Key events
Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Kempton, 3.37pm) result
1 Williethebuilder (Toby McCain-Mitchell) 5-1
2 Trustintimes (Bryan Carver) 7-2
3 Wandering Ego (James Bowen) 7-2
6 ran
Non Runner: 2
Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Kempton, 3.37pm)
And they’re off … De Temps En Temps has the lead at halfway … Indemnity is close up with Wandering Ego … Williethebuilder is at the back … Wandering Ego takes the lead on the home turn … Indemnity has been shuffled back … Williethebuilder has come throuhg to jump the last in fiorst pace and kicks clear for a convincing win.
Coral Handicap Chase (Chepstow, 3.25pm) result
1 Lunar Discovery (Charlie Price) 7-2
2 Donnacha (James Davies) 7-2
3 Royal Jewel (Callum Pritchard) 8-1
7 ran
Non Runner: 3
Coral Handicap Chase (Chepstow, 3.25pm)
And they’re off … Royal Jewel has led for a long way … with Western General also prominent … Ben Solo takes closer order … Lunar Discovery has a chance … Ben Solo unseats the rider and now Lunar Discovery has the lead and kicks clear for a smooth win from Donnacha in second and Royal Jewel third.
Greg Wood
Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Kempton, 3.37pm) preview
A tight finale to the Christmas Festival at Kempton where it may pay to side with Christian Williams’s Williethebuilder. He was no match for a handicap blot from the in-form Ben Pauling yard at Doncaster in December but has a better chance than odds of around 11-2 might suggest with Toby McCain-Mitchell taking off a very useful 5lb. Indemnity, who has also been running up against some well-handicapped rivals, is the obvious danger, although Trustintimes is also going to attract plenty of support to extend his current winning streak to five races.
SELECTION: WILLIETHEBUILDER
Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Kempton, 3.37pm) betting
Indemnity – 13/8
Wandering Ego – 11/4
Trustintimes – 9/2
Williethebuilder – 13/2
De Temps En Temps – 9/1
Washington – 25/1
Nardaran – N/R
Full betting via Oddschecker here.
Greg Wood
Coral Handicap Chase (Chepstow, 3.25pm) preview
The original selection, Toss Of A Coin, is a non-runner here and that could open the way for Rebecca Curtis’s Ben Solo to register his second course-and-distance win of the season. There is little to choose between the six-year-old and Nigel Hawke’s Donnacha on the book but Jamie Brace’s 5lb claim could just tip the balance in his favour.
SELECTION: BEN SOLO
Coral Handicap Chase (Chepstow, 3.25pm) betting
Ben Solo – 7/4
Donnacha – 7/2
Lunar Discovery – 7/2
Galop De Chasse – 7/1
Royal Jewel – 12/1
Dr T J Eckleburg – 18/1
Western General – 18/1
Toss Of A Coin – N/R
Full betting via Oddschecker here.
Ladbrokes Handicap Chase (Kempton, 3.07pm) result
1 Viroflay (Miss Olive Nicholls) 5-1
2 Bective Abbey (R T Dunne) 9-1
3 Kap Vert (Sean Houlihan) 3-1 Fav
7 ran
Couleurs magnificent under monster weight in Welsh National
Haiti Couleurs was the toast of Chepstow after producing a magnificent front-running display to add the Coral Welsh Grand National to the Irish equivalent he won earlier in the year.
Trained by Rebecca Curtis, the 5-1 chance was fittingly ridden by another home native in champion jockey Sean Bowen, who was picking up a welcome consolation just 24 hours after being agonisingly denied in the King George VI Chaseat Kempton aboard Banbridge.
It was also a win that served a reminder of the Cheltenham Festival winner’s class, having disappointed in the Betfair Chase last month, but there is no doubt about his star quality now after shouldering 11st 13lb to a thoroughly impressive three-length success over Joel Parkinsonand Sue Smith’srecent Sandown scorer O’Connell.
Bowen told Sky Sports Racing: “What a racehorse and what a training performance to get him back from Haydock. That was just over a month ago and to get him back is just incredible.
“It means so much and these are the races you want to win and to do it on a Welsh-trained horse for a Welsh trainer is special. Becky actually used to babysit me a bit as a kid, so to do it for Becky is a bit like doing it for family, so that was amazing.
“It’s unbelievable and it would have been nice to win the King George as well, but I’ll take this.”
Paddy Powermake the winner 14-1 from 20s for the Grand National and 22-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Coral Welsh Grand National (Chepstow, 2.50pm) result
1 Haiti Couleurs (S Bowen) 5-1
2 O’Connell (Danny McMenamin) 9-1
3 Deafening Silence (Tristan Durrell) 28-1
4 Livin On Luco (Callum Pritchard) 14-1
17 ran
Also: 9-2 Fav Jubilee Express
Non Runners: 3,4
Coral Welsh Grand National (Chepstow, 2.50pm)
And they’re off … Uncle Bert make a mistake at the first … Monbeg Genius leads … and they have two circuits to go … 23 fences in total to jump in this famous race … Hung Jury and Git Maker are struggling already … Haiti Couleurs now is pushed up to take the lead by Sean Bowen … Tanganiyka is towards the back … a circuit to go and Haiti Couleurs leads … with Monbeg Genius just behind … Deafening Silence is prominent … Jubilee Express makes a mistake and is starting to go backwards … Rock My Way is making ground … Livin on Luco is there with every chance … Haiti Couleurs goes for home … Deafening Silence is the challenger … O’Connell is coming fast. … Haiti Couleurs holds on under welshman Sean Bowen! What a great ride!!
Greg Wood
Coral Welsh Grand National (Chepstow, 2.50pm) preview
There is a long list of live possibilities for the feature race of the day, which is as it should be, but Jubilee Express, from the in-form Sam Thomas stable, now looks very likely to set off as the favourite to give his trainer a second win in his “local” National in the last five seasons. He is bidding to become the fourth winner of the track’s Grand National Trial in early December to go on to success in the big race itself in the last five years, while Collectors Item, the runner-up in the Trial, is also in with a big chance to go one better (and is handicapped to beat Jubilee Express on a strict reading of the form). Mr Vango, sadly, is a late non-runner due to the unusually fast ground for the time of year, but Rock My Way, an 11-length winner at Ascot last month, and Uncle Bert, successful at Aintree on his return to action, are live contenders too for Joe Tizzard and Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies respectively, and Haiti Couleurs, O’Connell and Git Maker also need to be factored in to punters’ thinking. I’ll be having a bit each-way on Collectors Item, whose stable seems to be emerging from a difficult time with a virus and can be expected to improve for what was a commendable seasonal debut in the circumstances.
SELECTION: COLLECTORS ITEM
Coral Welsh Grand National (Chepstow, 2.50pm) betting
Jubilee Express – 4/1
Rock My Way – 6/1
Uncle Bert – 6/1
Haiti Couleurs – 7/1
Git Maker – 17/2
Oconnell – 9/1
Dom Of Mary – 12/1
Collectors Item – 12/1
Livin On Luco – 18/1
Deafening Silence – 20/1
22/1 bar
Nassalam – N/R
Mr Vango – N/R
Full betting via Oddschecker here
Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (Kempton, 2.30pm)
And they’re off …Gabriel’s Getaway has unseated the jockey at the first fence … Calgary Tiger leads with a circuit to go … Ryan’s Rocket now unseats his rider … and Thistle Ask has taken the lead and kicked well clear … he is ten lengths clear on the home turn … this should be smooth for him now … and indeed that’s a very easy win for Thistle Ask!
Join Coral ‘Bet 10 Get 50’ Handicap Hurdle (Chepstow, 2.10pm) result
1 King Of The Lake (Chad Bament) 14-1
2 Royal Rambler (G Sheehan) 11-4 Fav
3 Keable (Callum Pritchard) 8-1
10 ran
Join Coral ‘Bet 10 Get 50’ Handicap Hurdle (Chepstow, 2.10pm)
And they’re off … Classic Concorde leads with a circuit to go and has led from the start … the gamble Crebilly is towards the back but there’s a long way to go … Keable is taking closer order … and Doctor Kildare is there but is in the “waiting room” at halfway … Crebilly is being driven along now … Royal Rambler comes through with a strong move … now he’s being tackled by King Of The Lake … these two have it between them … King Of The Lake is stronger and has the lead crossing the line.
Greg Wood
Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (Kempton, 2.30pm) preview
Dan Skelton had a relatively quiet time of it on Boxing Day by his high standards but has an obvious chance to add a very useful £57k to his championship challenge here with Thistle Ask. The eight-year-old has already done his bit for the stable with three wins in October and November, but he was out of the handicap for the last of those, in the Haldon Gold Cup, which offers plenty of hope that a 10lb rise in the ratings won’t be enough to stop his streak. Sans Bruit and Ryan’s Rocket may be the ones to give him most to do.
SELECTION: THISTLE ASK
Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (Kempton, 2.30pm) betting
Wayward Lad Novices Chase (Grade 2) (Kempton, 1.55pm) result
1 Mambonumberfive (Ben Jones) 85-40
2 Hansard (H Cobden) 14-1
3 Mirabad (Harry Skelton) 15-2
5 ran
Wayward Lad Novices Chase (Grade 2) (Kempton, 1.55pm)
And they’re off … Alnilam has already made a bad mistake in the early stages but has joined Mirabad at the head of affairs … fair to say that Mirabad is jumping the cleaner at present but there’s a way to go … Mambonumberfive is last and also makes a mistake … Mirabad goes for home … and now Mambonumberfive comes from last to first … kicks clear, jumps the last well and storms away for a smooth victory!
There’s only one thing for it … as the track commentator said as the winner passed the post: “Ladies and gentlemen here’s Mambo No 5”
Greg Wood
Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (Kempton, 1.55pm) preview
A strong-looking renewal of this Grade Two contest in which Lump Sum heads the market for the Sam Thomas (who also has a strong contender for the Welsh Grand National in Jubilee Express). He was third behind the potentially top-class Lulamba in the Grade One Henry VIII Novice Chase at Sandown in December – a race in which Alnilam was pulled up after a bad mistake at a key stage – while Mirabad, a chase debut winner for Dan Skelton mid-race – also looked worthy of a step straight into Graded company. At the prices, though, I’ll take a chance on Alnilam, who will outrun his odds of around 6-1 in October.
SELECTION: ALNILAM
Wayward Lad Novice Chase (Grade 2) (Kempton, 1.55pm) betting
Greg Wood
Join Coral ‘Bet 10 Get 50’ Handicap Hurdle (Chepstow, 2.10pm) preview
A trappy little handicap hurdle with eight plausible winners in a field of 10 runners, but Ambion View’s form at Exeter in November looks a little stronger after the third home ran out an easy winner next time up and he is marginally preferred to Royal Rambler and Doctor Kildare.
SELECTION: AMBION VIEW
Join Coral ‘Bet 10 Get 50’ Handicap Hurdle (Chepstow, 2.10pm) betting
Royal Rambler – 3/1
Crebilly – 7/2
Ambion View – 11/2
Patriotik – 15/2
Keable – 17/2
Doctor Kildare – 9/1
Santos Blue – 12/1
King Of The Lake – 12/1
Ramo – 40/1
Classic Concorde – 80/1
Full betting via Oddschecker here.
Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (Chepstow, 1.40pm) result
1 Tenter Le Tout (G Sheehan) 15-2
2 Klycot (J M Quinlan) 16-1
3 Kaldoun Des Rocs (Tristan Durrell) 9-1
5 ran
Also: 10-11 Fav Macktoad 4th
Non Runner: 5
Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (Chepstow, 1.40pm)
And they’re off … Sonic Pioneer leads … and favourite Macktoad has not jumped well in the early stages and looks in a bit of trouble at halfway … Macktoad moves into fourth on the home turn and is chasing Klycot the new leader … Tenter Le Tout has now gone into the lead approaching the last and jumps the last well for an easy victory.
Mr Vango, the popular and well-fancied runner in the Welsh Grand National, will not run at Chepstow. The going ios too fast for Sarah Bradstock’s gelding …
Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Kempton, 1.20pm) result
1 Star Walking (H Cobden) 7-2 Fav
2 Holly Hartingo (C Gethings) 14-1
3 Porter In The Park (Cameron Johnstone-Baker) 9-1
10 ran
Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (Chepstow, 1.40pm)
And they’re off … Holly Hartingo just in the lead in the early stages … Porter In The Park has made a couple of mistakes … a circuit to go and Musique De Fee has taken over but looked a little reluctant to go out for another trip around Kempton (who can blame him given the warmth of the stables)! … Musique De Fee struggling a bit and Gaye Legacy tailing off … Miss Cynthia is making ground … I’vemadeupmymind is coming with a challenge … Holly Hartingo has held them off but very late and Star Walking comes late … and it’s a photo-finish. Star Walking has got it!
Extraordinary race at Leopardstown! Marine National beaten by Solness (just) in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase but made a chance-stopping mistake early and surely would have won but for that. One to catch up on!!
Greg Wood
Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (Chepstow, 1.40pm) preview
A race that lost its Grade One status back in 2022 but it remains a traditional target for plenty of trainers when they have a potentially decent juvenile hurdler and this year’s race is a cracker. Manlaga, Macktoad, Sonic Pioneer and Tenter Le Tout are all unbeaten over hurdles and Kaldoun Des Rocs is potentially capable of much better form than he showed at Sandown last time. Nicky Henderson’s Manlaga is the interesting dark horse, making his debut after a (presumably) big-money sale to JP McManus, but I’ll stick with the proven form of Macktoad, who looked very useful on his British debut at Sandown earlier this month.
SELECTION: MACKTOAD
Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (Chepstow, 1.40pm) betting
Greg Wood
Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Kempton, 1.20pm) preview
A stayers’ handicap hurdle restricted to mares is a bit niche but this year’s field is well up to standard with Dan Skelton’s new recruit Miss Cynthia heading the market at around 5-2. She has had a wind op since joining the championship-chasing Skelton stable and it would be no surprise to see her improve again on her generally progressive form for Lucy Wadham last season. She has been off the track since April, though, and there are plenty of decent alternatives at the prices, including Harry Fry’s Star Walking, who ran well on her seasonal debut and improved to win on her second outing last season.
SELECTION: STAR WALKING
Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Kempton, 1.20pm) betting
Miss Cynthia – 3/1
Star Walking – 4/1
Della Casa Lunga – 11/2
Ive Madeupmymind – 15/2
Audacious Annie – 15/2
Porter In The Park – 11/1
Holly Hartingo – 12/1
Gaye Legacy – 14/1
Greyval – 20/1
Musique De Fee – 25/1
Full betting via Oddschecker here.
There was a quite a punt on Mossy Fen Road. Let’s have a look at what else is being backed today …
Chepstow 2.10pm Royal Rambler – 100/30 from 8/1
Kempton 2.30pm Ryans Rocket – 2/1 from 100/30
Chepstow 3.25pm Lunar Discovery – 15/4 from 7/1
All the details here at Oddschecker.
Boom! Well we’re off and racing and we’ll be fortunate to see as good a performance today as that of Mossy Fen Road in the first race at Chepstow. That is a novice to follow!
Good morning. How’s your Twixmas* going? If we get as good a day as yesterday on the racing front when we witnessed a vintage King George then we’ll be very lucky indeed. The grinches at the Jockey Club need to be very careful because if Kempton does go the way of the bulldozers a lot of people will be very unhappy. As the trainer Nicky Henderson told the racving Postr yesterday: “You will never see a better horse race, and it’s why we need Kempton. Whoever wants to knock this place down must be barking mad!”
The racing is now underway at Chepstow. So hold on to your (festive) hats and enjoy the ride.
*Twixmas is a portmanteau of “betwixt” (an old word for “between”) and Christmas, referring to the cosy, often quiet period between December 26th (Boxing Day) and New Year’s Eve, a time for rest, relaxation, and resetting before the new year, a concept with historical roots but a modern catchy name. Signed: AI
Preamble
Hello from Chepstow racecourse in South Wales, where a boisterous crowd started to pour through the gates at 10am – and the bar staff started pouring the first half-price Happy Hour drinks at 10.01am.
The Welsh Grand National is the biggest day at the races all year in these parts, and the feature event has seen many mighty performances down the decades. I was lucky enough to be here to see Carvill’s Hill stroll home under top weight of 11st 10lb in 1991, a feat that was matched by Native River, a subsequent Gold Cup winner, nine years ago, and those are just two of the doughty warriors on the Welsh National’s roll of honour.
The top weight this year is Intense Raffles, with Bryony Frost making a flying visit from her new home in France to take the ride, but he is a big outsider at around 40-1 after a couple of disappointing runs so far this season.
More realistic contenders include Jubilee Express and Collectors Item, the 1-2 in the Welsh Grand National Trial here in early December, and Joe Tizzard’s Rock My Way, who bids to be the third Tizzard-trained winner after two successes for his dad, Colin. O’Connell, Haiti Couleurs and the ever-popular Mr Vango, from Sara Bradstock’s tiny yard near Letcombe Bassett, are also very much in the mix for the feature, and there is plenty for the capacity crowd to enjoy in the run-up too, with five races on the card including the Finale Junior Hurdle, a Grade Two, at 1.40pm.
There is much to look forward to at Kempton too on the second day of the King George meeting, including the Wayward Lad Novice Chase at 1.55pm, which has been won by top-notchers including Sir Gino, Shishkin, Edwardstone and Altior in the fairly recent past. Nothing, though, is likely to come close to yesterday’s unforgettable running of the King George, when the first three home were separated by a nose and the same.
Picks for today’s ITV card, which kicks off with the 1.20pm at Kempton, are here, and you can, as always, keep on top of all the action on the Guardian’s live racing blog as the latest instalment of the festive programme unfolds.
