There’s a bumper £50,000 jackpot up for grabs for the ITV7 on Boxing Day, which is set to be a spectacular day’s racing on Thursday 26th December, 2024. You will need to pick all seven winners of the selected races to stand a chance of landing the prize and we try and point you in the right direction of the ones to be on here.
Race 1 – 1.20pm Kempton
We kick off the ITV7 on Boxing Day with the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase and the 1:20pm event can go the way of Ben Pauling’s THE JUKEBOX MAN, who can build on a fine win on chasing debut at Newbury. He got the better of Masaccio in the Grade 2 John Francome Novices’ Chase last month and the dual Grade 1 runner-up could be even better over fences and he can land this 3m prize. He takes on Masaccio again on Thursday, but looks to have his measure, while he can also get the better of Hyland, who impressed at Cheltenham last time out.
Race 2 – 1.35pm Wetherby
Hugely consistent over fences last season, Tom Lacey’s CRUZ CONTROL can enjoy a return to the chasing sphere at Wetherby and land victory in the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at 1:35pm. A three-times winner last season, he was last seen having a spin over hurdles, but a return to the larger obstacles should bring on vast improvement. He lines up off a mark of 140, which is the same figure he ran off when a fine fourth in a competitive race at the Punchestown Festival. This looks a lot easier and Lacey’s raider can potentially show his class and this could propel him towards the Grand National later in his career.
Race 3 – 1.40pm Aintree
Fifth in the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow two starts ago, PATRIOTIK unseated Isabel Williams in the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock last time out. Now, looking to bounce back from that tumble the five-year-old can bounce back in style by claiming victory in the 1:40pm at Aintree. He’s remained on the same mark of 120 for this contest, so if he can produce a clear round of jumping then he looks attractively handicapped to go close in a really competitive betting heat.
Race 4 – 1.55pm Kempton
A mouth-watering clash between CONSTITUTION HILL and Lossiemouth is the highlight of Boxing Day and the pair are set for a titanic tussle. Not seen for a year, where he won this contest with ease, Constitution Hill is on the comeback here and in Lossiemouth he has a mare that downed State Man in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle and looks a really top notch performer. However, Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill is the way to go and he’s also the Jackpot Jumper selection, where if you select him and he wins then the pot will double to £100,000, if you can land all seven winners.
Race 5 – 1.58pm Down Royal
Undoubtedly, the most difficult puzzle on the Boxing Day ITV7 is the 1.58pm at Down Royal, which is a wide open 0-102 handicap run over two-and-a-half miles. Gavin Cromwell’s ONE NIGHT STANDARD will have the burden of top weight in the contest and is yet to find his feet over fences, but he was a winner over hurdles off 103, so has to be respected. Last seen finishing way behind Majborough, this is a whole lot easier and in handicap company he could be well handicapped off 102 to bag victory.
Race 6 – 2.15pm Aintree
A winner over hurdles last time out at Warwick, Olly Muprhy’s IKARAK will make his chasing debut in the 2:15pm at Aintree and with Sean Bowen in the saddle he can land back-to-back wins. He takes his chance off a mark of 121 for this event and will face some lively rivals in the shape of Fortunate Man and Moonlit Potter, but he could be one that continues to improve for the switch to fences and is the tentative pick.
Race 7 – 2.30pm Kempton Park
There’s an enthralling renewal of the King George VI Chase at 2:30pm with some star UK & Irish chasers doing battle for the Grade 1 showpiece at Kempton Park. Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning is well fancied, while Il Est Francais has to be respected, but SPILLANE’S TOWER can land the prize for Ireland and duly cement his place as a leading Cheltenham Gold Cup contender. A Grade 1-winning novice chaser, Jimmy Mangan’s raider was last seen finishing second behind Fact To File in the John Durkan at Punchestown, where he beat Galopin Des Champs, and a repeat of that should see him claim this prize.
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