Horse Racing Tips: Frank Hickey’s 5 fine Boxing Day fancies

You don't have to ask Frank twice for a Boxing Day pick!

By / Horse Racing Tips / 1 year ago

Boxing Day Horse Racing Tips

FRANK HICKEY’S 5 PICKS

Fontwell 11.57 – Givega
Kempton 12.45 – Goshen
Wetherby 13.35 – Sounds Russian
Kempton 13.55 – Constitution Hill
Kempton 14.30 – Ahoy Senor

  • WE’VE 100 GRAND UP FOR GRABS IN OUR BOXING DAY TIPPING COMPETITION. CLICK THE BANNER BELOW TO ENTER

Fontwell 11.57 – Givega

GIVEGA was a point winner at Tralee in May 2021, is an Authorized half-brother to a listed winner in France and is from the family of Quevega. He was well backed on his hurdles debut at Lingfield over 2m on soft ground and very impressive when winning by 13l. That form hasn’t worked out as yet but looks capable of better and Gary Moore has won this race the last two times it has been run.

Kempton 12.45 – Goshen

Champ has an excellent record fresh and while his form last year didn’t tail off dramatically through the season, I still would have a slight concern about him only a month after the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury. Last year he won this race on his reappearance when he had Paisley Park over 5l back in 3rd and six weeks later in the Cleeve Hurdle he was beaten over 3l by Paisley Park.

Botox Has is only six and was relatively impressive when winning the Betfair Exchange Stayers Handicap Hurdle at Haydock off a mark of 144. He’s worth chancing in Graded company, as he won the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell last year. He’s only had four starts over 3m and is open to further improvement.

I think GOSHEN is worth trying over 3m. He gave Brewinupastorm 6lb and a beating in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot last month over 2m3f. He has won over 1m6f on soft ground on the flat. You can forget that he is only six and was strong at the finish at Ascot last time.

While chasing didn’t work out, he was only just touched off on the flat over a mile and a half by Tritonic at Goodwood in October in what was a really competitive handicap. He has now 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.

Wetherby 13.35 – Sounds Russian

I’m not sure how relevant it is but in the last 10 years nine winners carried 11st or higher, suggesting that class comes to the fore. Shan Blue will make the market as he runs off a mark of 148 and is obviously well handicapped on his run in the Charlie Hall last year and when he was 2nd to Sam Brown (beaten 15l) in Aintree in April over 3m1f off this mark.

SOUNDS RUSSIAN is a fast improving seven year old and is rated 157. He won three on the bounce around this time last year and was narrowly beaten by Dusart at the Ayr Scottish National festival.

He was an impressive winner of the Edinburgh Gin Handicap on reappearance off 150 when bolting up. He 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. I had earmarked him as a possible National horse.

WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS!

STUDY THE FORM IN STYLE & GET ALL THE RESULTS YOU NEED FIRST

  • CHECK OUT OUR SNAZZY RACECARDS FOR EVERY RACE, EVERY DAY
  • WE HAVE ALL THE HORSE RACING FAST RESULTS YOU’LL EVER WANT

Kempton 13.55 – Constitution Hill

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

Kempton 14.30 – Ahoy Senor

L’homme Presse is the most likely winner for me and won fairly snuggly in the Rehearsal Chase off 164. Bravemansgame has been aimed at this but I’m not convinced there is much under the bonnet when it comes to a battle and I think he would nearly need to win this on the bridle and that is surely asking plenty.

Ahoy Senor was pretty awful in the Charlie Hall and was slightly better in the Many Clouds despite jumping violently right at a number of fences. He was only beaten 3.5l there and will need to improve about 10lbs at the very least to win here but I do think it is interesting that Lucinda Russell is willing to let Ahoy Senor take his chance.

He was 2nd in the Kauto Star here last year but has jumped right on occasion since and it might actually help him going back this way around. He was 2nd in the Brown Advisory and won the Mildmay Novices Chase in impressive fashion, when L’Homme Presse and Bravemansgame were behind. It’s mainly putting trust in Russell’s judgement but we know that at his best AHOY SENOR is of similar ability to the rest and therefore the price is good.

Frank Hickey’s Horse Racing Tips

Fontwell 11.57 – Givega
Kempton 12.45 – Goshen
Wetherby 13.35 – Sounds Russian
Kempton 13.55 – Constitution Hill
Kempton 14.30 – Ahoy Senor

*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.

    READ MORE

    The latest racing odds are on PaddyPower.com now

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

    What do you think?