ITV Racing Tips on December 26th - Boxing Day tips for Kempton, Aintree and Wetherby
Boxing Day promises a thrilling lineup for ITV Racing enthusiasts, showcasing four Grade One races from Kempton Park, Aintree, and Wetherby. Key predictions include Barlovento triumphing at Kempton's opener, Mydaddypaddy potentially leading to Cheltenham favor following the Aintree hurdle, and outsider Thomas Mor making waves in Kempton's Kauto Star Novices' Chase. The day concludes with the anticipation of Konfusion's performance at Wetherby and the iconic King George VI Chase at Kempton. Enthusiasts are encouraged to tune in, engage with the excitement, and savor expert racing insights.
- Free tips for the ITV races on Friday 26th December
- Kempton, Aintree and Wetherby feature on the ITV Racing Boxing Day schedule
- Storming George, Thomas Mor and Konfusion feature in our ITV selections
- ITV Racing Schedule
- 12:45pm Kempton - Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Tips
- 1:05pm Aintree - Formby Novices' Hurdle Tips
- 1:20pm Kempton - Kauto Star Novices' Chase Tips
- 1:35pm Wetherby - Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase Tips
- 1:55pm Kempton - Christmas Hurdle Tips
- 2:30pm Kempton - King George VI Chase Tips
Boxing Day Best Bets
ITV Racing fans are in for a Boxing Day bonanza on Friday, with four Grade One races featuring on the festive schedule. Three of those top races will come to us live from Kempton Park on King George VI Chase day. We'll also head to Aintree for the Formby Novices' Hurdle, before a trip up to Wetherby for the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase.
Here are my best betting tips for the ITV races on Boxing Day.
ITV Racing Schedule
| Time | Track | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 12:45pm | Kempton | Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3) 2m4½f |
| 1:05pm | Aintree | Formby Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m1f |
| 1:20pm | Kempton | Kauto Star Novices' Chase (In Memory Of Nigel Clark) (Grade 1) 3m |
| 1:35pm | Wetherby | Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m |
| 1:55pm | Kempton | Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m |
| 2:30pm | Kempton | King George VI Chase (Grade 1) 3m |
ITV Racing Tips - Friday 26th December
12:45pm Kempton - Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Tips
Noble Park is heavily fancied for Friday's opener, having won well on his first two starts over fences. Josh The Boss and U Cant Be Serious are also looking to complete hat-tricks. BARLOVENTO (7/1) finished a close second behind U Cant Be Serious on his chasing debut at Exeter, but I fancy he can reverse that form and get off the mark.
Progressive over hurdles last season, Sean Bowen held his mount up at the rear for much of his chasing debut. Barlovento made rapid progress on the turn for home, jumping the final two flights with a lead, but U Cant Be Serious timed his challenge a little better and snatched a narrow win.
Joe Tizzard's novice has since struck again, meaning the two pound gap between himself and Barlovento in the weights at Exeter has widened to nine pounds for their second clash at Kempton. Sean Bowen will feel that he might have won that day at Exeter had he held onto this strong traveller a little longer. I doubt we'll see Barlovento hit the front until the final knockings on Boxing Day.
1:05pm Aintree - Formby Novices' Hurdle Tips
It's been a while since Britain had a Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite, but victory on Boxing Day for Mydaddypaddy will surely see Dan Skelton's exciting novice head into the Cheltenham Festival as the favourite for the opener. The Skelton's hot-pot won't have everything his own way, with the likes of Act Of Innocence, Starmount and Diamond Hunter likely to line up in opposition.
At a longer price, I'm going to side with STORMING GEORGE (20/1). Neil King's youngster won his bumper at Doncaster last January, and went on to secure a top-five finish in the Grade Two Flat Race at Aintree.
Jack Quinlan's mount ran well in a high-quality maiden hurdle at Newbury on his reappearance, crossing the line a close third behind Captain Hugo and Sinnatra. Storming George then returned to the scene of his bumper win and recorded an effortless hurdles victory, thrashing a modest field by 12 lengths.
Despite making all and barely coming out of second gear, the time Storming George set at Doncaster was the quickest of the day - two seconds faster than the 0-120 handicap and a full eight seconds quicker than the bumper. The long run-in at Aintree should suit Storming George, who looks to have a very bright future over obstacles.
1:20pm Kempton - Kauto Star Novices' Chase Tips
Willie Mullins still has two entered for Friday's opening Grade One at Kempton, and either Jimmy Du Seuil or Kitzbuhel will go off at odds-on once Paul Townend is confirmed in either saddle. Salver and Wendigo will provide Mullins' favourite with stiff competition, and Blueking d'Oroux cannot be ruled out.
I wouldn't be quick to sleep on THOMAS MOR (25/1) either, despite his position at the bottom of the betting. Philip Hobbs and Johnson White's star looked classy as a novice hurdler, and won a Pertemps Qualifier on his return from a 22-month absence at Wincanton on Boxing Day last year.
Thomas Mor struck on his second start over fences at Ascot last month, picking off the flagging leader Lucky Place before striding three lengths clear of another classy rival in Jet To Vegas. Ben Jones' mount has done all of his winning around right-handed tracks on decent ground, so the conditions of this contest should be ideal for the rank outsider.
1:35pm Wetherby - Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase Tips
KONFUSION (7/4) has a ten-pound rating hike to contend with following his bloodless triumph at Newcastle. However, Jungle Boogie's presence in the field would see the favourite shouldering just 10-8, and Konfusion will be hard to beat under that sort of weight.
Smith and Parkinson's seven-year-old looked progressive as a novice last term, and kicked this season off with a course-and-distance win here at Wetherby. Konfusion unstead Danny McMenamin early when heavily fancied for a big handicap on Betfair Chase day at Haydock, but righted that wrong with an effortless triumph in the Rehearsal Chase.
Bewley's mount thrashed his rivals by 15 lengths at Newcastle, and third-placed Docpickedme has boosted that form with a victory since. Konfusion clocked an RPR of 143 at Newcastle, without really being tested. I doubt this fresh mark of 136 is anywhere near his ceiling.
1:55pm Kempton - Christmas Hurdle Tips
It'll be wonderful to see Sir Gino back in action on Boxing Day, and I'm expecting Nicky Henderson's star to retain his unbeaten record. The form of Celtic Dino's Welsh Champion Hurdle victory has been boosted massively, and Sam Thomas' star ran a screamer behind Wodhooh at Ascot. He holds appeal in the "betting without Sir Gino" special market.
That being said, TRIPOLI FLYER (33/1) flattened Celtic Dino and some other decent rivals when romping to victory in the Dovecote Novices' Hurdle here at Kempton in February. Fergal O'Brien's star then ran no sort of race in the Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree - despite being backed into favouritism for that Grade One - before ending his novice campaign with a third-place finish behind Final Demand at Punchestown.
O'Brien hoped his stable star would make up into a smart novice chaser this term. Sadly, Jonny Burke was unseated on Tripoli Flyer's chasing debut at Perth, and the two had no response when Lulamba sauntered clear at Exeter. I'm not surprised to see Tripoli Flyer back over hurdles, and fancy he could run well back at a track he likes.
2:30pm Kempton - King George VI Chase Tips
Read our full guide to the 2025 King George VI Chase to find out who we've backed in this historic Boxing Day contest.
Visit our King George VI Chase Live Stream page if you plan on watching any of Friday's races via a mobile or tablet.
Verdict
Friday's Top ITV Tips:
Konfusion
1:35pm Wetherby
@7/4 - 5 Units
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Barlovento
12:45pm Kempton
@7/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS
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Storming George E/W
1:05pm Aintree
@20/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £10
with promo code NEWBONUS
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Thomas Mor E/W
1:20pm Kempton
@25/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £10
Promo Code: NEWBONUS
New customers only. Bet £10+ to receive £10 in Free Bets. 7-day free bet expiry. Stake not returned. Promotional Terms Apply. 18+. GambleAware.org
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