2024 Boxing Day Preview & Tips – DS
2024 Boxing Day Racing Preview & Tips
We have already posted four selections for a festive e/w lucky 15. Three of them run at Leopardstown on Thursday with the fourth selection running in the King George. You can check that preview out here. Dave Stevos also likes a couple at nice odds in the live ITV Races, check out his 2024 Boxing Day preview and tips below.
12.45 Kempton – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3)
Nothing screams Xmas quality like a class 3 handicap chase. The grand sum of £13,202.50 goes to the winner, you’d think that they might have rounded it up to 13,203. Anyway, Asta La Pasta is the current market leader at 7/2 and he’ll be suited by stepping back up to this distance after running on well over 16.5f at Newbury last month.
The one that makes most appeal at a bigger price is the unexposed Leave Of Absence. He showed plenty of potential when trained by Chris Gordon, finishing third in a Grade 2 bumper and then winning an Ascot novice hurdle on his sole start in the 2022-23 season. He must have had issues because he only had his first run since that October 2022 victory in November (758 day absence).
That start came on his stable bow for Anthony Honeyball in a class 3 beginners’ chase here over 2m2f and he ran a lovely race to finish 1.5l behind the 144 rated Iberico Lord. Only two finished that four runner heat so it’s probably wise to not take the form literally, but even so, an opening mark of 127 does look a touch on the generous side. Tom Cannon has won on him before, he has won a bumper at this track so at 10/1, Leave Of Absence is the each way selection.
2024 Boxing Day preview Tip: Leave Of Absence e/w @ 10/1
1.05 Aintree – Formby Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Only seven run in this Grade 1 for the novices but it is a cracking little race. Potters Charm heads the market for the Twiston-Davies’ team and he brings an unblemished record into this after four starts. He won a bumper over 16f on heavy on his rules debut but his three hurdle wins have come over 20-21f so this drop back to 2m1f does raise some question marks.
Country Mile was really impressive at Cheltenham two weeks ago and he will enjoy the underfoot conditions on Merseyside. His only defeat under rules came on soft ground when he finished 3l behind Roadlesstravelled in a Grade 2 at Haydock. That rival reopposes here and it’ll be interesting to see if the Skelton horse can turn the form around on this sounder surface.
With three places on offer from most firms, I’m going to take a punt on the rank outsider here. Good And Clever hasn’t got flashy looking form like a lot of his rivals but he has ability and he bumped into a pretty talented operator in Regent’s Stroll on his seasonal reappearance at Newbury last month.
This horse won a bumper on debut at Warwick last March and was pitched straight into a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree. He ran a cracker to finish third and the form of that race looks strong. He should come on a lot for that Newbury run and that Aintree bumper effort proved he can be competitive in Graded company. At odds of 33/1, Good And Clever is worth throwing a few pennies at each way.
2024 Boxing Day preview Tip: Good And Clever e/w @ 33/1 (3 places)
1.20 Kempton – Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
An interesting race but with just five runners and none priced up longer than 12/1, I am happy to swerve it. It’s going to be a busy few days and there’s no point in placing bets just for the sake of it. The Jukebox Man will probably win but he is priced accordingly. No bet.
2024 Boxing Day preview Tip: No Bet
1.35 Wetherby – Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (Premier)
My decision to abandon Kinondo Kwetu at Doncaster two weeks ago paid rich dividends as we managed to find the winner of the race in Charlie Uberalles. However, I thought Kinondo ran another pleasing race after his decent effort at Newcastle and with those two completions behind him, his confidence should be pretty high and that is a really important factor with this horse.
A strong early gallop is important for him too and with the likes of Young Buster, Good Boy Bobby and Cruz Control in the field, he should get a nice pace to aim at. Kinondo Kwetu is now down to a mark of 138, just 1lb higher than he was for his last win. This dry weather is what he wants and as an added bonus, he ran really well on his only previous visit to Wetherby, albeit it was over hurdles.
If Jonathan England can get this fella into a nice rhythm early, he’ll jump and travel away near the back and hopefully be produced late, preferably swinging on the bridle! At odds of 16/1, Kinondo Kwetu is the each way tip.
2024 Boxing Day preview Tip: Kinondo Kwetu e/w @ 16/1 NAP
1.55 Kempton – Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1)
This is the race that all the talk has been about leading up to Christmas. Constitution Hill, the winner of this race last year on his only start of the season, is back to defend his crown. Absent for 366 days, his issues have been well documented but he’s back at last and if he is the same horse, he is going to be very difficult to beat.
He’ll be taking on the great white hurdling hope from Ireland, Lossiemouth. She has won nine of her ten starts over hurdles and she beat a couple of three milers in good style over 2m4f at Fairyhouse last time out. In fairness, she did it impressively but this will be a much stiffer test of her Champion Hurdle credentials.
Lossiemouth carries 7lb less than Constitution Hill, which is an obvious plus for her chances. However, if the real Constitution Hill turns up, I don’t think she’d beat him with a 14lb allowance. This definitely isn’t a betting race for me given the odds of the two main protagonists but I’ll definitely be watching and hoping that Nicky Henderson’s charge puts on a sparkling show. No bet.
2024 Boxing Day Racing Tip: No bet
2.30 Kempton – King George VI Chase (Grade 1)
I have already put up Juntos Ganamos for the King George (read why here). We have found some nice winners in this race over the last few years and while I’m not as confident as I was with Tornado Flyer a couple of years ago, hopefully this lad puts in a clear round and gives us a decent run for our money.
Hopefully you all have a great Christmas and I’d like to take this chance to thank you all for following and reading our previews over the past year. Hopefully we can finish 2024 on a high.
