Boxing Day bonanza

Good morning all and hope you had a wonderful Christmas day with family and friends. 🙏

Boxing day has always been a massive day for sports and racing.

I was sad to hear that our local racing at HW Greyville has been abandoned.

We do have Premier League back in England and I hope Newcastle continue their promise.
16/10 for top 4 is my bet.
They are away to Leicester today.
Liverpool and Arsenal looks the double for today but the Pool are away from home.

The Darts only resume on Tuesday.

My focus today is racing with my favourite meeting at Kempton Park being the highlight.
Weather permitting we have 11 meetings from the UK and Ireland.

Massive choice of races and hotties.
It must have been almost 50 years ago when I went into a bookies in a small village in Scotland and asked the bookie for a Union Jack bet with 9 horses .
He says he was not familiar with fancy Edinburgh bets.
I explained it's basically 8 trebles and a roll up (ATC).
He accepted the bet and the 9 horses arrived.
I was the talk of the Loanhead bowling club for many weeks and not very welcome by the bookie.
Mrs S and myself were married shortly after and it's the last time I caught a Union Jack but today could be the day ?

This photo is from Kempton Park on Boxing day many years ago



I must say it did make it special from the Betfair box



Newcastle: SNAKE ROLL

Wetherby : QUEENS ROCK

Market Rasen: CHASING FIRE

Fontwell: GIVEGA

Huntington

Wincanton : AHORSEWITHNONAME

Wolves flat meeting

Down Royal in Ireland

Leopardstown: LOSSIEMOUTH

Limerick: PINKERTON

Now let's get back to Kempton and hope for good TV coverage.

First race where Rare Edition can make 4 in a row but not an easy call
Second is a great clash between CHAMP and Paisley Park both capable of electric finishes plus all 5 runners have a chance .
Third where MCFABULOUS is my preference in another competitive 5 horse field.
Forth where we can watch the Champion Hurdle fav win on the bit CONSTITUTION HILL for an exhibition performance.
King George is the big one and BRAVESMANSGAME is slightly preferred over L'Homme Presse with Envoi Allen an addition for exotics.
The last 2 races you need to load for exotics.

I am going to copy a link to Kempton when Kauto Star won and watch to the end to give you some indication of the vibe and atmosphere

Good Punting 👍

Greetings everyone.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 1
An interesting opener. RARE EDITION won in taking style at Doncaster and is selected to extend his unbeaten record under Rules to 4 but there plenty of possible threats in a race long on potential. Nicky Henderson has a very good record in this contest so it would be no surprise to see Iberico Lord step up considerably on his opening effort over hurdles. Rubaud, who like the selection is already a dual winner over hurdles, and Dan Skelton's Father of Jazz also make the shortlist.

davetheflower wrote:

Greetings everyone.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 1
An interesting opener. RARE EDITION won in taking style at Doncaster and is selected to extend his unbeaten record under Rules to 4 but there plenty of possible threats in a race long on potential. Nicky Henderson has a very good record in this contest so it would be no surprise to see Iberico Lord step up considerably on his opening effort over hurdles. Rubaud, who like the selection is already a dual winner over hurdles, and Dan Skelton's Father of Jazz also make the shortlist.

Race2

CHAMP just held on from Paisley Park in a thrilling renewal of the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month and is selected to confirm that narrow superiority as this sharp 3m should suit Nicky Henderson's strong traveller.

Race 3

Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton have shared the last 2 runnings of this and this may well develop into a straight fight between their pair MCFABULOUS and Galia des Liteaux. The former was impressive when seeing off Thyme Hill at Newbury and is narrowly preferred.

Race 4

CONSTITUTION HILL denied Epatante a third win in the Fighting Ffith last month and it's highly likely he'll prevent his stablemate achieving a similar feat in this contest as he was so impressive at Newcastle and looks a once-in-a-generation hurdler.

Race 5

It was some performance from L'HOMME PRESSE to defy a lofty mark of 164 with something to spare in the Rehearsal at Newcastle and he can make it an impressive 7-8 over fences. Charlie Hall winner Bravemansgame, who is bidding to provide Paul Nicholls with a remarkable 13th win in this midwinter highlight, is feared most ahead of Envoi Allen, who got his career firmly back on track when stepped up to 3m at Down Royal last time.

Race 6

This is a step up in class for DON ALVARO but he jumps well enough to think he can cope and is taken to defy the handicapper again and complete a hat-trick. West Cork acquitted himself well from higher marks than this over hurdles and rates an obvious threat. Balco Coastal didn't jump well enough on his chase debut at Newbury but there was plenty of strength behind him in the market on that occasion and he could easily prove a different proposition with that experience under his belt.

Race 7

A very competitive finale. GREY DAWNING was merely pushed out to see off a next-time-out winner from the Nicholls yard over an extended 2m at Exeter last time and an opening mark in the low 120s could underestimate this useful prospect, particularly as this trip should see him in an even better light. It's likely there's still a bigger performance in lightly-raced 6-y-o The Bomber Liston so he's a possible big threat, particularly if the betting vibes are strong. Storm Dennis is third choice.

Thank you DTF hope its not cold over there ?

Below based on watching 5 hours of UK podcasts

Kempton:

R2: Miranda 4/1
R3: Galia Des Liteaux 5/2
R4: Constitution Hill 14/100
R5: L'Homme Presse 5/2
R6: Solo 6/1

The Hollywoodbets Syndicate co-owned Irish Filly, Il Etait Temps, coming off her maiden win at Thurles, is running her first novice Grade 1 jumps race tomorrow at Leopardstown in Ireland. It will be run at 15:45 SA time, 4th race on the card. Good luck! 🍀

Couple of exotics for interest at Kempton

Jackpot

1
2,4,7
Field
1,2 6,8,11,12,14

R210

PA

1-1-2-1-2 -3,4,5 - 1,11 Is R6 x 20 =R120

Total bet R330

Good Punting 👍