Lucky 15 Tips: Four to consider on Boxing Day

There's no shortage of racing on Boxing Day, with 77 races across 11 meetings, and I've picked out some Lucky 15 tips for you to consider on the busiest day on the sporting calendar.

12:53 Wincanton - Jena D'Oudairies @ 5/2

The first leg of my Lucky 15 for Boxing Day is Paul Nicholls' JENA D'OUDAIRIES in the opener at Wincanton - a mares' novices' hurdle over 1m7f.

The five-year-old daughter of Buck's Boom cost a pretty penny (€125k) and indeed showed plenty of ability in three bumpers last term, especially when beating the now 127-rated French Ship at Taunton in April.

She now goes jumping after a wind op in the summer and is reported to have impressed greatly during schooling, with Nicholls labelling her his best chance of a winner on Thursday.

The selection has three lengths to make up on favourite Walkadina from a bumper at Hereford in March, but there's a 10lb swing in the weights when factoring in Freddie Gingell's valuable three-pound claim and she's expected to improve for hurdling. There's plenty going for her, then.

13:10 Leopardstown - Murcia @ 9/2

My antepost selection for the Triumph Hurdle ahead of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival makes her debut for Willie Mullins over at Leopardstown and I think she's great value to down stablemate Willy De Houelle and hurdling debutant Hello Neighbour.

MURCIA was highly-progressive in France prior to being sold privately to Kenny Alexander of Honeysuckle fame, getting off the mark at the fourth attempt in a Listed contest at Auteuil.

The Doctor Dino filly did it in some style, too, with her overall time comparing favourably to the colts & geldings contest earlier on the card.

Mullins has been complimentary about her in the build-up to the season and I expect her to go extremely well in this Grade 2 juvenile hurdle under Michael O'Sullivan.

13:20 Kempton - Masaccio @ 5/1

The Jukebox Man is likely to be all the rage ahead of the Kauto Star Novices' Chase, but I'm not as enthusiastic as most about his chance.

There's no doubt Ben Pauling's six-year-old, who was runner-up in the Albert Bartlett at this year's Festival, is a talented individual with a bright future, but there's enough reason to oppose him at short odds here.

He's yet to go right-handed in his career. Perhaps that's purely coincidental, but watching him jump and hang left at Newbury in the G2 John Francome Chase told me it probably isn't.

MASACCIO was only two lengths off The Jukebox Man in Berkshire and if his reopposing rival shows a tendency to go to his left again, which is very hard to get away with at Kempton, there's a fair chance that form will be reversed.

13:40 Aintree - Red Dirt Road @ 8/1

Finally, a chance is taken on the O'Neills' RED DIRT ROAD bouncing back to form in this handicap hurdle over 2m4f.

The seven-year-old son of Fame And Glory proved well worth his rating of 130 last season and while he was beaten comprehensively off that same mark at Carlisle earlier this month, the suggestion is he very much needed the run.

He's been dropped two pounds by the handicapper and with that run under his belt he looks overpriced and well worth adding to our Lucky 15.

The odds can and will fluctuate between time of publication and race time - but a 50p win Lucky 15 on today's selections at the quoted prices, assuming all four won, would return around £1,023 for a total £7.50 stake.

Horse Racing & Greyhound bets only. Excludes Virtual Racing. 5x odds on Lucky 63. 4x Odds Lucky 31. 3x Odds Lucky 15. All selections must run. Paid in cash if only 1 winner. T&Cs Apply.

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