Frank Hickey: Tackle the Boxing/St Stephen’s Day racing with this trio of top tips

The master tipster and Paddy Power horse racing trader extraordinaire gives us three picks for all the action on December 26...

Kempton 3.05pm – King George Chase

I reckon Might Bite will prove very difficult to beat in the King George Chase. As a novice last year, his form really took off after winning at Doncaster in February and he would have been a very impressive winner of the Kauto Star Novices´ Chase if he didn’t fall at the last.

That day he posted a time two seconds faster at the last fence than Thistlecrack posted in the King George. Might Bite went on to win the RSA Novices´ Chase at Aintree in March, he also had a nice spin out in his first outing at Sandown this season.

There’s a few niggling doubts about Bristol De Mai handling the ground and with Thistlecrack being disappointing last time, I believe Might Bite will land this one.

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Leopardstown 12.15pm – Maiden Hurdle

Willie Mullins unleashes one in the Maiden Hurdle called Antey for Rich Ricci and they always prove popular, but Debuchet was a top class bumper horse last year. He was second to Red Jack on his first time out at Nass, before coming back to win very easily at Leopardstown in January.

Debuchet went to the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham where he looked all over the winner turning in, until being run down at the end by the fast-finishing Fayonagh. Debuchet signed off last season by scoring a listed bumper victory at Limerick.

He’ll take a high ranking among novice hurdlers this year and I expect him to make a winning debut here.

Leopardstown 2.55pm – Handicap Chase

Blast Of Koeman makes his debut in this 2m Handicap Chase, his trainer Robert Tyner won this race back in 2010 with Askthemaster. He’s a horse that’s been well backed on numerous occasions and disappointed more often than not, but he was a very unlucky second in the Handicap Hurdle at the Punchestown festival in April.

He won nicely at Fairyhouse last time out, with strong pace suiting him. There looks like there’ll be plenty of pace here and the 2m trip could be right up his alley. I think Blast Of Koeman could well became far better than a 123 rated horse and he could go very well in Leopardstown.

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