Best Bets for St Stephen’s Day The action will be coming thick and fast on St. Stephen’s Day with eleven race meetings scheduled for Ireland and the UK, so here are a few betting suggestions that will hopefully keep you on the right side of the bookies. The King George VI Chase at Kempton (2.30pm) is the highlight of the day with the classy Allaho looking to add a fifth Grade One victory to his CV. Last year’s winner Bravemansgame heads the list of dangers in this six runner contest, but it will be a surprise if Allaho gets beaten and at his current odds of 6/4 with BoyleSports he is worth a bet. BoyleSport have a range of offers for both new and existing customers across the day including an offer exclusive to online customers based in Ireland and the UK. If you place multiple bets (treble, accumulator, lucky 15 etc) on horse racing on 26th December to the total value of €10 or more you will receive a €5 free bet to use on horse racing multiples on 27th December. Check out the advertisement below for more details. Over at Leopardstown on St. Stephen’s Day Ascending looks to have an outstanding chance in the opening 4-y-o Maiden Hurdle (12pm). Henry de Bromhead’s charge holds a significant experience edge over his rivals having contested a number of high quality races, including when finishing a respectable fifth in last season’s Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. A recent placed effort behind It’s For Me and Caldwell Potter should have Ascending spot-on for this assignment. The de Bromhead team should also hit the mark in the second race at Limerick (12.58pm) with Picture Of You. This filly has improved with each run over hurdles and was only denied by a short-head at Cork last month. Sticking to Limerick, Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown Stud have teamed up to win the Grade 2 Novices Hurdle (1.33pm) twice in the last three years and can do so again with Search For Glory. The 6-y-o carries a 3lbs penalty for his recent success in a Grade 3 contest at Cork, but with ground and distance again in his favour he will prove difficult to beat. Ferns Lock can give trainer David Christie a third victory in five years in the Hunters Chase at Down Royal (2.33pm). A recent point-to-point win should have him spot on for this assignment and jockey bookings, with leading Amateur Barry O’Neill aboard, suggest that he is the better fancied of the stables four runners in this race. Gordon Elliott runs Royal Bond winner Farren Glory in the Grade 1 Novices Hurdle at Aintree (1.05pm), but this is not a straightforward task. The Nicky Henderson-trained Jango Baie is highly regarded by connections and despite only prevailing by a nose from another of his Aintree rivals, Tellherthename, on hurdles debut he can put it up to the Irish raider. Trainer Sue Smith is in a rich vein of form lately and can continue the run with ex-Irish pointer O’Connell in the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen (2.57pm). Nick Scholfield’s mount had a nice prep for this test of stamina when winning easily over the course at the beginning of the month and looks well treated off a 6lbs higher mark here. Rebecca Menzies is another trainer with an impressive strike rate in recent weeks and her Harper Valley is a likely winner in a handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (2.00pm). Harper Valley won over the course and distance on his penultimate start before failing to see out a significantly longer trip on heavy ground last time out at Aintree. Please gamble responsibly.
