Horse Racing tips: Your ITV Racing Cheat Sheet for Boxing Day

DANNY KIRWAN is a great big beast who has always promised much and he might outstay a few of these. He’ll be hard to keep out of the first three.

BOTHWELL BRIDGE was super impressive jumping around Sandown and at this track will be tough to pass. Mister Coffey is the big danger if he jumps straight.

DANNY KIRWAN’S two wins over hurdles were achieved at Ascot and Wincanton, so the return to this right-handed track should suit. This flatter track should also be in his favour.

This is a cracker despite a small field. BRAVEMANSGAME has done nothing wrong in two chase starts and has jumped like a natural. He’s not often gone this far but in a small field stamina should not be an issue.

Bravemansgame is the better jumper, but AHOY SENOR is the better horse in my opinion. I’ve been blown away with him so he gets my pick.

Ahoy Senor looked really good at Newbury. However, BRAVEMANSGAME looked so good at Haydock and at Newton Abbot that I feel at this time of the year and at this track he will be very tough to beat.

Seems to have Bravemansgame held on hurdles from from last year and couldn’t have been more impressive last time.  It’s a match between the two, but I think AHOY SENOR succeeds.

BRAVEMANSGAME had to settle for second behind Ahoy Senor when they met last season, but he has taken superbly to chasing and can turn the tables here.

GOOD BOY BOBBY is creeping up the handicap ranks and he ran an absolute belter at Newcastle last time. Stamina clearly won’t be an issue and he should give Sam Twiston-Davies a good spin, so he worth a few quid each-way.

GOOD BOY BOBBY ran a stormer when a neck second to Aye Right in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle over half a furlong less. This 3m trip suits him.

SILVER HALLMARK isn’t seen very often, but he quickly proved himself a useful chaser last season and looked as good as ever on his Carlisle return. He makes plenty of appeal now stepping up to 3m for the first time in a handicap.

There’s no doubt in my mind EPATANTE is the one to beat for Nico de Boinville and Nicky Henderson. Epatante dead-heated with Not So Sleepy at Newcastle last time, but is by far the better horse at a peak in my book.

I’m going to go with EPATANTE. With her run at Newcastle in November, she’s the one to beat for me.

EPATANTE will be tough to beat. If there is to be a surprise it could well be Tritonic, who won a very competitive handicap hurdle nicely at Ascot.

TRITONIC won well at Ascot last Saturday, but a step forward is needed in Graded company now. It’s a speculative choice, however the confidence boosting win the last time could be the key to him.

EPATANTE suffered a shock defeat in this race 12 months ago, but she can regain the crown she took in 2019. Her cruising speed should prove too quick for her rivals.

MINELLA INDO is the one to beat for Henry de Bromhead and lady-of-the-moment Rachael Blackmore. He’s no one-trick pony. At the age of eight he’s also relatively lightly raced with just 14 races under his belt, so there may well be more to come.

The race is made up for MINELLA INDO. It’ll suit him and he’s got cheek pieces on for the first time too. He’s the best horse and he has what you need at Kempton, which is really good jumping.

I won the King George for Paul Nicholls and the man is a genius. When he targets a horse at a race, he is brilliant at it. I feel he has targeted CLAN DES OBEAUX whole season for this race. He will be spot-on for this contest and is a two-time winner of the race, at a track he loves. The ground is not a problem either.

ASTERION FORLONGE may have won the John Durkan Chase last time except for unseating his rider at the third last. It’ll be a heart-in-the-mouth watch, but if he gets around – the race is made for him.

MINELLA INDO shaped as if in need of the run when a five-length third to Frodon in the Champion Chase at Down Royal in October and he should be much closer to peak form with that outing under his belt. He is 4lbs clear on Timeform’s figures – and that marks him out as the one to beat.