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Kempton Horse Racing Tips for Boxing Day

Kempton is the feature card on Boxing Day, featuring the festive highlight of the King George VI Chase.

The race is associated with the biggest names in the sport, like Desert Orchid and Kauto Star, and this year has attracted a field of 11.

There are two other Grade 1s on a top-class Kempton card. Here are the best bets from the Racing Post's Keith Melrose.

Horse Racing

Thursday's Kempton Horse Racing Betting Tips and Odds

12:45 Kempton - Asta La Pasta @ 7/2
13:20 Kempton - Welcom To Cartries @
12/1
14:30 Kempton - Banbridge @
5/1

12:45 Kempton - Asta La Pasta @ 7/2

This novices' handicap chase is always a warm race and it has looked the right target for Asta La Pasta ever since he ran with credit at Newbury last month.

Dan Skelton has got a lot of experience into this horse, lining him up for a big test which he also got last spring when going off among the market leaders for a top novice handicap hurdle at Sandown. His win at Carlisle did little more than show he can jump well going right-handed. He was more taking at Newbury.

That run was over an extended two miles, which would be sharp enough for Asta La Pasta. Aside from anything else, he is very stoutly bred, with half-brother Cup Final being a stayer and his dam being related to some marathon types.

At Newbury, he also did much the best of those horses held up, finishing within a couple of lengths of the winner in what appeals as a strong bit of form.

13:20 Kempton - Welcom To Cartries @ 12/1

There is little doubt that The Jukebox Man is the brightest prospect among the five horses in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase. He was such an impressive winner of a Grade 2 at Newbury, burying the re-opposing Masaccio among others, and is likely to be among the major British-trained players in the Brown Advisory come Cheltenham.

The problem, given this first Grade 1 test over fences comes at Kempton, is that The Jukebox Man is a chronic hanger to the left. Kempton is a sharp, right-handed track and Ben Jones could be in for a tough six minutes or so.

Finding a horse to take him on with is not very easy and it could be that the best play is a small bet on outsider Welcom To Chartries. This point winner was second at Grade 2 level as a novice hurdler and made a pleasing start over fences at Sandown earlier in the month. He shaped second best to Handstands for much of the way, but seemed to hit the wall after the last faced with Sandown's hill.

That was his first run of the season and most of Paul Nicholls' horses have been needing their reappearance. He also had wind surgery over the summer, and that can take a couple of runs to make its effects felt. 

Welcom To Cartriers clearly has no problem going right-handed and now has race fitness on his side. While he is not as exciting a chaser as The Jukebox Man, his chances of coming out on top in this very specific set of circumstances is being underestimated.

14:30 Kempton - Banbridge @ 5/1

For full disclosure, I backed Banbridge for the King George in January so am unlikely to be an impartial observer. It has looked the natural race for him ever since he pulled apart the likeable Pic D'Orhy over a shorter distance at this track 11 months ago.

Banbridge needs good ground, the Ryanair in March confirmed that beyond all doubt. Whether he needs three miles is not so certain, but he has been giving Champion Chasers bloody noses of late over two miles in spite of the trip, not because of it. That tells you that he is a seriously talented horse, and if ever you are going to have a crack in a three-mile Grade 1 the best place to try is Kempton.

Conditions are coming right for Banbridge, who has the sort of course form that Spillane's Tower and Grey Dawning lack. He is also more dependable than Il Est Francais, who is electric on his day but has twice blown out as a short-priced favourite since winning the Kauto Star here last year.

Banbridge is the solid option in this year's King George and his younger rivals will have to improve past him.

Read more horse racing betting tips and predictions on site.

Read more Kempton Park horse racing news on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.

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