Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Another King George for Nicholls

Kempton

PAISLEY PARK is hiding in plain sight in the rescheduled Long Walk hurdle, which gets action underway on ITV on Boxing Day (12.45pm). He would probably have beaten Champ on their seasonal debuts at Newbury but for bungling the final two flights and the pair are now 2-2 in their four meetings. Too much has been made of the suitability of this track for Paisley Park – who looked a happier horse through the race than he has for ages on his comeback – and he tends to step forward for a run, while Champ appears best fresh. The market seems to have rejected him, but I won’t at 9/2.

GALIA DES LITEAUX get the nod in the Kauto Star (1.20pm) at 11/4. She has to make another leap forward, but she beat a field of significant depth in a mares’ race at Bangor. Her jumping was particularly striking, more assured – you could argue – than either of the Nicholls runners over fences so far. Nicholls himself has oozed confidence about McFabulous, but Thursday’s heavy downpours may have just taken the edge off his advantage.

CONSTITUTION HILL is clearly impossible to oppose at 1/7 in the Christmas Hurdle (1.55pm), but I’ll be taking advantage of any opportunities to back METIER to beat the rest of the field at a decent price of 50/1. I thought he looked very good on the Flat at Doncaster, and winter ground will play against both Epatante and Sceau Royal.

HITMAN is now such a big price at 8/1 for the King George (2.30pm) – and is continuing to drift – that I will just kick myself if I don’t take an interest, particularly as I have always been firmly in the fan club. His class has enabled him to run some tremendous races at two miles, and some better ones at two and a half, but he could be deadly if he stays this distance. His smooth travelling and economical jumping will stand him in very good stead, and it was heartening to see a good lump of rain for him, as he has looked to relish testing ground the three times he has raced on it. L’Homme Presse is clearly the most credentialed runner, but you’ve missed the price now, and, although Bravemansgame has been tuned for this all season, a bigger threat might be Envoi Allen, who still has a touch of star quality and is unexposed at the trip. I wouldn’t rule out a good run from Royale Pagaille, either.

Wetherby

FANION D’ESTRUVAL is the pick at 9/1 in a really good looking renewal of Wetherby’s William Hill Rowland Meyrick Chase (1.35p,). His run in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury was a throw-out, as he lost all chance at the start and could never get into it. To his credit, though, he ran on really gamely to finish seventh, when most horses would have been pulled up with a circuit to run in the circumstances. As such, that should have blown the cobwebs away, and the handicapper has dropped him a pound into the bargain. This track will suit well and his rider knows him well (career best under her at Ascot last year.)