ITV Racing Tips: Boxing Day Each-Way Double for Kempton and Wetherby

The Long Walk Hurdle is an additional highlight to the high-quality card at Kempton on Boxing Day and represents the first of the four Grade 1’s we have in store. Nicky Henderson’s Champ marginally got the better of the Emma Lavelle-trained Paisley Park in a thrilling finish to last month's Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and it is great to see the pair lock horns again here. 

Neither will go down without a fight and are respectively the classiest horses in the race, especially over this distance. Goshen is the fascinating runner, who will be stepping to three miles for the first time after returning to winning form for Gary Moore at Ascot last time. Paul Nicholls’ Miranda steps up in class after winning a mares’ hurdle decisively here last time and is also respected. 

However, I really like the way Hughie Morrison has plotted this route for his durable servant NOT SO SLEEPY (best price 15/2), who holds a much better chance than his outsider odds supply here. He is three-from-three going right-handed on going soft or worse over hurdles and wouldn’t need to improve much more on his overall form to have a say in the outcome here. 

He has shown his level over 2m2f on the Flat, making the frame in the Cesarewitch three times and he ran another solid race in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle last time when third to Constitution Hill having shared the spoils with Epatante a year earlier. He tends to get on with things in his races and that should see him get an uncontested lead here if Johnny Burke opts his usual positive tactics on the 10-year-old. 

He is technically on par with these as he’s only rated three-pounds at most lower than Champ and Paisley Park and he will get his favourite conditions. He remains low-mileage over hurdles for his age and this course can often suit front-runners. While he has his stamina to prove, he should relish the step up in trip and if Johnny Burke, who’s having a wonderful season can judge the pace correctly, he could surprise a few and beat these. 

This year’s renewal of the William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase could easily be classed as a Grade 1 contest with Grade 1 winners and top-class handicappers littered in the 12-runner field. 

The likes of Sounds Russian and Shan Blue are hugely feared and would make the shortlist on any other given day but, at the odds, and despite his mammoth absence, KALASHNIKOV (best price 20/1) could be ready to run a good race and is the value angle with four places generally available with most firms. 

Amy Murphy’s charge was fourth in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase on his final start last year behind Allaho and, interestingly, his only previous run over three-miles saw him finish third in the Grade Two Denman Chase last year when beaten under  five-lengths. That is strong form and it proved he stays the trip okie this will be only his second run over the distance. 

If you go back to the early part of his career, you’ll notice he is two-from-two at Wetherby having won his sole bumper start here, as well as on his hurdles debut. A return to handicap company off a mark of 155 makes him look well-handicapped and he is a big price for a horse who is capable of winning this if anywhere hear his best. 

Boxing Day Bonus Tip:

The Paul Nicholls-trained McFabulous won two Grade Two events over hurdles and based on the evidence of what he has shown over fences so far, he is establishing himself to be just as good a chaser. He should have plenty more to come and has the course experience in his locker to boot. 

He was pulled up on his chase debut but resumed winning ways at Exeter last month before winning the Grade Two John Francombe Novices’ Chase when beating Thyme Hill and given Paul Nicholls has won this five times, this talented individual will likely start a short-priced favourite here. 

Thyme Hill was undoubtedly the best of these over hurdles but lacked fluency at Newbury last time behind McFabulous and has work to do to reverse the form in this race. It remains early days in this discipline though, so he can’t be ruled out, while Nicholls’ other runner Gelino Bello has won his last four, including both his two chase starts. 

He is a Grade 1 winner over this trip over hurdles and Bryony Frost takes the ride given Harry Cobden has opted to stick with McFabulous. He is possibly going to be the pace angle and might take some pegging back if able to get into a rhythm with loads more to come. 

Despite all three given the utmost respect, including the outsider Mortlach, I am going to side with the mare GALIA DES LITEAUX (best price 5/2). She ran to a respectable level in three starts over hurdles but flourished on her chase debut, where she jumped beautifully and strolled to an easy nine-lengths success without coming out of second gear. 

That trip would have been plenty short enough as she’s a three-mile winning pointer and the form has worked out nicely as the second has won since. The ground will be in her favour plus it’s worth noting connections pulled out Ballygrifincottage and declared her instead, which is interesting indeed. 

Her jumping will be a real asset around here and she’s definitely held in high regard to be taking on this calibre of opposition on just her second chase start. Moreover, she is equipped with her mares’ allowance, which is a massive advantage as she will be in receipt of seven-pounds from all her rivals. 

The Skelton’s saddled the winner of this race two years ago with Shan Blue, so they know what it takes to do well in this and this mare has serious potential within the chasing ranks. With a bright future ahead of her, this six-year-old is fancied to take the rise in class in her stride.