Kempton Park Tips: Es Perfecto can put experience to good use

The Boxing Day bonanza is headlined by a competitive six-race card at Kempton Park, with the Grade One King George VI Chase the feature which takes place at 14:30.

A field of 11 - the biggest in the race for 15 years -  are set to go to post and there is a proper international feel to the contest with four Irish raiders, three hailing from France and four British runners hoping to keep the £148,098 first prize on home soil. It is one of three Grade One events scheduled on the card alongside the Kauto Star Novices' Chase and the Christmas Hurdle, where there is a mouthwatering encounter set to take place between star mare Lossiemouth and the unbeaten Constitution Hill. Read on for my Kempton Park tips.

12:45 - Es Perfecto each-way @ 13/2

This opening race for novices looks set to be run at a strong gallop with Range, El Rio, Leader In The Park and Leave Of Absence having all shown that they like to force the pace and that could play into ES PERFECTO'S hands.

The Alan King-trained nine-year-old is a second-season novice and his five runs over fences makes him the most experienced runner over the larger obstacles in the field.

Es Perfecto got off the mark over course-and-distance in November while he was also third in this race last season off a 3Ib lower mark, so this track and trip clearly suits him well.

King's charge has finished third or better in four of his five chase starts and he will be ridden cold, which should ensure he comes home strongly when the pace begins to collapse.

With nine runners going to the well, he must make plenty of each-way appeal and it is hard to see him not being involved when they turn for home.

Get your money back as a Free Bet if your horse finishes 2nd in this race.

14:30 - Grey Dawning each-way @ 5/1

King George's don't get quite as competitive as this with cases to be made for plenty, but this trip and track might be right up GREY DAWNING'S street.

The Dan Skelton-trained seven-year-old travelled all over his rivals in the Betfair Chase on seasonal debut before being outstayed by Haydock specialist Royale Pagaille on what was bottomless ground.

However, the gallant grey is improving all the time, he is a former course winner and, provided he came out of that Betfair Chase run safe and sound, then he looks the most likely of the market protagonists to show his true colours.

This is a Super Extra Place race meaning that Betfred are paying 4 Places instead of 3 for each-way bets at 1/5 odds.

15:40 - East India Express @ 5/2

Nicky Henderson has an excellent record in this closing handicap hurdle, having landed the prize in 2020 and 2021, and he is responsible for three of the nine runners.

However, the lightly raced EAST INDIA EXPRESS would look to have the best chance of his trio, providing the quick six-day turnaround from his win over this trip at Ascot last weekend hasn't left its mark.

That recent success was in a Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, which means he is allowed to race off the same mark, and he beat a well-handicapped rival in Double Powerful who was chasing a remarkable seven-timer.

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