ITV Racing Tips for 27th December 2025 – Saturday Selections From Kempton

After a sparkling Boxing Day on both sides of the Irish Sea, with the highlight being a thrilling four way finish in the King George, the 27th December has a lot to live up to to keep the festive racing fans happy. ITV Racing are back at Kempton on Saturday and also in town at Chepstow for the Welsh Grand National Meeting and Billy Grimshaw has a couple to keep onside from the former...

13:20 Kempton

Still undoubtedly on cloud nine after winning the King George in such dramatic fashion on Boxing Day, Ben Jones and Ben Pauling can grab yet another Christmas gift here with I'VE MADEUPMYMIND. Carrying just 10 stone 2 will feel like she is flying around here compared to plenty of her rivals, and although it is impossible to know I would have liked her chances on her last run here over C&D had she not tipped up. That was her first run of the season and providing it has not left a mark, she should strip fitter for it even with the mishap taken into account, so at odds of around 8/1 she rates a knocking each-way play to kick off another busy day of ITV Racing.

Della Casa Lunga won the race last year and her form abruptly fell off a cliff, but Kempton is a proper horses for courses track and she is the one I feared most in this field. She is back down to the same mark she won this race in stylishly back in late 2024 and it'd be no surprise to see her in the mix. I'd certainly favour her at the prices over current market leader Miss Synthia, who is an obvious one for those who love a stable switch from a small yard to big now she is in the care of Dan Skelton.

She may well have a bit in hand but at 5/2 in a race packed with quality mares I can easily let her win unbacked as often these horses take a run or two to find their groove following a switch of stable, even to the champion elect in Skelton.

14:30 Kempton - Desert Orchid Handicap Chase

Named in honour of one of Kempton's favourite sons, this race in 2025 has nothing in the stratosphere of Dessie. It's a handicap chase though, to be fair, so you wouldn't really expect an all time great in the entries! I was toying with once again tipping and backing Sans Bruit for Paul Nicholls at double figures as he has won here in the past and it is a real speedster's track, however he has shown so little of late it would be a leap of faith too far. He looks once again to be being primed for a big spring.

A horse who already has a decent pot in his locker for this campaign is THISTLE ASK and although he has a small weight swing with the horse he easily beat by seven lengths in the Haldon Gold Cup Saint Segal, he is the one I think will win this race. He is now searching for a five timer after winning his last run last season and racking up a hat-trick already in 2025/26 and he looks to still be progressing for the all conquering Skelton outfit. Skelton Saturdays have become a real trend this season and for those of you who have lost all track of what day it is - like me before penning this piece, I can confirm this race day IS a Saturday!

I rate Ryan's Rocket the chief threat for Fergal O'Brien, with his progress not as notable but impressive in its own right compared to the favourite. He has won and placed here over hurdles which is a positive but even receiving nine pounds from Thistle Ask, I don't think he is quite up to stopping the market leader's red-hot win streak.