Horse Racing Tips: Through the card at Kempton on Boxing Day with Timeform

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

12:40 – On To Victory

On To Victory showed promise over hurdles last season, finishing placed on both completed starts. He has since been in good heart on the Flat and, after just being touched off at Ascot and Haydock, he produced a career-best effort to win the November Handicap at Doncaster, staying on strongly to prevail. He possibly found the race coming too soon when failing to fire on the all-weather at Kempton last month but he could be a different proposition switched to hurdling after six weeks off. He has unfinished business in this sphere.

13:15 – Alnadam

Alnadam finished last season on a high by beating Demachine in a novice handicap hurdle at Hereford, and that effort looks even better now given the positive impression the runner-up has created since going chasing this season. Alnadam has also taken well to chasing and, following an encouraging second at Carlisle on his debut over fences, he scored in good style at Sandown this month, finding plenty under pressure to forge six and a half lengths clear. The progressive Alnadam still looks fairly treated after an 8 lb rise in the weights and he can follow up here.

DON’T MISS

• CHECK OUT OUR BRAND NEW SNAZZY RACECARDS FOR EVERY SINGLE RACE TODAY
• … THEN GET ALL THE WINNERS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE WITH OUR FAST RESULTS PAGES

13:50 – Shan Blue

Shan Blue wasn’t a match for the best over hurdles but he looks sure to take high rank over fences based on two hugely impressive victories at Wetherby. Shan Blue was strong in the market for his chasing debut and justified that support in style, looking like a natural as he jumped well and cruised clear of his toiling opponents. He returned to the same course, stepping up to three miles from two and a half miles, on his next start and put up an even more impressive display, scoring by 16 lengths after producing a scintillating round of jumping. He has taken brilliantly to this discipline and looks the one to beat.

14:25 – Epatante

Champion Hurdle winner Epatante put in a sparkling performance on her reappearance in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle last month and she can retain her Christmas Hurdle crown. She made her Grade 1 breakthrough in this event last year, displaying an excellent turn of foot to dash five lengths clear of her rivals, and has since established herself as the leading light in the division. Silver Streak and Ballyandy finished placed without looking a threat in this last year and it could be a similar story again.

15:00 – Cyrname

Cyrname bombed out in this when sent off favourite last year, but he has had an easier preparation this season and looks the most likely winner. Cyrname showed top-class form in the 1965 Chase at Ascot last November, inflicting a first defeat over obstacles on Altior. However, it’s possible he hadn’t fully recovered from such a big effort when he lined up in the King George on Boxing Day as he was never travelling with his usual zest and was easily left behind by stablemate Clan des Obeaux, who scored by 21 lengths.

Cyrname was also below his best and was beaten when falling at the final fence in the Ascot Chase, but he looked much more like his old self in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby on his return in October, barely needing to come off the bridle to register a first win over three miles. This will pose a sterner test of stamina but his defeat of Altior is the best form on offer and he should launch a bold bid.

At a bigger price, it would be a mistake to rule out Waiting Patiently. He was only 4/1 for this contest two years ago when unseating through no fault of his own and shaped well when a close-up third in the Tingle Creek on his only start last season. He has stamina to prove on his return but is a top-class chaser and lightly raced for a nine-year-old.

15:35 – Riggs

This is a competitive finale but Riggs is lightly raced and showed improvement to score at Uttoxeter last month so might be capable of following up here. He shaped as if in need of the run on his handicap debut and seasonal reappearance at Ascot in October and duly took a big step forward to get off the mark at Uttoxeter, forging eight lengths clear in the style of a horse well ahead of his mark. A 9 lb rise in the weights makes life tougher but he is in good hands with Dan Skelton and should have more to offer.

Timeform’s picks at Kempton on Boxing Day

12:40 – On To Victory
13:15 – Alnadam
13:50 – Shan Blue
14:25 – Epatante
15:00 – Cyrname
15:35 – Riggs

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

More Tips

• Mick Fitzgerald’s 5 best bets for ITV’s Boxing Day races
  
• 5 fancies for Leopardstown & Limerick over Christmas
  
• Matt Chapman’s 5 fab punts for ITV’s Boxing Day action

READ MORE

• Paddy Power’s Millionaire Chase: All you need to know about the MILLION quid New Year’s Day giveaway
• Paddy Power refunds on Irish & UK runners hit by Christmas travel ban
• Christmas has come early – Paddy’s updating the app – again!

The Paddy Power Guide To Responsible Gambling – Everything You Need To Know