Five horses go to post for the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day race and this contest has always been a platform for a horse to use it as a stepping stone to the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in March, while Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders have competed in the race in the past.
Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers takes a look at the 3m contest and is confident that the cream can rise to the top in what is a race lacking significant strength in depth.
THE JUKEBOX MAN
(Ben Jones/Ben Pauling)
Second in both the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, The Jukebox Man was one of the leading novice hurdlers in Britain and he made a perfect start to his chasing career when putting in a spell-binding display in a Grade 2 at Newbury last time out. A mightily-impressive two-length winner of the John Francome Novices’ Chase, he pulled comfortably clear of Masaccio that day and he’s likely to adopt his traditional front-running tactics in this event and is likely to be hard to catch, if he replicates that Newbury run.
HYLAND
(Nico de Boinville/Nicky Henderson)
Nicky Henderson’s Hyland has made a bright start to his chasing career and he put in a sublime round of jumping when landing a Cheltenham contest in style last month. Three wins from four over fences has shown he’s a better chaser than hurdler, but this will need a notable step up to get the better of The Jukebox Man, who sets the standard. Now stepping up to Graded company, the Seven Barrows inmate is looking to continue his progression and claim another win.
Boxing Day Horse Racing Tips: Best Bets For Thursday 26th December, 2024
A whopping 76 races will take place on Boxing Day in the UK & Ireland with the highlight of the day being the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers has delved through the form and picked out his best bets for Thursday 26th December, 2024 here… 12:45pm Kempton –…
Thu 26 Dec 2024MASACCIO
(Tom Cannon/Alan King)
A winner of a Newbury handicap for Alan King, Masaccio then was sent into Graded company for the John Francome Novices’ Chase, but he bumped into The Jukebox Man. Unable to go the gallop that day, he stayed on well in the closing stages of that contest and the step up to three miles here could see him get closer to Ben Pauling’s charge. However, he was well beaten that day and he will need to improve significantly to get his head in front.
THE REST OF THE FIELD
Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero’s White Rhino has made a perfect start to his chasing career landing back-to-back wins at Ayr and Haydock and will look to make it a hat-trick here. This is tougher, but he does come into the contest in good form, so has to be considered. Welcom To Cartries completes the quintet and he was well beaten on chasing debut for Paul Nicholls and will need to improve dramatically to play any sort of role here.
VERDICT
A rampant win at Newbury last time out, THE JUKEBOX MAN can solidify his place as one of the leading novice chasers on British soil by claim victory in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day. Hyland has shaped well over fences and can chase Ben Pauling’s raider home, while Masaccio can complete the 1-2-3.
2024 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase Predicted 1-2-3
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