Boxing Day Racing Tips: Nicholls the trainer to follow at Kempton

Jump racing holds sway across Britain and Ireland on Boxing Day - Tuesday 26th December- with 11 meetings taking place across the afternoon.

Flat lovers have a sole card at Wolverhampton to look forward to in the evening, while National Hunt enthusiasts can look forward to action from Aintree, Fontwell, Kempton, Market Rasen, Sedgefield, Wetherby, Wincanton, Down Royal, Leopardstown and Limerick.

Amongst our Boxing Day selections is a couple for trainer Paul Nicholls, who's King George VI Chase champion could be a tough nut to crack once again.

13:05 Aintree - Jango Baie @ 3/1

Nicky Henderson will be hoping to unearth another stable star in the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle on Boxing Day when the Seven Barrows handler will unleash Jango Baie for his second career start under rules.

The four-year-old was sent off 6/5f for his debut at Ascot in November and despite only winning by a nose, he displayed plenty of class to win on the day.

Jango Baie raced far too keenly through his race so to even get home was an achievement, but once headed by Tellherthename after they jumped the last, to rally and get back up to beat him was a serious piece of work.

The pair were 13-lengths clear of the remainder, and Tellherthename gave the form a huge boost when winning a maiden hurdle at Huntingdon by 14-lengths subsequently.

13:20 Kempton - Hermes Allen @ 11/8

Hermes Allen is a late substitution for stablemate Knappers Hill in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase for trainer Paul Nicholls, but he could be well up to winning the Grade 1 event himself.

The six-year-old son of Poliglote won the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury last season before disappointing in the Ballymore at Cheltenham and again at Aintree.

Connections decided wind surgery was the next port of call and it clearly worked. Hermes Allen came back from a 230-day absence to bolt up on chasing debut in a Grade 2 at Newbury this month.

French raider and market leader Il Est Francais comes here with a huge reputation, but not too many five-year-olds win this race (the last was Annacotty in 2013) and the older horse can come out on top.

14:30 Kempton - Bravemansgame @ 9/4

Last but certainly not least, Bravemansgame has what it takes to defend his King George VI Chase crown for trainer Paul Nicholls.

Okay, he doesn't come here in the best of form having been beaten in his last four starts, but one can be sure Nicholls will have him at his absolute best for this assignment.

It's not a deep race on paper. Frodon and Hewick shouldn't be anywhere near good enough, Shishkin has had an awful prep for this, and The Real Whacker needs to bounce back from a shocker at Cheltenham last month.

Allaho has to prove he can produce a huge performance after a nasty injury, so all in all, Bravemansgame looks like the most solid bet in the race.