Key events
Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Kempton 2.30pm) betting
Greg Wood
Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Kempton 2.30pm) preview
Plenty has been written and said already about this year’s King George but with the favourite at a decent slice of odds-against, it’s ultimately up to every individual punter how they choose to approach the race and decide what to back. There are some very obvious key races for form students to consider, though, before post time at 2.30.
John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, Grade One, Punchestown, 23 Nov 25, 2m 4f (Gaelic Warrior, Fact To File)
https://youtu.be/RoaYnkF6l7g?si=2jSMf7Pbmuv3ed1b
Ladbrokes 1965 Chase, Grade Two, Ascot, 22 Nov 25, 2m 5f (Jango Baie)
https://youtu.be/4UZQEzpns_U?si=blv1RmNyUxym095W
Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase, Haydock, 22 Nov 25, 2m 5f (The Jukebox Man)
https://youtu.be/2TJejLaGMIE?si=Im3AY4NotdL6pjOv
Kauto Star Novice Chase, Grade One, Kempton, 26 Dec 25, 3m (The Jukebox Man)
https://youtu.be/V9Rpb9QWNbU?si=TrynfBbKQxXFZ-nD
King George VI Chase, Grade One, Kempton, 26 Dec 25 (Banbridge).
https://youtu.be/esLacCfOQi4?si=myAwHCK6KKg4cPMN
Peterbrough Chase, Grade Two, Huntingdon, 7 Dec 25, 2m 4f (Djelo).
https://youtu.be/z8-mRvc4E0g?si=eXQFLXmTJ1tAOQ_e
Kauto Star Novice Chase, Grade One, Kempton, 26 Dec 24, 3m (Il Est Francais).
https://youtu.be/KLyPKNSaq1c?si=k1uvLwqxKjemyNgN
SELECTION: THE JUKEBOX MAN
Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Kempton 13.55) result
1 Sir Gino (N de Boinville) 4-7 Fav
2 Golden Ace (Lorcan Williams) 5-1
3 Rubaud (H Cobden) 16-1
6 ran
Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Kempton 13.55)
And they’re off … Sir Gino is pulling hard and goes into the lead in the early stages … Golden Ace is up close with Rubaud in third … Sir Gino still leads on the home turn … Rubaud travels well in behind … Sir Gino jumps the last well and kicks clear for a very comfortable win.
🥳 Well that was a joy to watch. Such a thrill to see SIR GINO make a winning return to action after injury has kept him away from the racetrack. Our 14th win in the Christmas Hurdle!pic.twitter.com/msOkXdWOiU
— Nicky Henderson (@sevenbarrows) December 26, 2025
Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (Wetherby 1.35pm) result
1 Konfusion (Callum Bewley) 8-11 Fav
2 Marble Sands (Nick Slatter) 4-1
3 Knappers Hill (Freddie Gingell) 4-1
4 ran
Non Runner: 3
Konfusion marks himself down as a horse at the peak of his powers by bolting up in the William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase. pic.twitter.com/ABq9ErkfM6
— Wetherby Racecourse (@WetherbyRaces) December 26, 2025
Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Kempton 13.55) betting
Sir Gino – 4/7
Golden Ace – 7/2
Celtic Dino – 6/1
Rubaud – 22/1
Tripoli Flyer – 33/1
Give It To Me Oj – 50/1
Greg Wood
Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Kempton 13.55) preview
A big Kempton-at-Christmas welcome back to Sir Gino, who made a hugely impressive debut over fences on the second day of last year’s Christmas Festival but reverts to timber in the absence of his stable-companion, Constitution Hill, the winner of this race in each of the last three seasons. Given all that has happened to Constitution Hill since his win in this race in 2024, it feels like a lot more than just 12 months ago, but as his connections plan their next move, Sir Gino is expected to be a very able deputy. He could yet emerge as a leading contender for the Champion Hurdle, in fact, and while it is always dangerous to write off the defending champion, Golden Ace, who has developed a habit of popping up in Grade One races at big odds, Sir Gino definitely has unfinished business over hurdles. A win would be a record-extending 14th for Nicky Henderson in this race, a remarkable achievement not least as the first of the previous 13 came as recently – in terms of Henderson’s long career – as 2000.
SELECTION: SIR GINO
Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (Wetherby 1.35pm)
And they’re off … Konfusion leads early in the poor turnout of just four runners for this prestigious race … Knappers Hill is second with Marble Sands in third and Butch last … not much to report as they head out into the back straight with a circuit to go … only two lengths separates the runners and all travelling OK for now … Butch is now struggling as the other three hit the home straight … and now Marble Sands is pushed along … Konfusion jumps well and kicks clear … and hurries home for a smooth success.
Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novice Chase (Kempton, 1.20pm) result
1 Kitzbuhel (Paul Townend) 13-8 Fav
2 Thomas Mor (Ben Jones) 12-1
3 Wendigo (G Sheehan) 5-2
6 ran
Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novice Chase (Kempton, 1.20pm)
And they’re off … Kitzbuhel jumps the first two fences well and has the lead early from Thomas Mor … Salver has not been jumping well … Blueking D’Oroux has made ground into second spot behind the long-time leader … Crest Of Fortune makes a mistake … Kitzbuhel leads with a circuit to go and Wendigo is last … the leader continues to jump well … a bd has the leas as they turn for home … he has them all in trouble now … and jumps well in the final fences … he is clear at the last and Kitzbuhel is clear for a good win.
Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novice Chase (Kempton, 1.20pm) betting
Greg Wood
Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novice Chase (Kempton, 1.20pm) preview
The novice version of the King George – the last two winners, The Jukebox Man and Il Est Francais, are both in the field for the big one at 2.30 – and also one of a handful of Grade One races in Britain that Willie Mullins has yet to win. That is mainly because he tends to target the Leopardstown Christmas Festival with his novices and then unleash them at Cheltenham in March, but he has a live runner this year in Kitzbuhel, the comfortable winner of his only start so far over fences. The five-year-old is the likely favourite here but his debut was over two miles and three furlongs, and he raced very freely and failed to get home in his only start over three miles over timber. That leaves enough of a gap in his form to give his rivals hope, and Wendigo (Jamie Snowden) and Salver (Gary & Josh Moore) both arrive with serious claims. Salver is proved at the trip whereas Wendigo is stepping up to three miles over fences for the first time, but he ran a close fifth in the three-mile Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and I fancy this step up in trip will see significant improvement.
SELECTION: WENDIGO
Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (Wetherby 1.35pm) betting
Kitzbuhel – 15/8
Wendigo – 5/2
Salver – 7/2
Crest Of Fortune – 14/1
Blueking Doroux – 14/1
Thomas Mor – 16/1
Greg Wood
Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (Wetherby 1.35pm) preview
The feature event of Wetherby’s Christmas programme and a race that has, in the past, regularly attracted double-figure fields but it has been on a downward trajectory in recent seasons and this four-runner renewal – following the scratching of Our Power – is, to be frank, a fresh low. It features a very promising and upwardly-mobile favourite, though, in Konfusion, who is unbeaten at the track and came home 15 lengths in front of a decent field for the Rehearsal Chase at Newbury last time. Knappers Hill and Marble Sands, at around 9-2, would both be fair rivals for the favourite at their best and live each-way chances too, but with just four runners, that’s no longer an option for punters.
SELECTION: KONFUSION
Formby Hurdle (Aintree 1.05pm) result
1 Idaho Sun (Bryan Carver) 3-1
2 Mydaddypaddy (Harry Skelton) 8-13 Fav
3 The Last Cloud (B S Hughes) 18-1
6 ran
Non Runners: 1,8
Formby Hurdle (Aintree 1.05pm)
Newsflash: Low sun means that the officials are omitting some hurdles. Three have been taken out so there will be just five obstacles to jump. This is never very satisfactory.
Ans they’re off … Starmount jumps the first in the lead with hot favourite Mydaddypaddy in second … and now they have nearly a mile to run before they jump another flight annoyingly … Mydaddypaddy jumped the second well … and again the third … he looks a class act … so now just one hurdle to jump … and now a very long run home … Starmount leads with Mydaddypaddy challenging the new leader Idaho Sun … he comes to take it up but can’t get past Idaho Sun and Mydaddypaddy is beaten in a big shock at Aintree!
Formby Hurdle (Aintree 1.05pm) betting
Mydaddypaddy – 4/7
Idaho Sun – 7/2
Storming George – 10/1
Starmount – 12/1
Glance At Midnight – 25/1
The Last Cloud – 40/1
Diamond Hunter – NR
Wahraan – NR
Greg Wood
Formby Hurdle (Aintree 1.05pm) preview
It is a very long time since a British-trained horse – or, for that matter, a horse trained by someone other than Willie Mullins – has been the ante-post favourite for the Supreme Novice Hurdle, but that is the position in which Dan Skelton’s Mydaddypaddy finds himself ahead of the Grade One feature of Aintree’s Boxing Day card. The four-year-old has been absolutely flawless in his three starts to date, including two novice hurdles so far this season, and his seven-length win at Haydock last time – albeit in a three-runner race – was a sight to behold. He will set off as a short-priced favourite here and while Harry Fry’s Idaho Sun, the second-favourite, is also unbeaten over hurdles, it will be a major disappointment if Mydaddypaddy fails to land the odds.
SELECTION: MYDADDYPADDY
Ladbrokes Novice Handicap Chase (Kempton, 12.45pm) result
1 Barlovento (S Bowen) 4-1
2 Tapley (Charlie Deutsch) 22-1
3 Jasmine Bliss (Paul O’Brien) 22-1
10 ran
Ladbrokes Novice Handicap Chase (Kempton, 12.45pm)
And they’re off … Krak and Epic West are up in the lead and the fancied U Cant Be Serious has not made the most promising start, being pushed along at times in the early stages … now Tapley has taken up the running with a full circuit to go … Jasmine Bliss has made good ground to join the leader and U Cant Be Serious has dropped back a place or two … a mistake by Lumi Plugin … Tapley leads into the home straight with Barlovento challenging … Barlovento jumps the last in the lead and is all out to win from Tapley!
Ladbrokes Novice Handicap Chase (Kempton, 12.45pm) betting
Noble Park – 7/4
Barlovento – 6/1
U Cant Be Serious – 13/2
Queensbury Boy – 8/1
Epic West – 9/1
Secret Des Dieux – 9/1
Tapley – 18/1
Jasmine Bliss – 18/1
Krak – 28/1
Lumi Plugin – 33/1
Good to see the jockeys up and OK after what looked a worrying incident at Fontwell …
Greg Wood
Ladbrokes Novice Handicap Chase (Kempton, 12.45pm) preview
A warmish favourite for the opener here given that is it a novice handicap chase, but Noble Park was undeniably impressive when galloping 24 lengths clear of his field in a similar contest at Lingfield last time. The handicapper has reacted with an 11lb hike in the weights, however, and given that he is currently priced up at around 7-4, that’s more than enough to make me feel as though a decent each-way alternative may be lurking further down the list. U Cant Be Serious, the narrow winner of his two starts over fences thus far, is certainly a candidate, but personally I’ll be chancing my arm with James Owen’s Secret Des Dieux, who was staying on well at the end of his last start over two miles and looks certain to improve for this step up to an intermediate trip.
SELECTION: SECRET DES DIEUX
What’s being backed today you ask? Well we’ve got the answer thanks to our friends at Oddschecker …
Here’s today’s top three market movers ahead of Kempton’s meeting.
Kempton 12.45: Queensbury Boy – 8/1 from 11/1
Kempton 15.05: Klub De Reve – 7/4 from 3/1
Kempton 15.40: George’s Boy – 6/1 from 17/2
Hello. Good morning. Feeling well, or at least better than I do anyway? I was OK in the pub at lunchtime yesterday … and had just two pints of London Pride and left early as I was cooking. But it was the champers; the vino and the opiudding wine along with the gargantuan lunch that did for me. Memo to self for 2026 – pace yourself on Christmas day afternoon! Well, it’s going to be a whirlwind with eight meetings in the UK and three in Ireland to keep across. They’ve already started running at Down Royal and Sedgefield. We’ll have previews and the betting for the TV races and any news that breaks. Please stay tuned and do join in with any comments on this busy and exciting day’s racing.
Preamble
Greg Wood
Good morning from a chilly Sunbury-on-Thames, where what may well turn out to be one of the last runnings of the King George VI Chase at its historic and traditional home at Kempton Park is due off at 2.30pm this afternoon.
And if this is indeed the first act of the King George’s Kempton swansong, it is certainly going out in style.
This year’s race was being talked up as one of the best for years even when it seemed likely that Willie Mullins would send either Gaelic Warrior or Fact To File over to Kempton. As it has turned out, he’s sent them both, and they will face, among others, two top-drawer British-trained second-season chasers in The Jukebox Man – in the colours of Harry Redknapp, no less – and Jango Baie.
Last year’s winner, Banbridge, is a 14-1 shot, which tells its own tale, while another previous Grade One winner here over the King George trip, Il Est Francais, is 20-1. The young and improving Djelo is 14-1 to follow up his win in the Peterbrough Chase at Huntingdon earlier this month and Master Chewy, at 100-1, is the only runner in the eight-strong field with no realistic chance at their best.
The supporting card is fairly tasty too, with the unbeaten Sir Gino reverting to hurdles in place of his resting stable companion, Constitution Hill, in the Christmas Hurdle at 1.55pm.
Kempton is always bursting at the seams for its biggest day of the year and the fact that there is no Premier League football this afternoon has probably added a good few hundred to the attendance too.
So if you’re not on the way here already, it’s probably too late, but the good news is that you will, as always, be able to follow all the action from the comfort of your sofa here on the Guardian’s live blog. Some picks for the ITV card are here – with the usual caveats about investments going down as well as up – and the action is underway at 12.45pm.
