Racing tips: Templegate NAPS a 6-1 shot to win the King George on a huge Boxing Day card at Kempton

TEMPLEGATE tackles a huge day of Boxing Day action confident of finding plenty of winners at Kempton and beyond.

Read on for our man’s tips and back a horse by clicking their odds below.

HITMAN (2.30 Kempton, nap)

This speed track should be ideal as he tries to keep up the excellent record of trainer Paul Nicholls in this race. He was impressive when winning at Haydock last time.

He is likely to stay better now he’s matured and Kempton should be ideal for his swashbuckling style. L’Homme Presse and stablemate Bravemansgame look the biggest dangers.

MCFABULOUS (1.20 Kempton, nb)

He has been living up to his name and can land another big win for the champion trainer.

He was classy over hurdles but has already improved on that as a chaser and had lots in hand when landing a Newbury Grade 2 last time. There’s a lot more to come.

SHAN BLUE (1.35 Wetherby, treble) 

He is a Grade 1 performer but seems to have been let in lightly by the handicapper.

He went close off this mark in a hot contest at Aintree last time and he would have won the Charlie Hall here last year but for a late fall. He should be too good for these rivals.

Templegate’s ITV Racing Boxing Day verdicts

KEMPTON

12.45

CHAMP and Paisley Park can fight out another Long Walk Hurdle with last year’s winner likely to just come out on top.

These old foes clashed again at Newbury last month when Champ went from the front and his rival couldn’t quite peg him back.

Paisley Park tends to do best at tracks with punishing finishes like Cheltenham as he comes from behind. That’s not so easy at flat Kempton. There’s not a lot between them.

Miranda is improving as she showed when scoring in Listed company over this course and distance last time. She won’t mind some cut in the ground and has more to offer. This is her toughest race yet so she’ll need to show a bit more.

1.20

MCFABULOUS more than lived up to his name when landed a Grade 2 chase success at Newbury last month.

It was just his second spin over fences but he jumped beautifully and didn’t have to break sweat. There should be a lot more to come and he’s proven over this sort of distance.

Galia Des Liteaux caught the eye when winning a Listed chase at Bangor on his debut over the bigger obstacles.

He jumped well and wasn’t stopping at the end of 2m1f. He’ll improve for that and this stiffer test of stamina should also suit. He looks a big price for the forecast spot.

Gelino Bello is a Grade 1 winning hurdler and has created a good impression on two chase runs. He hasn’t had a lot to beat but has done it well including over this trip at Exeter earlier this month.

1.55

CONSTITUTION HILL looks set for another lap of honour to add to his hat-trick of easy Grade 1 wins.

The Supreme Novices’ winner came back for a saunter around Newcastle where he landed the Fighting Fifth by 12 lengths without coming out of first gear.

He has won on a right-handed track before and in both good and testing ground so there are no fears there. Stablemate Epatante chased him home at Gosforth Park and faces a good battle with Sceau Royal for the runner-up spot here.

2.30

HITMAN has the King George in his sights.

This speed track will be right up his street and he was impressive when scoring at Haydock last time. There’s more to come and Paul Nicholls has a cracking record in this race.

Stablemate Bravemansgame is right in the hunt but L’Homme Presse looks a bigger threat.

He is a proven Grade 1 performer who gave lumps of weight away when scoring at Newcastle last time.

WETHERBY

1.35

SHAN BLUE is a Grade 1 chaser at best and was miles clear when falling late on in the Charlie Hall Chase here last season.

He’s only raced twice since that but looked close to his best when second in a red-hot contest at Aintree’s Grand National meeting in April.

He has run well fresh before and looks well handicapped on a mark of 148 which means he gets weight from most of today’s rivals. He goes on any ground and looks hard to beat.

Into Overdrive scored easily here in October over shorter but stayed well when second over this sort of trip at Newcastle last month. He’s going up the weights but has improvement in him.

Sounds Russian wasn’t disgraced in the Many Clouds at Aintree last time on the back of a good Kelso win. He’d love more rain as he stays strongly.

Templegate’s tips

KEMPTON

12.10   Rare Edition

12.45   Champ

1.20     McFabulous (nb)

1.55     Constitution Hill

2.30     Hitman (nap)

3.05     Balco Coastal

3.40     Bourbali

WETHERBY

11.52   Queens Rock

12.27   Fever Roque

1.00     Curley Finger

1.35     Shan Blue (treble)

2.10     Tiger Jet

2.45     Any News

3.20     Chapel Green

NEWCASTLE

11.45   Snake Roll

12.15   Maughold Head

12.50   Edmond Dantes

1.25     Leading Force

2.00     Operation Manna

2.35     Heroique De Maulde

3.10     Blue Baloo

MARKET RASEN

11.55   True Romance

12.30   Chasing Fire

1.05     Callisto’s King

1.40     Hometown Hero

2.15     Good Bye

2.50     Representing Bob

3.25     Asta La Pasta

FONTWELL

11.57   Rambo T

12.32   Martha Brae

1.07     Hidor De Bersy

1.42     Teddy Blue

2.17     Aviles

2.52     Born At Midnight

3.27     Blue Shark

HUNTINGDON

12.05   Loup De Maulde

12.40   Sponthus

1.15     Thundersockssundae

1.47     Moveit Like Minnie

2.22     Airtothethrone

2.57     Bells Of Stamford

3.32     Range

WINCANTON

12.18   Tweed Skirt

12.53   Ahorsewithnoname

1.28     Planned Paradise

2.03     Huelgoat

2.38     Jaramillo

3.13     Steal A March

3.45     Steel Ally

WOLVERHAMPTON

1.50     Raintown

2.25     Grace Angel

3.00     Exalted Angel

3.35     Master Zoffany

4.10     Civil Law

4.45     Dream Harder

5.20     Eloso

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