How To Bet £20 on Boxing Day: Henderson novice can strike at 5-1

The 32Red King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day promises to be a cracker but it does not look a great betting medium because hot favourite Might Bite is by far the most likely winner.

If the rain forecast beforehand falls in any quantity then it could be that Nicky Henderson’s brilliant eight-year-old will drift to a more backable price than 6-4 but I would not be too worried about conditions for him.

Officially, Might Bite has never run on going worse than good to soft over hurdles or fences but I prefer the expertise of Timeform when it comes to assessing conditions and they have him being 2-2 on a soft surface, including when winning at Sandown on his return.

Henderson’s Buveur D’Air should enjoy something of a lap of honour in the Christmas Hurdle and the trainer’s Reigning Supreme is the one to be with in the 32Red.com Chase.

This Presenting gelding impressed when winning two of his three starts over hurdles last term but chasing has always looked like being his game and Henderson is wasting no further time exploring how high he might be able to go over the smaller obstacles.

The champion trainer is also pitching him straight into handicap company, which looks a shrewd move as he is able to compete off the mark allocated to him over hurdles.

Hell’s Kitchen looks a bad favourite and I’ll be backing Reigning Supreme, who is a general 5-1, to beat Bad Boy Du Pouldu in an Exacta.

Henderson is not represented in the 32Red Kauto Star Novices' Chase (1.55), a race in which Mia’s Storm heads the market.

Any more rain would definitely be a worry for her, though, and in any case preference is for Ballyoptic who was easily the best of this field over hurdles and looked bound for big things over fences when scoring in fine style on his chasing bow at Exeter.

Ballyoptic found the more experienced Black Corton too strong in a three-runner race on testing ground at Cheltenham last time but that contest surely did not show him to best advantage and I will be disappointed if that is as good as he is. Given his potential class edge, he looks chunky at 9-2 with Paddy Power.

If The Cap Fits looks the right favourite for the 32Red Casino Novices' Hurdle but Simply The Betts should give him something to think about in receipt of 8lb.

He was strong in the market when beating subsequent dual winner Theclockisticking on his bumper debut at Market Rasen in September and the runner-up has more than franked that effort.

Simply The Betts was then well fancied on his hurdling bow at Newbury but he did a bit too much too soon and faded into third behind the likeable Lostintranslation.

It was still a very credible effort and, with plenty more to come, he looks worth a play at a general 9-2.

Delusionofgrandeur, a stout stayer who jumps soundly, appeals at 8-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power in the 188Bet Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby (2.10), while Saffron Wells has never been the easiest to catch right but has plenty going for him in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton (1.30).

Finally, at Sedgefield, make a note of Bal De Rio in the Gary Wood Memorial Handicap Hurdle (1.35). Brian Ellion’s charge is interesting stepping up in trip for his first run in handicap company over jumps equipped with cheekpieces for the first time.

How To Bet £20 on Boxing Day:

(Prices correct 9.30am on Christmas Eve)

OPTION ONE:

12.45 Kempton: Simply The Betts £2 each-way at a generally available 9-2

1.20 Kempton: Reigning Supreme £4 win at a general 5-1

1.30 Wincanton: Saffron Wells £2 win at a generally available 9-1

1.35 Sedgefield: Bal De Rio £3 win at 4-1 with Betfair

1.55 Kempton: Ballyoptic £4 win at 9-2 with Betfair and Paddy Power

2.10 Wetherby: Delusionofgrandeur £3 win at 8-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power

OPTION TWO:

60p Win Lucky 31 plus 70p each-way accumulator

1.20 Kempton: Reigning Supreme

1.30 Wincanton: Saffron Wells

1.35 Sedgefield: Bal De Rio

1.55 Kempton: Ballyoptic

2.10 Wetherby: Delusionofgrandeur