2025 Boxing Day Racing Preview And Tips – DS
2025 Boxing Day Racing Preview & Tips
Merry Christmas to all our loyal followers, your support is greatly appreciated. Dave Stevos has already posted tips for Leopardstown’s Friday card, see those here. He also has a festive e/w lucky 15, see that here. His 2025 Boxing Day Racing tips are below.
1.05 Aintree – Formby Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Nothing leapt off the page in the opener at Kempton so we’ll start with this Grade 1 hurdle for the novices from Aintree. Mydaddypaddy is a prohibitive price to extend his unbeaten record to four and there is no doubt he is a talented animal but odds of 1/2? I’m not too sure he deserves to be that short on the back of winning a three-runner race at Haydock.
The Champion Bumper sixth Idaho Sun is no mug and he too is unbeaten over hurdles. Starmount made a pleasing Rules’ debut when winning at Wetherby three weeks ago and is well regarded by connections but the one I’ll take a punt on at a tasty e/w price is the Andrew Martin trained Glance At Midnight.
Bumper Winner
By Passing Glance, this bumper winner got off to an ideal start over timber when winning a Huntingdon maiden by 6l. That form is ordinary but he followed that up with a blinding effort in a class 2 novice at Cheltenham.
Yes, he finished 12l behind the ultra-impressive winner Old Park Star but he got a bit tight for room on the turn for home and while he wouldn’t have beaten the winner with a clearer run, I think he could have finished 4 or 5 lengths closer.
He pulled nicely clear of a few previous winners in the closing stages and I think that form is stronger than the races won by Starmount, Idaho Sun and arguably even Mydaddypaddy. Frustratingly, only seven run here so there’s only two places on offer for e/w players but even so, at odds of 33/1 Glance At Midnight is worth chancing e/w.
2025 Boxing Day Racing Tip: Glance At Midnight e/w @ 33/1
1.20 Kempton – Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
After a dry spell of weather, it looks like we’ll be racing on good ground at Kempton on Boxing Day. Again, only six run here so there’s only two places available but even so, I am going to back Crest Of Fortune e/w here at odds of 22/1.
Yes, he has 9.5l to find with Wendigo on their meeting at Newbury four weeks ago but that was over 2m4f and I believe that trip is far too short for this son of the recently deceased Doyen. He stayed on strongly for third over 3m in a G1 novice at Aintree in April and in both runs this term at 2m4f, he has looked like he’s been crying out for a step up in trip.
Anthony Honeyball’s charge is up against some potentially smart types here. The aforementioned Wendigo is talented, as is the fav’ Kitzbuhel and the Gary Moore trained Salver. However, Crest Of Fortune is open to any amount of improvement now stepping up to 3m and at the odds, I’d rather side with him.
2025 Boxing Day Racing Tip: Crest Of Fortune e/w @ 22/1 nap
1.55 Kempton – Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1)
The fragile but extremely talented Sir Gino makes his long-awaited reappearance in this Grade 1 hurdle. A facile winner of a Grade 1 novice chase at this meeting last season, he hasn’t been seen since and his chasing career has been aborted due to the sad decline of Constitution Hill. He’s been chalked up at 4/7 and if he’s fully fit, he’ll be hard to beat.
Unfortunately, Golden Ace is only 4/1 on this occasion. The days of her being 20s or bigger are probably over, although if she makes it back to the Champion Hurdle you never know. If Sir Gino falters, she should win but she’s definitely too short for the blog on this occasion.
This is a race that is best watched, no bet.
2025 Boxing Day Racing Tip: No Bet
2.30 Kempton – King George VI Chase (Grade 1)
Our good recent run in this race came to a shuddering halt last year. This year’s renewal looks pretty deep with two top class Irish raiders in Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File. Unsurprisingly, they head the betting with both available at 11/4 if one shops around.
So, will they win? There is no doubting their form claims but they were involved in an energy sapping duel on testing ground in the John Durkan at Punchestown just 33 days ago and you’d have to be concerned that the race may have left a mark on one or both.
Jango Baie had a much gentler return to action when dotting up in a 2m5f Grade 2 at Ascot last month. The main issue with him is that he has to prove his stamina for 3m. Visually, it looks like he’ll get the trip but the proof is in the pudding and he is no banker to stay on breeding.
The Jukebox Man
Of those at the head of the betting, The Jukebox Man makes most appeal to me. Yes, he’s relatively inexperienced for a race of this nature but he has won over C&D, he won impressively over an inadequate trip at Haydock on his seasonal return and I think he has a massive chance of landing this prize for Ben Pauling, Ben Jones and Harry Redknapp.
However, the each way value might lie with last year’s winner, Banbridge. Yes, he has seemingly completely lost his way since that stunning victory a year ago but that was his seasonal target and you can forgive him a poor run in the Hilly Way at Cork on his seasonal return on account of the soft ground.
Bowen up
The weather is well and truly in his favour this time and while Paul Townend is required to ride Gaelic Warrior for Mullins, Sean Bowen is a more than capable replacement. The visor is an interesting addition. He won the Irish Champion Chase in 2024 when wearing cheekpieces for the first time so the new headgear has to be viewed as a positive.
There should be plenty of early pace on here and a strong end to end gallop. That will suit Fact To File but it will also suit Banbridge and hopefully, he can reward each way support at odds of 16/1.
