Best bets for Boxing Day: AllaHO HO HO!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Boxing day brings with it not only some festive fun but also brilliant racing action.

Below, we run through some of the best bets across the Boxing Day cards.

Aintree

1:05- KAMSINAS

Kamsinas is the first selection for Boxing Day as Fergal O’Brien looks to continue the horse’s good form. After winning his first race of the season, the six-year-old went on to the Grade Two Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. There, he was defeated by a good horse in Neil King’s Lookaway, but still managed a strong second. He was a 16-5 shot at Haydock for the Newton Novices’ Hurdle, another Grade Two, where he was ridden along by Paddy Brennen in the midfield, demonstrating a clean round of leaping, which is imperative around Aintree. Paddy Brennan also recently rode his 1,500th career winner, so we can expect his confidence to be at an all-time high ahead of Aintree.

Kamsinas is 11/2 to win the William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle

Kempton

12:45- OUTLAW PETER E/W

The first race on the card at Kempton is the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase over 2m 4½ f. Outlaw Peter has a good opportunity to put his poor recent run behind him. Last time out at Ludlow he pulled up with no explanation for the poor form shown. Prior to this blip he had wins at Newton Abbott, Wincanton and most importantly Kempton. Paul Nicholls is obviously in red hot form, alongside stable jockey Harry Cobden who are both looking to continue this brilliant run.

Outlaw Peter is 8/1 in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase

1:20- GIOVINCO

Giovinco is a very impressive type, who has won 4 from his 6 races under rules. Last time out, though hindered by a loose horse at crucial points, Giovinco ran a strong second-place finish behind Stay Away Fay in the Grade 2 Esher Novices’ Chase at Sandown Park. The six-year-old kept up the pressure on Paul Nicholls’s lead all the way to the finish, trailing him by 1.5 lengths but didn’t lose any ground. So, we can expect another tough battle from this horse on boxing day.

Giovinco is 3/1 to win the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase

2:30- ALLAHO

Allaho is the selection for the King George, after all, he is a four-time Grade 1-winning chaser who gained two of those top-level victories in successive running’s of the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Willie Mullins surprised everyone by winning the race two years ago with Tornado Flyer and has a very good chance of striking gold again with Allaho. The horse has successfully handled a step back up to three miles with a 14-length win in the 2022 Punchestown Gold Cup, resulting in a career-best rating of 171.

Allaho is 15/8 to win the King George VI Chase 

Leopardstown

2:20 FACILE VEGA

Finally, a special mention to Facile Vega who’s running in the Racing Post Novice Chase on Boxing Day. Granted, probably not much of a price to warrant calling this selection a tip, but more of a tip to watch the race because Facile Vega is the real deal!

Facile Vega is 8/13 to win the Novice Chase on Boxing Day.