STAR RACING PREVIEW Sat: Leopardstown, Chepstow and Kempton

Whatever horse you were cheering for, it was impossible not to be enthralled by the sheer drama of the King George, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.

Credit to all participants for producing a spellbinding show – the connections of the first four home can all be proud, with a rematch in the spring a tantalising prospect for all that JP McManus, whose Fact To File did not show his best, might have the best Gold Cup prospect at home in the shape of Inothewayurthinkin, who we’ll see very soon in the Savils Chase.
The Donellys had a great Boxing Day with superb performances from Kitzbhuel and Sir Gino adding yet more trophies to their cabinet. Sir Gino has leapt to the forefront of the Champion Hurdle picture after a dominant success – over to you, Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead – and Kitzbuhel has given them a leading contender for the Brown Advisory Chase if they head there with him, as he produced a bold show of jumping to beat the best British staying novices so far in the Feltham.

At a shorter trip, Romeo Coolio showed guts to overhaul Irish Panther in the Racing Post Novice Chase, for all that he won in spite of the trip and is surely better over further. Over hurdles, two serious markets were laid down for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham – the first by Ballyfad, a nine-length winner of the opening maiden, and then by El Cairos, who was about to do the same before he stumbled, tripped up and unseated Jack Kennedy after the line half an hour later.

Idaho Sun got the better of Mydaddypaddy in the Formby, albeit one hampered by low sun and with a canny ride from Bryan Carver upfront, giving him a tactical edge. That said, the result appeared fair and square at first glance – the Supreme picture is still very much wide open and there’s lots more to come today.

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 1:12 Leopardstown – Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) 2m

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Possibly more open than the betting suggests with Majborough’s jumping letting him down on his return behind Found A Fifty and Marine Nationale likely to be better later on this season having missed an intended comeback in the Fortria due to the ground.

Found A Fifty might want more cut here but the sound surface will be perfect for Solness, who is worth chancing on the basis that he goes well enough fresh and has proven his ablity to upset top chasers under forcing tactics, as he did when beating Marine Nationale at the DRF and when taking this contest at 28/1 last year. If ready to rock and roll then JJ Slevin will be a tough man to pass and his jumping and love of the track and ground are assured.

Only By Night was very progressive last season including when second in the Arkle (well behind Majborough on that occasion) and can play a big hand here if cheekpieces and a first time out run (had to work hard to get the better of Champ Kiely at Naas) can bring her to that form.

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1:47 Leopardstown – Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) 2m1f

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This is a belting contest with all runners respected. Love Me Tender has made the biggest impression on yours truly so far with wins in a Tramore bumper, Kilbeggan maiden hurdle (2m3f) and 2m Tipperary Grade 3 novice hurdle, but it’s been 83 days since we last saw him and the recent record of Closutton horses off a break has not been encouraging, with yesterday providing another couple of examples. He might be the one to take going forward even over the impressive Thurles winner Le Divin Enfant, but the improvement that Skylight Hustle showed from his first to second hurdling start was utterly remarkable and Gordon Elliot’s charge could be the answer here.

He only had a short head in hand of The Passing Wife (since third to Koktail Brut at Fairyhouse) on his debut but looked much better on a sounder surface then and could step forward here for a stable that’s won four of the last six renewals and landed six winners yesterday (should have been seven but for El Cairos). Take The Talk was an Impressive winner of the Jack McInerney at Fairyhouse and is another key player in a race that will throw up big Supreme clues.

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 1:55 Kempton – Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) (4yo+) 2m

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Lump Sum was beaten easily by Lulamba in the Henry VII (Anilam pulled up) but this is a much less demanding assignment and he can bounce back quickly. He had Hansard well held on chasing debut, Mirabad may have been flattered by the poor jumping of Joyeuse when he won on debut at Exeter and Mambonumberfive, who has taken quickly to chasing, looks his biggest threat.

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2:50 Chepstow – Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) 3m6½f (3m6f136y)

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It’s important to note that the ground at Chepstow is reportedly much better than in most recent renewals, even if it’s expected to ride dead according to Nicolai Chastel. Whatever happened at Haydock, it’s true that wasn’t the real Haiti Coleurs we saw there and if Rebecca Curtis’s stable star is back to his best then he’ll take a huge amount of beating. One of the most progressive novice chasers of last season, his back to back wins in the National Hunt Chase and the Irish Grand National were superb performances and whilst he’s now off 154, that rise was earned and he had more in hand when winning the Irish National. His jumping and engine are exemplary and if at his best he’s a tremendous each/way bet.

Rock My Way was second behind Haiti Coleurs at Cheltenham, a creditable fifth in the Scottish National and then took the Berkshire National in incredible style when beating last time out winner Lord Accord and Tommy Whittle Chase runner up My Silver Lining by 11 lengths. He’s gone up 9lbs for that but it’s entirely fair, he’s 11lbs better off with Haiti Coleurs and he loves decent ground.

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3:00 Leopardstown – Paddy Power Chase (Extended Handicap Chase) (Listed Race) (5yo+ 0-150) 3m½f (3m100y)

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Backmersackme has been a frustrating follow for quite some time but he could reward connections here if he’s in the same form that saw him finish like a train to take second in a Premier Handicap at Cheltenham in October. The winner Three Card Brag was second in the Coral Gold Cup, third paced Joe Holy Smoke has finished placed in the Paddy Power and December Gold Cups, fourth The Short Go was fourth again in December and Dunboyne was third in the Troytown afterwards. If he can finish with the same rattle again from a better position then off just 1lbs higher he’s the potential handicap blot of the race.

Gavin Cromwell has a strong hand with Will The Wire and Ballysax Hank whilst the Mullins pair of Sa Majeste and Captain Cody have a big chance on their best form but it would be unwise to rule out last year’s runner up Midnight Our Fred, who was beaten by an uber competitive handicapper in the shape of Perceval Legallois, with a host of top class staying handicap chasers in behind. He’s just 2lbs higher this term and warmed up in good style with a third at Cork over hurdles.

One other big threat here is Weveallbeencaught, second in the Munster National when last seen and pointed straight here since.

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RECOMMENDED BETS

BACK Solness in the 1.12 Leopardstown 1 pt each/way at 9/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Skylight Hustle in the 1.47 Leopardstown 1 pt at 10/3 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Lump Sum in the 1.55 Kempton 2 pts at 11/8 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Rock My Way in the 2.50 Chepstow 1 pt win at 6/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Haiti Coleurs in the 2.50 Chepstow 1 pt each/way at 9/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Backmersackme in the 3.00 Leopardstown 1 pt win at 5/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Midnight Our Fred in the 3.00 Leopardstown 1 pt each/way at 10/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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PROFIT/LOSS (DEC 2025): +11.76 points

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