Jaysella’s Boxing Day & Caroline’s St Stephen’s Day Selections for 26th December 2025

Jaysella’s Selections from Kempton Park, Aintree & Wetherby and Caroline’s St Stephen’s Day Selections from Leopardstown

Kempton Park

Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (In Memory Of Nigel Clark) (Grade 1) 1.20
Wendigo
The way that Jamie Snowden’s Wendigo went about things in a Newbury Grade 2 last month makes him an easy pick for me for the Kauto Star. Having a right old tussle with Ben Pauling’s No Questions Asked in the home straight, with favourite Regent’s Stroll finding nothing for pressure, Wendigo found more after the last to come home 2 lengths to the good. This flat track here at Kempton Park could be ideal for the step up to 3 miles, so he gets my vote over Willie Mullins’ Kitzbuhel and Gary & Josh Moore’s Salver, who is officially rated 1lb better than Wendigo. A very good renewal, with Ascot specialist Blueking D’oroux more than making up the numbers, but it’s Wendigo for me over this trip on good ground.

Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) 1.55
Sir Gino
Well, he’s been off the track for just a day shy of a year, but oozes quality and in the absence of Constitution Hill has to be backed. He did look all set for a big novice chasing campaign last season after sauntering home in the Wayward Lad at this meeting last year, but picked up a career threatening infection and hasn’t been seen since. I reckon it’s a smart move by Nicky Henderson to bring Sir Gino back over the sticks, and at only five has time on his side to return to fences further on in his career. Sir Gino was no slouch over hurdles either, with a perfect five from five, including the Grade One Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, and if all goes well here will be vying for favouritism with the big Irish raiders for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in the Spring. However, this is an all British Grade One, with Jeremy Scott’s excellent mare, Golden Ace ready to pick up the pieces if there’s any error from Sir Gino. Course specialist Rubaud is my each-way pick, if that’s your sort of thing, but Sir Gino should be winning this.

Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1) 2.30
Fact To File (nb)
Just about the deepest renewal that I can remember for some time, and it’s going to be one hell of a race. Considering that last year’s one-two, Banbridge and Il Est Francais were trading at 16/1 & 20/1 this week, that should give you all the picture I’m seeing. So, down to business, and although Gaelic Warrior beat Fact To File a neck in the John Durkan, with a clever race strategy from Paul Townend, that was over 2 miles 3, whereas I see Fact To File as one to progress to 3 miles plus. Having said that, it does look like Gaelic Warrior has come of age now, and has a similarly successful chasing profile as his stablemate. Now then, this British challenge looks second to none this year, with Ben Pauling’s The Jukebox Man, Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie and Venetia Williams Djelo all improved models this season. If, like last year, Il Est Francais tries to run them ragged from the front, it’s going to turn into a test of stamina despite the good ground, though I’m not entirely convinced that Harry Cobden would employ the same “catch me if you can” tactics as James Reveley. So much to consider in the Christmas schedule’s outstanding feature, but it’s Fact To File to last it out for me, with plenty of pace in the race from the off.

Aintree

William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 1.05
Mydaddypaddy
Well, this has to be all about Dan Skelton’s Mydaddypaddy, who could not have been more impressive than when coasting clear at Haydock Park last time out. However, I thought he looked too short in the ante post markets, at around 2/1 on, so my guess is he could drift out from there with the likes of Harry Fry’s Idaho Sun and Ben Pauling’s Starmount lining up alongside him. Mydaddypaddy is good, but is he that good to risk a 2/1 on bet with so little experience. Methinks not, so if you want to have a punt, look at the anyway Tricast, or even a top two finish bet on the bigger prices around. I do think that Mydaddypaddy will win, but I’d be looking for somewhere nearer Evens to take the win.

Wetherby

William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 1.35
Konfusion
It’s horses for courses here as Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith’s Konfusion returns to Wetherby on a hat-trick. He’s getting 11lbs from top weight Marble Sands, and having form here on soft ground, does look a worthy favourite to me, while Paul Nicholls’ Knappers Hill was in a decent Graduation Chase at Haydock Park last month won by smart The Jukebox Man, so has to be a threat on a flattish track. Sam Thomas’s Our Power would want rain, and Olly Murphy’s Butch likewise, so Konfusion has to be the answer.

Leopardstown

Changing Times Brewery Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 1.10
Barbizon
Well, there’s been plenty of money down for Willie Mullins’ Narciso Has this week, and I do get he was in a Grade 3 the last day, but my money’s on Barbizon. Gordon Elliott’s gelding was impressive enough at Navan, and can only come on for that run, whereas Narciso Has couldn’t stay with my selection, Mange Tout, so I’ll stick with Gordon Elliott for this one. Ben Hur won at Fairyhouse on just his second start over hurdles, so shouldn’t be far away, but Barbizon gets my vote.

Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 1) 2.20
Romeo Coolio (nap)
Gordon Elliott’s Romeo Coolio is rightly a red hot favourite for this Grade One after wins at Down Royal and Fairyhouse. Now he was a short odds-on price for the Drinmore the last day, but I think that price looked justified when Jack Kennedy brought him home 8 lengths clear in pretty ready fashion. There’s been a bit of ease in the ante post price for Romeo Coolio, but I still think he’s a notch above Willie Mullins’s Salvator Mundi, with maybe Henry de Bromhead’s mare, July Flower the bigger danger after scoring in the Arkle Trial at Cheltenham last month. Irish Panther is a fourth one lining up here on a hat-trick, but I’m of the opinion that it’s Romeo Coolio they all have to beat.