be 20/1.

 

Horse Racing Meetings on Boxing Day

We’ll start with all the meets scheduled for Boxing Day. Across the country you’ll find predominantly National Hunt racing, while there is flat racing available to watch at Wolverhampton.

Meets can be found at:

• Wolverhampton – Flat
• Fontwell Park – Jump
• Huntingdon – Jump
• Kempton Park – Jump
• Market Rasen – Jump
• Sedgefield – Jump
• Wetherby – Jump
• Wincanton – Jump
• Leopardstown – Jump
• Limerick – Jump

 

Kempton Park: A Boxing Day Tradition

Kempton Park welcomes the biggest meet of the day and one of the biggest festivals in the National Hunt calendar. It sees thousands flock to Surrey for the event, with the King George VI Chase the standout race of the day and it’s always available to bet on with bookies well in advance of raceday.

 

King George VI Steeple Chase Odds

• 15/8 – Bravemansgame
• 2/1 – L’Homme Presse
• 5/1 – Hitman
• 8/1 – Envoi Allen
• 18/1 – Frodon
• 20/1 – Eldorado Allen
• 20/1 – Royal Pagaille
• 40/1 – Ahoy Senor
• 50/1 – Millers Bank

Alongside the main race of the day is a host of other races across the day, including a further two Class 1 meets in the Ladbrokes sponsored Kauto Star Novices’ Steeple Chase and the Christmas Hurdle Race.

The full schedule for Kempton Park is as follows:

• 40pm: The Get Your Ladbrokes £1 Free Bet Novices’ Hurdle Race (GBB Race) (Class 2)
• 15pm: he Play Ladbrokes 5-A-SIDE On Football Novices’ Limited Handicap Steeple Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3)
• 50pm: The Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Steeple Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
• 25pm: The Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle Race (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
• 00pm: The Ladbrokes King George VI Steeple Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
• 35pm: The Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 3)

 

Other Major Races Across the UK & Ireland

Across the rest of the UK, there are a number of standout races and festivals, with the Limerick and Leopardstown Christmas festivals also hugely popular. Among the two biggest races that day are the Racing Post App Novice Steeple Chase at Leopardstown and the Faugheen Novice Chase at Limerick.

You can find the full set of odds for those meetings below…

 

Leopardstown Racing Post App Novice Steeple Chase Odds

• Evens – Fil Dor
• 3/1 – Hollow Games
• 5/1 – Saint Roi
• 8/1 – Dysart Dynamo
• 10/1 – Mighty Potter
• 14/1 – Three Stripe Life
• 33/1 – Midnight Run
• 40/1 – Highland Charge
• 50/1 – Visionarian

 

Limerick Faugheen Novice Chase Odds

• 8/11 – Gerri Colombe
• 5/2 – Kilcruit
• 5/1 – Mighty Potter
• 10/1 – Gaillard Du Mensil
• 10/1 – Three Stripe Life
• 20/1 – Minella Crooner
• 25/1 – Adamantly Chosen
• 33/1  Authorised Art
• 33/1 – Saint Roi

 

Boxing Day Horse Racing Tips

As always, we’ll provide you with the very best horse racing tips for the biggest meets of the day as raceday approaches, and you’ll find them all on our horse racing page, where we’ll deliver you the best accumulators, each-way bets and more.

Our tipsters know horse racing inside out and are always on hand whether you’re looking to place your bets at Cheltenham, Aintree, Ascot or anywhere else.

 

Boxing Day Horse Racing Free Bets

Of course, what better way to bet on the Boxing Day horse racing than with a free bet? The bookies are always offering great free bets throughout the year, from big brands such as Paddy Power and bet365 to many of the more exciting new brands.

You’ll find dozens available on our free bets page, while you can browse some of our favourites below…

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