Monday 27th December

What a pulsating day of racing we were treated to on Boxing Day, and the King George certainly loved up to all billing. It was a fascinating running of the famous race, and a deserving winner in the shape of Tornado Flyer under the brilliant jockeyship of Danny Mullins (who had also shone on Jacamar earlier.)

If you had time between turkey sandwiches, board games and glasses of sherry to read deep into my article yesterday, then you’d have hopefully backed Jacamar, Tornado Flyer and Marie’s Rock. I’m kicking myself for not recommending all three outright – but such is the constant battle between the rational/irrational sides of a punters’ brain!

Anyhow, focus moves on to Coral Welsh Grand National day at Chepstow on Monday, and it is such a shame that crowds can’t flock into the South Wales venue in their usual festive and frivolous manner.

Having recommended backing a couple earlier in the week, it is a shame to see Fortescue declared to run at Kempton Park instead, as despite the soft ground there, you get the feeling that 3m around the Sunbury track won’t be enough of a stamina test.

So, it is left to the majority to clutch on to our 11/1 each-way slips about Venetia Williams’ Hold That Taught for the showpiece Coral Welsh Grand National at 2.50 at Chepstow.

The reasoning remains true, and despite being a few pounds out of the handicap, due to the presence of Native River as top weight, this race has surely been the main aim for Hold That Taught, ever since his close second in the novices’ handicap chase on the card last season.

For those wishing to add another dart, then you could do worse than shell out a few quid each-way on Colorado Doc at 50/1 each-way for 6 places with Paddy Power or Betfair Sportsbook. But the only recommended bet is to back Hold That Taught (if you haven’t already) at 9/1 each-way with William Hill, for a generous 7 places.

Earlier on, in the Watch Racing Online Free With Coral Handicap Chase at 1.05, we could see a Welsh-trained winner in the shape of Zambezi Fix, who at 13/2 each-way with William Hill, for 4 places, is perhaps the bet of the day.

Surely a handicap chase winner in waiting on any number of his recent runs, Zambezi Fix had a lovely confidence booster over hurdles at Sandown Park three weeks ago, after falling when he would have won at Ffos Las the time before.

Zambezi Fix has finished 2^nd three times at Chepstow, and was probably booked for that spot when unseating late on the other time he ran there. He can go one better tomorrow.

The other big betting heat of the day is the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at 2.55 at Leopardstown, and it is a case of keeping it simple for me in this race, by suggesting backing the two market leaders each-way – Alfa Mix at 15/2 and The Bosses Oscar at 8/1, both with Bet365, who offer 6 places.

Alfa Mix very much caught the eye running on too late over 2m6½f last time, and in being adorned with the first-time cheekpieces suggests this valuable race has been the target for a while.

While The Bosses Oscar is another horse who has obviously been targeted at this race after three workable beginners chase runs, given he also receives the Christmas gift of extra cheekpieces, and also a tongue-tie.

Gordon Elliott is nothing short of genius when it comes to aiming one at a valuable handicap chase, and The Bosses Oscar will surely run very well, before being aimed at the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The final bet on a busy day is one that I have been waiting for, and the two wishes that I had chalked up next to this horse’s name in my notebook, have both been granted by Father Christmas it seems!

The Truant, running in the Roches Feeds Handicap Hurdle at 2.40 at Limerick, gets professional handling and testing conditions for the first time in a handicap.

So, at 8/1 each-way generally for 5 places, he can finally confirm the favourable impression he has made in any number of his handicap starts.