Boxing Day Racing Tips: Owen’s seven Christmas crackers

Merry Christmas, folks! The big day has been and gone, but it's just about to start for us racing fans. Boxing Day is where it's at, with 76 races - including a mouth-watering renewal of the King George - to enjoy from 11 venues. A festive feast.

I've studied every single one of them and landed on SEVEN Boxing Day racing tips to consider. Fingers crossed for a winner or two. Or three. Or seven. That'd be nice...

11:45 Sedgefield - Scorsese @ 7/4

SCORSESE is going in the right direction over fences and is taken to get off the mark at Sedgefield on Boxing Day.

Neil Mulholland's seven-year-old was a fancy of mine at Wincanton earlier this month, but the son of Shirocco was just touched off by one of Jeremy Scott's who bounced back to form off a lowly mark. He bumped into one there, I'd say. Everything else I considered, he beat in good style.

I think connections have found an outstanding opportunity for him to break his duck over the bigger obstacles, with this handicap chase over 2m3½f.

Sayva aside, who's the main danger off a reduced rating (117) now the O'Neill's are in better form, it's seriously modest fare.

Scorsese essentially races off a mark of 108 when factoring in Harry Atkins' seven-pound claim, so with a clear round I expect him to be hard to beat - probably from the front.

12:40 Market Rasen - Quaviste @ 5/1

There's a lot to like about Ben Pauling's Four Springs ahead of this novices' hurdle over an extended two miles at Market Rasen, but I think he's vulnerable to QUAVISTE.

The former carries a seven-pound penalty (Beau Morgan's claim wipes out five) for winning a modest event on debut at Hereford last month, while the Dan Skelton-trained five-year-old escapes one after unseating his jockey at the last over course and distance 24 hours earlier.

In my humble opinion, the son of Authorized had the measure of the eventual winner - the 114-rated Brixson - before parting ways with jockey Harry Skelton in Lincolnshire. The selection travelled strongly throughout the race and was still on the bridle before the incident at the final flight. I'm convinced he still had loads under the bonnet.

As far as I'm concerned, he deserves to be a lot closer to the top of the market and he rates a brilliant bet under Tristan Durrell, who is a more-than-fine deputy.

13:10 Leopardstown - Narciso Has @ 5/6

I'm disappointed Mange Tout wasn't declared for this Grade 2 juvenile hurdle, for it would have ensured a bigger price on NARCISO HAS.

The three-year-old son of Doctor Dino, in the famous green and gold of JP McManus, was just under three lengths behind Gordon Elliott's mare in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse on his British debut, and I thought he had every chance of reversing the form.

He appeared to tire late on and a messy leap at the last didn't help his cause. Many of Mullins' youngsters have looked in need of their first run this season, so assume he wasn't 100% fit and expect stacks of improvement.

Without Mange Tout reopposing, I can't see him beat on Boxing Day - or St Stephen's Day for the Irish among us.

13:15 Market Rasen - Clap Of Thunder @ 5/2

My Nap of the Day is CLAP OF THUNDER on chase debut in this novices' handicap over 2m1f at Market Rasen.

The son of Mount Nelson was fairly smart in bumpers a couple of years ago and he showed similar ability, despite winning just one of five starts, over hurdles last season.

Defeats came against nice types in warm races, though - such as Wreckless Eric at Cheltenham's November Meeting, subsequent Grade 1 hero Julius Des Pictons at Chepstow over Christmas and the 140-rated Tripoli Flyer at Musselburgh in the new year.

Clap Of Thunder then enjoyed a 308-day break, during which he underwent wind surgery, and reappeared at Huntingdon earlier this month back over the smaller obstacles.

He ran a fine race under the circumstances, finishing fourth of 10, just three-and-a-half lengths off a nicely-handicapped one for the O'Neills. That ought to have put him spot on for the rest of the campaign.

Connections turn their attention to chasing, off a pound lower. Jamie Brace claims a further five. Off what is essentially a mark of 112, he could do plenty of damage if taking to this discipline.

This looks a very winnable race and I'm expecting a bold show.

13:35 Wetherby - Knappers Hill @ 10/3

Konfusion continues to prove popular for the Rowland Meyrick - a three-mile handicap chase round Wetherby - and it's not hard to see why.

Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith are in sparkling form, and they're landing races like this for fun at the moment. He's got a 10lb rise to shrug off, which makes things difficult, but he looks highly-progressive and it wouldn't be a surprise if he's able to manage it.

I think KNAPPERS HILL is far too big a price in opposition, though.

I was relatively impressed by his run at Haydock on Betfair Chase day last month, in the graduation chase won by The Jukebox Man, one of the fancied horses in the King George. Grand National favourite Iroko was in second.

Paul Nicholls' nine-year-old was making his first appearance in 742 days and he travelled eye-catchingly well for a long time, before tiring on approach to the final fence. Totally understandable, under the circumstances.

He ought to take a big step forward and in handicap company, off a pound lower, over three miles for the first time, he's very much of interest.

14:30 Kempton - Jango Baie @ 7/2

The highlight on Boxing Day is of course the King George - and a stunning renewal of it, too. My selection is Jango Baie - click here for the case in full.

14:45 Wetherby - Gentleman Bill @ 13/2

Finally, I'm giving GENTLEMAN BILL another chance after disappointing at Haydock last month.

I was sweet on Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero's seven-year-old for a handicap chase over the minimum trip on Merseyside, but he never really got into it and made a mistake at the third-last that jockey Craig Nichol referenced to the stewards to explain his poor performance.

The yard wasn't in the best of form at the time either, so there's enough reasons for me to forgive the Rule Of Law gelding.

I think this step up to an intermediate trip is a good one, and hopefully the application of cheekpieces has a positive impact too.

If he can get back to the form of his third at Aintree on seasonal reappearance in October, he's got a massive chance in this company.

That form is srong. The winner, Jordans Well, has won since off a 10-pound higher mark to earn a further rise of four - while the runner-up Spadestep occupied the same spot at Doncaster a fortnight ago despite doing everything wrong in running. He's a 120+ horse in my eyes.

Gentleman Bill travelled as well as anything at Aintree and if he can run to that level, or improve on it as he's entitled to, he's got as good a chance as any in this 10-strong field.

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