Here’s the situation: you’re exceptionally hungover, you spent too much money on sub-par presents for people you don’t like and you’ve three quarters of a dead turkey ready to be suffocated between slices of bread.
Don’t leave that couch, my friend. We can’t help you regain your pre-Christmas dignity, but we can hopefully recoup some of the money you spend on the in-laws’ vase they’ll never use.
Here’s a Lucky 15 to extend that holiday feeling.
Huntingdon: 12.35
Stuart Edmunds is a shrewd operator and his charge under the guidance of Ciaran Gethings can tap the potential held up in the six-year-old KLARE CASTLE.
Leaving Sue Smith earlier in the year, the gelding joined up with Edmunds and after shaping really nicely in his comeback run over two miles at Lingfield last month, this looks a real opportunity.
Deyrann De Carjac will attract interest, but the 6lbs he has to give to this son of Black Sam Bellamy could prove crucial.
Looking as though a step up in trip might be the making of him, the extra few furlongs at Huntingdon looks his ticket back to a better standard of racing.
Market Rasen – 13:45
Sometimes a change of scenery can work wonders for a horse, and BENNYS KING looks the type to improve after moving to the able hands of Dan Skelton.
A mark of 126 looks lenient if the run at Chepstow has rejuvenated him. The seven-year-old son of Beneficial was entered into a few decent races 18 months ago – most notably the Lanzarote Hurdle – so opinion of him was always high.
But after pulling up at Uttoxeter last season, a year away appears to have done him the world of good.
He may be the best handicapped horse running in the UK on Boxing Day.
Limerick: 14:00
It’s the boring selection in here and GETABIRD (1/2) has long disappointed me as a horse coming from the Rich Ricci conveyor belt of hype.
But for all the shortcomings over smaller, the son of Getaway looks a natural over fences. A big occasion for Greenmount Park, which celebrates its first ever Grade One race, could well be hosting a potential superstar when it comes to the larger obstacles.
And even if you don’t particularly like Getabird, this field offers nothing in terms of competition. Consider this a ‘banker to beef up the price – rather than a strong stance on the merit of Ruby’s mount.
Down Royal: 14.10
It’s hard not to like the work of GENERALISATION to this point. Henry De Bromhead’s entry looks the class act in here even if he has his quirks.
He seemed the winner from a way out in Thurles last time out, before idling and falling back into third. The ability was on display though, and in this field, I’m happy to bank on De Bromhead’s ironing out the kinks for a comfortable win.
The only rating on display is the 109 claimed by Noel Meade’s Melly And Me and that appears to be in or around the standard that this field can run too.
Box clever over at PaddyPower.com now for all the latest racing actionOur selection is the only one clearly capable of pushing the limits in this sphere.