Horse Racing Tips: Paddy’s pundits best bets in our Boxing Day cheat sheet for ITV Racing

ES PERFECTO doesn’t have as much potential as some of these but the going is perfect for him and he has loads of chasing experience. Was third in the race last year and won at Kempton last time out.

Es Perfecto ran in this race last year and finished a good third to Blow Your Wad then and is only 3lbs higher in the weighs. Fire Flyer also has his chance.

Leader In The Park doesn’t have to make the running but I’d like to see him pressing the pace from half-way and use his jumping ability.

FIRE FLYER looks the part for chasing and there was plenty to like about his first attempt at Exeter three weeks ago.

I expect strong stayer POTTERS CHARM to prove too strong. He  scored well over 2m5f at Cheltenham last time and can sit and pounce late. He’s easily officially the best horse in the race at this stage.

Potters Charm sets the standard even if there’s a slight concern he drops back to 2m. He did win a 2m bumper at Ffos Las on heavy ground last season though by a wide margin.

Potters Charm should be well suited by slow ground and the long straight at Aintree. He’s the best horse in the race.

POTTERS CHARM is yet to taste defeat under Rules and upped his game further when scoring in decisive fashion at Cheltenham last month. He can extend his winning run.

It’s very hard to get away from THE JUKEBOX MAN who was the best of these over hurdles. He did really well at Newbury last time on his chasing debut and should still be very hard to catch out in front under Ben Jones.

The Jukebox Man jumped really well over 2m 4f last time when winning at Newbury last time, but he hung so badly left there that a right-handed track like Kempton is a concern. He’s the pick but it wouldn’t be a shock if he’s beaten.

The Jukebox Man is a tentative pick. He has the form but the tendency to jump left is a concern. His chase form is stronger than Hyland’s recent win.

THE JUKEBOX MAN looks like making an even better chaser than hurdler judged on last month’s 2½m Newbury Grade 2 success. He’ll be hard to beat back at 3m.

SOME SCOPE is interesting. A weight of 10st 2lb will suit and he might have more to give now he’s had a wind operation after a poor effort at Cheltenham first time out this season. He ran all right when fourth in the Rehearsal Chase last time and can hopefully build on that.

Sine Nomine can get back to her best after her Foxhunters Chase win at Cheltenham. She unseated on her seasonal run but is locally trained and trainer Fiona Needham will have targeted this contest for her.

Tahmuras has yet to fulfil his potential over fences but this looks like the type of contest that suit him. A tentative pick.

CRUZ CONTROL had a really good first season over fences and with a spin over hurdles under his belt, he’s taken to regain the winning thread.

The mash up everyone has wanted to see between former Champion Hurdle hero CONSTITUTION HILL and rising star mare Lossiemouth. Lossiemouth has won nine of her ten starts and Constitution Hill is unbeaten in eight races so this really is special. Don’t let me down Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville!

The wonder horse Constitution Hill seems back to his best and I watched him schooling the other day and he was brilliant. He’s still only a seven-year-old and, despite all the obstacles he’s had to overcome since we last saw him on a racetrack, I think he’ll win.

Lossiemouth looks to be in great form but this race revolves  around what version of Constitution Hill turns up. He has achieved far more than Lossiemouth has and if he’s 100 per cent ready, he’s the best horse in the race. We’re not going to know until just before the off. Keep an eye on the market and if the money comes, he’s worth siding with.

LOSSIEMOUTH has less to prove than the returning Constitution Hill who made it 8-8 over hurdles in this race 12 months ago. The Irish raider can take advantage if Constitution Hill is not at his very best after a year off.

The three French challengers are the three lowest rated horses in the race and yet IL EST FRANCAIS has been smashed up for the race over the last week. A huge run in the Kauto Star Novices Chase put him on everyone’s radar. If he can overcome the ‘bleeding’ issues he’s had recently, then he can lead them home from the front.

Il Est Francais would have been my fancy but he burst a blood vessel last time when beaten in France. Spillane’s Tower is a worthy market leader and if his trainer feels the ground is soft enough for him to run. He’s the one I’d like to be on.

By a process of elimination, I’ve come down on the side of the young and improving Spillane’s Tower.

SPILLANE’S TOWER made a very encouraging return to action in the John Durkan and looks the way to go with further progress likely now back at 3m. Betfair Chase runner-up Grey Dawning looks best of the British.