The Kempton Park Christmas Festival (26th-27th December 2021) is the jewel in the Kempton Park crown, boasting 12 top quality races over two days and a staple of the festive racing calendar. Here, The Wine Tipster shares his favourite racing moments from the Kempton Christmas archive, and some unmissable wine to accompany the Christmas weekend. Cheers!

King George VI Chase Day – 26th December

Day one is all about The King George VI Chase (3:05) which showcases some incredible talent and is a chance to make horse racing history. It is synonymous with some of the most famous names in racing with Arkle, Pendil, Wayward Lad and Best Mate among its winners. In 2020, history was made in the King George VI Chase with Frodon winning, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by the first female rider to win the race: Bryony Frost.

Also featured on Friday are the Grade 1 races the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (1:55) and the Christmas Hurdle (2:30). The former is named after the great Kauto Star who won the King George a record-breaking 5 times and was one of the most successful steeplechasers of his era.

Desert Orchid Chase Day – 27th December

Day two of the Festival is named in honour of Desert Orchid (Dessie) who won the King George an impressive 4 times and ran his last race at Kempton before retiring. His ashes are buried close to his memorial statue overlooking the parade ring at Kempton Park.

The Monday is packed full of quality racing including the Grade 2 (1:20) Wayward Lad Novices’ Steeple Chase, the (1:55) Mares’ Handicap Hurdle Race, and, of course, the (2:30) Desert Orchid Chase. In 2020, Dan Skelton trained Nube Negra to became only the second horse to beat Altior in winning the Desert Orchid Chase.

Celebrating The Christmas Festival

Whether you are at Kempton or at home for The Christmas Festival, The Wine Tipster has an array of wine and food tips to accompany this first class race meeting.

If you are looking for a tipple or two alongside the races, a glass of Ruggeri Argeo Prosecco DOC Brut is a vibrant and refreshing Prosecco with citrus fruit flavours and lovely crisp acidity. It’s a classic, stylish Prosecco, from this highly regarded producer. Great as an aperitif, or with fish dishes, it’s vegan friendly and abv 11%. Available from The Great Wine Co. (£11.75).

For a classy white for Christmas at Kempton, the Mâcon-Lugny Le Crays Joseph Drouhin 2020, Burgundy, France is the perfect bottle. Maison Joseph Drouhin have been producing a fantastic array of Burgundy wines for over 140 years, with the fourth generation now at the helm. This Chardonnay is tremendous value, lovely to have on its own or with fish dishes, it’s vegan friendly and abv 13%. Available from The Great Wine Co. (£18.85).

Top red for the weekend has to be the Ken Forrester Reserve Merlot 2018, Stellenbosch, South Africa (abv 14%). Ken Forrester made his first wines in 1994 and has built an international reputation for the range of wines he produces. He is renowned for his Grade 1 Chenin Blancs and there are excellent reds too, including his Reserve Merlot which is medium bodied with intense cherry fruit, herbal notes and friendly tannins. Only available at The Jockey Club Racecourse so do try if you are at Kempton, however, check out the great range of Ken Forrester wines at The Great Wine Co. Perfect for a range of dishes at Christmas time.

If you are at Kempton, please be aware of the COVID safety guidance to keep everyone safe this Christmas:

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The Wine Tipster hopes that you have wonderful Christmas weekend and lots of wins! Look out for his Unibet Blog for tips and follow him on social media for updates. For blogs straight into your inbox, subscribe here.

What a Saturday of racing coming up with the second day of the Tingle Creek Festival, the Unibet Becher Handicap Chase at Aintree over the National fences and twice Grand National winner Tiger Roll making his seasonal debut in the Unibet Many Clouds Chase, with the cross country at Cheltenham looking his key target. Ground conditions look likely to get much more testing at Aintree and Native River Unibet 17/8 in the Unibet Many Clouds Chase can make this a true stamina test and fend off favourite Protektorat and Imperial Aura.     

At Sandown in the Henry VIII Novices Chase, Third Time Lucki, one of my Ten To Follow, has won twice at Cheltenham this season over fences and can make it three on the bounce at Unibet 6/4 to beat easy Newbury winner last weekend Il Ridoto and Edwardstone.

The Tingle Creek is one of my races of the year and I’m looking forward to seeing Chacun Pour Soi, Nube Negra and Greaneteen renew rivalry at one of my favourite racecourses.  

Enjoy whether #athome or at the races.

See you at Sandown.

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

2.25 Sandown – Tingle Creek Chase Grade 1 (1m 7½f)

Nube Negra at The Festival finished an unlucky second to Put The Kettle On in the Champion Chase, with Chacun Pour Soi back in third. Admittedly Chacun Pour Soi was then superb in the Champion Chase at Punchestown, with Nube Negra delivering a below par performance back in third. However, on seasonal debut at Cheltenham in the Shloer Chase Nube Negra (tipped in my Unibet blog) he showed he was still improving when beating Politologue by six lengths. Nube Negra can step up again and the ground conditions of good, good to soft in places with little rain forecast look much more in his favour.

Unibet 17/8 win

2.40 Aintree – Unibet Becher Handicap Chase (National Fences) (3m 2f)

Snow Leopardess (nap) has never fallen in her career, is a fine jumper and has a strong chance if adapting to these unique fences, which looks likely. She won well on seasonal debut last month at Bangor on soft going, beating Windsor Avenue over three miles when delivering a career best. Last season this grey won a Class 2 at Haydock half a furlong short of today’s trip, was second in a Roland Meyrick at Wetherby and finished fourth in the National Hunt Chase to Galvin at The Festival over three miles six furlongs. She will handle more testing conditions, with rain currently forecast and Snow Leopardess, who is having her eighth chase start, has more progress to come.

Unibet 11/2 win

Achille is another good jumper and can run a big race on seasonal debut for Venetia Williams, who showed last week with Cloudy Glen, that her string can win competitive races after an absence. This

grey has been relatively lightly raced in recent years for the yard and came back after a 427 break to finish second in the Classic Chase at Warwick this year. He was then runner-up to Lord Mesnil in the Grand National Trial at Haydock, when just touched off, ahead of finishing sixth in the Midlands Grand National on his last start in March. Three of his four chase wins have been over three miles and he obviously has the stamina too in what looks likely to be a testing renewal.

Unibet 12/1 each way    

3.00 Sandown – London National Handicap Chase (3m 4f)

Christmas In April, for the resurgent Tizzard team, looked in good order last time out when runner-up at Carlisle behind the still-improving Hold That Taught, trying to give him 6lb after racing enthusiastically throughout. Back in May, on his penultimate start, he won in good style at Newton Abbot beating Highest Sun. He faced mission impossible, looking back, when trying to give Cloudy Glen weight in the Southern National last year. Christmas In April come here in good form and will go well.

Unibet 15/2 each way

3.15 Aintree – Unibet 2021 Horserace Betting Operator Of The Year Handicap Hurdle (2m 4f)

Tamar Bridge made it three wins from four starts when easily winning on his seasonal reappearance at Wetherby in a novice hurdle for the inform Olly Murphy team at the end of October. He had previously beaten Bass Rock in a match in the heavy at Ayr, with the runner-up third to Dans Le Vent in the Stayers’ Hurdle on Haydock’s big jumps day last month this is good form. Tamar Bridge runs off a favourable looking mark of 128 and is proven in testing conditions if the forecast rain comes.

Unibet 7/2 win

3.35 Sandown – December Handicap Hurdle Listed (2m)

Heure De Glorie, a four-year-old filly by Kapgarde, is worth an each way wager off bottom weight (three pounds out of the handicap) on Handicap debut. Heure De Glorie won on debut in France and then finished second to Bellatrixsa at Huntingdon in March when travelling well for a long way. She has had a wind op; ground will be fine, and this filly is an interesting runner.

Unibet 16/1 each way 

The Jump Season is already into its stride and we have seen some eye-catching performances already. Here, The Wine Tipster shares his top 10 horses to follow this Jump Season. Some of these have already had their seasonal debut, others to race very soon.

Hurdlers

Hillcrest (Henry Daly)

Hillcrest is such an impressive looking individual and this highly regarded type surely has plenty of improvement to come this season. In his two bumpers he finished second first time out to Wiseguy and then beat Armand De Brignac, with Harper’s Brook in third, who won at Carlisle on seasonal debut. There is no doubt that Hillcrest is seen as having a very bright future by his trainer and it would be great to see him do so well for the late Trevor Hemmings. He is entered at Aintree on Saturday.

Soaring Glory (Jonjo O’Neill)

Soaring Glory looked the real deal when winning Newbury’s big February handicap and then didn’t quite hit the level in the Supreme at Cheltenham when fourth to the top class Appreciate It. However, he bounced right back at Ascot on Saturday when winning the London Handicap Hurdle Listed Race when tipped up in my Unibet column. This six-year-old looked very visually impressive after his Summer break and beat a good field with something in hand after looking the winner someway out. Jonjo O’Neill might run Soaring Glory at the Cheltenham November Meeting, although more likely at Newbury at the end of the month.

Nightboattoclyro (Sam Drinkwater)

Very well backed on seasonal reappearance last year and beat Hooper fair and square with form that looks very good now and after two more wins at Chepstow and Wetherby before he lost his form (although still running respectably) in the Spring. Only had the nine hurdles starts – winning four of them – and gives the impression there’s still more to come when stepped up in trip slightly. Watch for him first time up, especially if the ground is on the soft side. 

Bear Ghylls (Nicky Martin)

It’s possible, given his size, that he might go chasing this year but his jumping, to an extent, held him back a bit last year and if that can be tidied up a bit there’s still some good races to be won with him over hurdles this season. Ready winner of first three starts before his jumping again cost him a place in the Ballymore but he kept trying all the way to the line regardless, and it would be no surprise if he stepped up in trip this year. Exciting prospect, whatever discipline connections decide to go for. 

Peking Rose (Fergal O’Brien)

Unusually for them, connections have taken their time with him (presumably because he’s a bit weak) and that could pay off this season. Good fourth in an Ascot bumper and then better still when second to Knappers Hill at Aintree, doing a lot of good late work under patient tactics and looked very much like 2m4f+ will suit him as a novice this year. Peking Rose was third on seasonal debut at Ascot to Kandoo Kid and will step up from that performance as he has loads to come as he strengthens up. 

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Chasers

Beatthebullett (Rebecca Curtis)

Lovely, big gelding that made a good impression when successful at Hereford over hurdles last November and, when given time to get over that, ran better than finishing position suggested at Haydock showing up well for a long way before getting tired. Thrown in at deep end in the Albert Bartlett, unsurprisingly tailed off but I’d expect him to improve a lot for fences this year (has won two Irish points) and can see him making up into one of the better novice chasers. 

Quinta Do Mar (Ben Pauling)

Scopey, good-looking gelding that stood out in the paddock at both Market Rasen and Ludlow last year, successful in the latter and should have won at Market Rasen but maybe jockey kicked on too soon and he was caught late on. Not disgraced on handicap debut at Cheltenham, fell last when still in touch and, as unexposed as he is, has plenty of potential for fences this season. Quinta Do Mar won a Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle on seasonal reappearance in October going away from Onehundredpercent when ridden very confidently. There is plenty more to come here.

Third Time Lucki (Dan Skelton)

Third Time Lucki was so eye-catching at The Showcase Meeting at Cheltenham on ground that was definitely on the quick side. He pulled himself to the front and won so comfortably after jumping in great style on chasing debut. Last season he had seven starts and will be campaigned differently this term with the Arkle in March the target.

Onchan (Nigel Twiston-Davies)

Lovely, lengthy sort that’s made for fences (is a full brother to Lord Windermere, amongst others); in truth, disappointing that he couldn’t get off the mark over hurdles but had issues (treated for post-race ataxia on one occasion) and maybe final Ludlow run was one too many for the year, but you’d expect him to do a lot better over fences, given that pedigree and his size, so too soon to be giving up on him yet. He is entered at Aintree on Saturday.

Any News (Neil Mulholland)

Looked very useful in bumpers/novice hurdles early in career but things didn’t go his way last year. However, the fact that he was thrown in at the deep end shows what they thought he was capable of and he travelled as well as anything in the Swinton and he lost nothing in defeat to a race-fit rival at Warwick last week with things again not going his way. He remains with the potential to make up into a very useful chaser if he can keep his exuberance in check (wore red hood at Warwick, keen). On seasonal debut Any News was third at Cheltenham behind Third Time Lucki, who is Arkle bound, when running on and can build on that performance.

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Keep up to date with The Wine Tipster’s tips throughout Jump Season with his Unibet Racing blog and across his Social Media. For more racing, wine and hospitality content, subscribe to get the next blog straight to your inbox.

Day two at The Showcase Meeting at Cheltenham and it is always great to be back at the home of jump racing. Whilst it is disappointing to see only four runners in the hurdle at 2.55 it is certainly competitive, with Tritonic, I Like To Move It and Stepney Causeway in the field. I’m looking forward to seeing Sky Pirate and Storm Control as they have a good record at Cheltenham and both leave their best performances for Prestbury.

Up at Doncaster, the Group 1 the Futurity Trophy Stakes is an intriguing renewal, with favourite Luxembourg, Royal Lodge Stakes winner Royal Patronage and Champagne Stakes victor Bayside Boy in the line-up.

Enjoy whether at a racecourse or #athome

Cheers

The Wine Tipster   

1.45 Cheltenham – NHS Vaccinating Heroes Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (2m ½f)

Ingleby Hollow can make the long trip worthwhile for the Rebecca Menzies team with the unexposed runners in the field Samarrive and Timberman given high enough marks.

Ingleby Hollow looked very unlucky when repeatedly denied a clear run in the valuable Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen and has had two narrow defeats since joining his new yard. His last start at Cartmel when second to Alqamar, beaten a neck, looks very solid form. The ground will suit, and he can strike with a typically late challenge.

Unibet 11/1 each way

2.20 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (3m 1f)

Storm Control goes so well at Cheltenham and has a strong chance of winning here again for the inform Kerry Lee yard. Last season Storm Control won at the November meeting and then followed up in December when beating Potters Legend in the Grade 3 Unibet Handicap Chase and he is running off the same mark today. Storm Control will be ready for his first run and Richard Patrick can let him bowl along in front.

Unibet 9/2

3.15 Doncaster – Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes Group 1 (1m)

Bayside Boy was doing all his best work at the finish of the Dewhurst when third to Native Trial over seven furlongs, with the step up to a mile a positive. Bayside Boy won the Champagne Stakes here in September and with concerns about the form of the Aidan O’Brien yard, who runs Luxembourg, then Bayside Boy represents some value.

Unibet 11/2 each way

3.30 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (1m 7f)

Sky Pirate (nap) was first tipped up in my Unibet blog at the December meeting when showing that this trip is really what suits him when winning in good style off a mark of 134. Sky Pirate won next time at Warwick and then ended his season with victory in the Grand Annual. This eight-year-old carries top weight, is now on a mark of 159 and can win on seasonal debut at a course where he goes so well.

Unibet 5/2 win

4.05 Cheltenham – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (3m)

Born Patriot has given the impression on more than one occasion that this trip is right for him this year. He was third in the Scottish Stayers Novices’ Hurdle over three miles last season and ran a solid third in competitive Killarney handicap in May and would have needed a recent outing at Navan after a break when fourth to Tullybeg (reopposes today). A good strong gallop will suit as will Prestbury and this five-year-old has plenty of improvement to come.

Unibet 13/2 each way

Push The Tempo won last month at Worcester on good ground on his first start for four months after a breathing operation. He was idling in front that day and if he can come on from that success he has strong each way claims.

Unibet 12/1 each way

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