Today’s FREE Horse racing tips: The Betting Spy’s top picks for Boxing Day at Kempton
The Betting Spy is back with his top tips for Wednesday's racing where the action at Kempton takes centre stage
But trainer Ruth Jefferson, like her late father Malcolm before her, does not run horses simply for the sake of it. She bypassed Cheltenham because the horse was not quite right and has aimed him at this race since.
He is unbeaten in six starts over fences, jumps superbly, and goes well fresh. He will not fail for lack of fitness. Nor will he for lack of stamina. He has yet to tackle this trip but he won the strongly-run 2m5f race at Ascot going away at the finish, with the likes of Frodon and Top Notch still in Windsor!
He will relish three miles on decent ground around Kempton.
Last year's winner Might Bite may well confirm the form with those he beat 12 months ago - Double Shuffle, Tea For Two, Thistlecrack and Bristol De Mai, for all he was yet again brilliant at his beloved Haydock - but he flopped on his return and this is a stronger renewal than in 2017.
Gold Cup hero Native River has a massive form shout but may need a stiffer test so the big danger is probably Politologue.
He won last time at Ascot over 2m5f beating subsequent Peterborough Chase winner Charbel and is clearly a player on that form. But the tank looked to be nearly in the red in the last half furlong and he could run out of petrol close home here.
The King George will be terrific but the Kauto Star Novice Chase (1.55) over the same track and trip could be just as thrilling. Nicky Henderson has made no secret of the high regard he has for Santini and he looked pretty good when making a winning chasing debut at Newbury, beating Rocky's Treasure - a winner at Doncaster since - cosily by four lengths.
But he is up against top opposition here with two-from-two mare La Bague Au Roi receiving 7lb, Topofthegame, who almost won at Exeter last time despite being left at the start and recent Cheltenham winner The Worlds End. However they will all have to go some to beat BAGS GROOVE.
He has jumped expertly for a novice and was superb last time at Huntingdon, where he defied a 10lb penalty to thrash a quality field.
His best form has come at this trip, on right-hand tracks on decent ground so he has his ideal conditions. And there could be Bags of improvement to come!
All weather fancy...
COURT HOUSE gets the verdict in the Wolverhampton, 2.50.
He has not been out since Derby Day when he finished second in the always red-hot three-year-old handicap that opens the card.
There was uncertainty that day about where the best ground was and the winner, Connect, stayed on the far rail which later events proved to be very much the place to be.
The runner-up raced up the centre and that may have cost him the race, it certainly warrants upgrading the bare form.
He is only 1lb higher in the ratings now against useful but far more exposed opposition and trainer John Gosden is saddling winners at a 30% strike rate so he will be straight enough to do himself justice.
And, of course, justice is the least we should expect from the Court House.
Wetherby's big race is the Rowland Meyrick Chase at 2.10 and this is the time for TAKINGRISKS.
Although it is arguable that there is little chancey about him. Trainer Nicky Richards has saddled eight winners over the last couple of weeks at an incredible 44% strike rate.
And 16 of his last 18 runners have been in the first three! Plus Takingrisks looks set to go off at an each-way price in an eight-runner field. Let's hope there are no non-runners!
Takingrisks chased home Vintage Clouds at Haydock last time and is well handicapped on that form and will only have 10-2 on his back with top 7lb-claimer Danny McMenamin doing the steering.
Richards also runs topweight Baywing and clearly he too has a squeak but he probably prefers further these days and his big target is likely to be a repeat success in Newcastle's 4m Eider Chase in February.
Wakanda has been second in the last two runnings and will run a big race again but he holds few secrets from the handicapper.
Lake View Lad has been hit hard for his reappearance win at Newcastle, where he always goes well, and Crosspark is up in grade.
Wincanton stage an interesting Pertemps Qualifier (1.25) where the likes of William Henry and Wait For Me are fairly weighted but their connections may have half an eye on simply booking a place in the Final at Cheltenham in March.
Paul Nicholls, who has a fantastic record at the Somerset track, had five five-day entries but relies solely on RHYTHM IS A DANCER, who has no Festival ambitions at the minute as he is too low in the handicap but could be hard to beat here off bottom weight.
He has a stiff task on bare form but won cosily here last time, albeit in a weaker race, and could still be ahead of his mark - even from 3lb out of the handicap.
Needless to say Rhythm Is A Dancer is a lovely mover!