Today's Racing Tips: Four Bets for the Boxing Day Bonanza

There are four bets for today’s action at Kempton, Wetherby and Wolverhampton.

Kempton Tips

13:20 – 2m4½f Get Your Ladbrokes £1 Free Bet Today Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3)

It could be a good day for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville, who team up here with BOTHWELL BRIDGE (1 point win bet at 10/3). Pulled up in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on his final start of last season, he returned from his summer break and a wind operation to score comfortably on his chasing debut at Sandown 23 days ago. This is the next logical step in his bid to maintain his unbeaten record over fences, and it’d be no surprise to see him back in graded company before long. He jumped really well on his first try over the larger obstacles and will be well suited by any further easing of the ground at Kempton.

15:05 – 3m Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1)

CHANTRY HOUSE (NAP – 1 point win bet at 7/2) has made a fine start to life over fences and comes here with a record of five wins from just six starts. Nicky Henderson’s exciting chaser won the Marsh Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March before slamming the likes of Shan Blue and Fiddlerontheroof by 32-lengths in the Grade 1 for novices at Aintree. His reappearance win at Sandown last month will have put him spot on for this and he is the one to beat despite the high class opposition. With the pace to win over two-and-a-half miles but proven stamina over this sort of trip, racing over three-miles at Kempton should really suit him. I’d expect Nico de Boinville to adopt a prominent position behind the leaders before making his challenge in the straight. Minella Indo is an obvious danger and previous winners Clan Des Obeaux and Frodon cannot be discounted.

Wetherby Tip

14:10 – 3m William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

EMPIRE STEEL (1 point win bet at 11/2) marked himself down as a smart horse when beating the odds on Protektorat at Kelso in February but found the step up to Grade 1 company too much when pulled up in the Grade 1 at Aintree won by Chantry House, who is my selection for today’s King George. Sandy Thomson’s seven-year-old made a pleasing seasonal reappearance when second at Haydock last month and should have come on for that run. The winner that day was completing a hat trick and there were several decent horses in behind. Conditions should be ideal today and Ryan Mania’s mount has the advantage of racing off bottom weight. Good Boy Bobby, looking to enhance an impressive course record, is feared most.

Wolverhampton Tip

15:00 – 6f Betway Conditions Stakes (Class 2)

I feared the worst when EJTILAAB (1 point win bet at 11/8), was pulled up sharply in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood when last seen. He was well backed in to favouritism that day and thankfully nothing was found to be amiss. He returns today after his break and is reportedly being lined up for a stint in Dubai. This son of Slade Power, having his second run for Charlie Fellows today, followed his win at Epsom with a comfortable success in a decent sprint handicap at Newcastle June. It is interesting that, prior to Goodwood, he held an entry in the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock, so he is clearly very highly regarded by connections. The return to Tapeta should be ideal and he is proven over the six-furlong trip.  He’ll be tough to beat here and can get the better of Lord Of The Lodge and Judicial.