Horse Racing tips: Your ultimate ITV Races Boxing Day Cheat Sheet for Kempton and Wetherby

It’s no surprise PAISLEY PARK has never been to Kempton before as it’s pretty tight for a very strong stayer. However, there are a number of natural front runners in here and they might just go a very strong clip. The recent rain should help.

With softer ground to help, I’m hoping that will swing things in PAISLEY PARK’S favour. The only concern I have is the 3 mile start is close to the stables and we do not want a repeat of his antics at Cheltenham when he gave them all a head start.

I think GOSHEN is worth trying over 3m. He has won his last three starts over hurdles and Triumph hurdles horses generally turn out to be stayers. On ratings he only has 4lb to find with Champ.

I’m going to take a chance on GOSHEN. He’s got at least as much talent as Champ and Paisley Park and makes more appeal than either of those at the prices.

CHAMP just held on from Paisley Park in a thrilling renewal of the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month and is selected to confirm that narrow superiority as this sharp 3m should suit Nicky Henderson’s strong traveller.

THYME HILL jumped badly against McFabulous at Newbury last time and won’t win if doing the same here. However, if he’s learnt from that he’s now too big a price.

I was very impressed with MCFABABULOUS last time at Newbury. He had jumped really well at Exeter previous to that and the biggest bonus of them all is the small field. I think that’s important for him as he likes a bit of elbow room and he has that here.

MCFABULOUS has been very impressive on both starts since pulling up on chase debut. I wouldn’t want to be piling into McFabulous if the ground softens up considerably, though. Galia Des Liteaux could take advantage if it’s genuinely soft.

This may well develop into a straight fight between MCFABULOUS and Galia des Liteaux. The former was impressive when seeing off Thyme Hill at Newbury and is narrowly preferred.

Shan Blue looked brilliant at this track last season, but I’m going to stick with a horse in great form in SOUNDS RUSSIAN (each-way) who stayed on well behind Noble Yeats at Aintree when last seen.

I was really taken by INTO OVERDRIVE when watching him at Newcastle. He jumped superbly and travelled almost too strongly. That will suit in a race like this at Wetherby.

SOUNDS RUSSIAN was beaten less than 5l in the Many Clouds at the beginning of the month and was only a little over a length off Dashel Drasher who was 2nd. He’s fast improving.

SHAN BLUE, who would have won the Charlie Hall by half a track last season, looks well handicapped off 148. If he’d have won the Charlie Hall he’d have gone up by a stone. He goes well fresh and this looks a great starting point.

SHAN BLUE is a very smart chaser on his day, as he showed in the Charlie Hall Chase over this course and distance last year, a race he would have won by a wide-margin but for falling three out. A BHA mark of 148 remains potentially very lenient judged on his best form.

This is not going to take long. CONSTITUTION HILL is the most exciting jumper in training and should have no problem landing this for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.

It’s very hard to get away from CONSTITUTION HILL and he will be very tough to beat. Epatante loves this track but she has a bit to find.

There isn’t much to say about CONSTITUTION HILL, just sit back and enjoy him!

CONSTITUTION HILL looked absolutely astonishing at Newcastle. He should win with Epatante filling the frame again. There’s no great punting angle but sometimes at Christmas you’ve got to turn on the TV and enjoying something.

CONSTITUTION HILL denied Epatante a third win in the Fighting Ffith last month and it’s highly likely he’ll prevent his stablemate achieving a similar feat in this contest.

In a field full of second-season chasers I’m siding with L’HOMME PRESSE, officially the best horse in the race with a BHA mark of 170. The French import has been superb since sent over fences, facing only one defeat in seven tries.

Having watched back his comfortable success in last year’s Feltham at the track, I think it just feels tailor-made for BRAVEMANSGAME. My only concern is if it turns into a slog. I feel he will be vulnerable then.

L’homme Presse is the most likely winner but I do think it is interesting that Lucinda Russell is willing to let AHOY SENOR take his chance. It’s mainly putting trust in her judgement but at his best he’s of similar ability to the rest and therefore the price is good.

The one I’ve gone for in terms of value is ROYALE PAGAILLE. The more rain that falls the better but he’s perfectly good on good-to-soft ground. I think he’ll run well and is a sporting each-way bet.

It was some performance from L’HOMME PRESSE to defy a lofty mark of 164 with something to spare in the Rehearsal at Newcastle and he can make it an impressive 7-8 over fences.

A wide open event. BALCO COASTAL (each-way) does not always run over this trip but has done well over it when tried and is very lightly raced so might still have more to come.

BALCO COASTAL was caught out at Newbury and had a bit of a shock jumping fences for the first time, but finished the race off really well that day and there is more to come.

This is a step up in class for DON ALVARO but he jumps well enough to think he can cope and is taken to defy the handicapper again and complete a hat-trick.