'King of Kempton' - Key stats to look out for over Christmas Christmas is a time like no other for racing fans, with a flurry of major meetings all coming thick and fast after the big day on December 25th. The likes of Kempton, Aintree, Chepstow, Leopardstown, Limerick, Fairyhouse, Cheltenham, Newbury and Musselburgh all feature from St Stephen's Day through to New Year's Day in a manic week of action. Here are some festive racing stats and trends that might help uncover some Christmas winners when it all kicks off on Friday! Mullins looking to rebound Not much goes wrong in the world of Willie Mullins but, this season, quite a few of his string have been needing their comebacks. The champion trainer of Ireland and Britain, Mullins will anticipate a big Christmas with stars like Gaelic Warrior, Fact To File, Lossiemouth and Galopin Des Champs all set to appear. His domination at home is almost taken for granted but in 2024 he endured his worst festive period for a decade, undershooting on all metrics when compared to every year since 2015 as Mullins saddled just seven winners from 74 runners at a strike-rate of nine per cent. He did still manage Grade 1 wins with Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase and Impaire Et Passe in the Faugheen Novice Chase, but State Man, Lossiemouth, Gaelic Warrior and Ballyburn were all beaten, while he had 13 horses defeated at odds of 7-2 or shorter in races outside Grade 1s. Nicholls focused on Newbury Paul Nicholls has long been the King of Kempton on Boxing Day, the Ditcheat supremo landing 13 King George winners from 1997-2022. He's without a runner in the Boxing Day showpiece this year, ensuring great names like Kauto Star and Clan Des Obeaux won't be emulated. The Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury, the final Grade 1 of the year in Britain and in 2025 raced on December 29th, could be Nicholls' big target. He won four renewals on the spin from 2020 onwards and No Drama This End is the most exciting novice hurdler in Britain so far this season, with Nicholls comparing him favourably to his former Challow winner Denman. Skelton's title dreams won't be enhanced at Kempton Dan Skelton is almost £1.1 million clear in the race to be champion trainer in Britain. He was agonisingly denied by Willie Mullins last season as the reigning champ won the Grand National at Aintree in a stunning finish. Skelton did not make a single entry on the King George VI Chase card at Kempton, where the feature race is worth £250,000 and Mullins has Kitzbuhel as favourite in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase. Skelton is well represented at the likes of Wetherby, Market Rasen and Sedgefield on Boxing Day, while Mydaddypaddy is hot favourite in the Grade 1 Formby at Aintree. Trainer Dan and brother Harry have been enjoying a good time of it this winter, surpassing the yard's personal best tally in terms of prize money. Can they maintain their clear advantage in the New Year?
