Boxing Day racing tips: Andy Ayres picks out his best bet from Kempton while updating us on all the latest news from around the tracks
Don't miss out on all the latest talk from the tracks as Andy Ayres looks back at a big day of racing at Ascot
CHRISTMAS came early for the bookies at Ascot on Saturday.
Only one jolly managed to oblige and winners were harder to find than a pair of jeans in Jacob Rees-Moggs’ wardrobe.
Emma Lavelle grabbed the headlines here when her Paisley Park dug deeper than a tin miner to win the Long Walk Hurdle.
This fella has been a slow burner, but he’s thriving now and is the horse of a lifetime for popular owner Andrew Gemmell who has been blind since birth and deserves plenty of luck.
Paisley Park heads straight to Cheltenham for the Sun Racing Stayers’ Hurdle and the 14-1 currently available could look double handy come the big day.
There was a king-sized punt on Paul Nicholls’ Mont Des Avaloirs (16-1 to 5-1) in the valuable 2m handicap hurdle on this card.
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Unfortunately no-one told the horse and he had hoisted a white flag and gone home for tea by the third last.
Mohaayed won the race under a welter weight for trainer Dan Skelton and the Warwickshire wizard reckons his gelding deserves a crack at the Champion Hurdle.
The big boss John Gosden dominated Lingfield’s card on Saturday, grabbing a festive fistful of dollars through his well-backed pair Ghazawaat (8-13 to 2-5) and Wissahickon (4-5 to 2-5).
Wissahickon looked as if he’d just come back from a month on holiday with Judith Chalmers and is going to be double difficult to beat in the Winter Derby and Easter Classic back at Lingers this spring.
Boxing Day selection
SANTINI (1.55 Kempton) looked a natural at Newbury on his chasing debut and is a star in the making.
Roger Teal was out of luck with stable star Tip To Win over in Qatar, but paid for his duty frees when Taurean Dancer (6-1 to 4-1) landed a tickle in a Class 6 event.
Jolly Roger knows how to get one ready for a punt and fancied the gelding for his life when he was nailed on the line here in November.
Danny Tudhope kicked miles too early that day, but Rossa Ryan played a shrewder hand and squeezed the horse home in the sort of finish that keeps cameramen busy.
Nicky Henderson had a big dipper of an afternoon at Ascot on Friday, where Gallaghers Cross and Igor flopped before heavily touted Angels Breath (2-1 to 6-4) ran away with a Grade 2 event on his hurdling debut.
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Hendo looked distinctly misty eyed when discussing this handsome grey and he could just be a bit special.
Kim Bailey chalked one up for the good guys when Vindication (5-4 to 8-13) landed a short-priced touch in a hot novice chase here.
He jumps like a bunny and is made for jockey David Bass who is bolder than Braveheart and seems to see a long stride at every obstacle.
Sandown’s Scilly Isles Chase is next on Vindication’s dance card and it’ll take a smart one to live with him over the Railway Fences.
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Nicky Henderson is nigh on unbeatable at Kempton and he’s sending a Premier League team to the big meeting on Boxing Day.
Pick of his runners could be SANTINI (1.55), who oozes class and looked a bit special at Newbury on his chasing debut.