Classy runners competing for Boxing Day glory
ALAN King’s mare Mia’s Storm is one of seven classy runners in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
A useful hurdler last season, she has made a seamless transition to chasing, winning at Chepstow and Market Rasen in two starts to date.
Taking her on again is Colin Tizzard’s Elegant Escape, behind Mia’s Storm at Chepstow but a Grade Two winner at Newbury last time out.
Tizzard also runs West Approach in the Thistlecrack colours of John and Heather Snook and he is a half-brother to last year’s King George winner.
Just behind Elegant Escape at Newbury was Paul Nicholls’ Black Corton, who was meeting defeat for the first time in six races having struck up a great rapport with Bryony Frost.
Anthony Honeyball runs Fountains Windfall, victorious on his chasing debut but a faller when Elegant Escape won at Newbury.
Dan Skelton’s Some Invitation, winner of his only chase to date, completes the field.
Meanwhile, Buveur D’Air will face just four rivals in the Unibet Christmas Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson’s Champion Hurdle hero made a successful start to the campaign with a dominant display in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle at the start of the month and will be a red-hot favourite to stretch his Grade One tally to five.
The New One has finished second in the Christmas Hurdle on three occasions behind My Tent Or Yours (2013), Faugheen (2015) and Yanworth (2016). The nine-year-old is sent into battle once more by Nigel Twiston-Davies, just 10 days after filling the runner-up spot when chasing a fourth victory in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The Paul Nicholls-trained Old Guard, who finished fifth at Cheltenham, also makes a swift return to action.
Dan Skelton’s Mohaayed and Chesterfield from Seamus Mullins’ yard make up the field.
Might Bite will face seven rivals, including last year’s winner Thistlecrack, in the 32Red King George VI Chase.
Nicky Henderson’s charge burst on to the scene a year ago when he was set for victory in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase over the King George course and distance only to take a crashing fall at the last.
Might Bite bounced back with a remarkable Cheltenham Festival victory in the RSA Chase, virtually pulling himself up when well in control to hand the initiative to stablemate Whisper, only for Might Bite to regain momentum and win by the narrowest of margins.
Whisper again faces his old rival, having also chased him home at Aintree. He has continued his progression this season by hauling a huge weight into second in the Ladbrokes Trophy.
Thistlecrack has only raced twice since his victory 12 months ago and has been beaten both times, when a narrow second to the ill-fated Many Clouds at Cheltenham and on his return over hurdles at Newbury.
Tizzard also runs Fox Norton, a multiple Grade One winner over shorter trips who tries three miles for the first time.
Bristol De Mai is the main market rival to Might Bite following his demolition job in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.
Tom George runs Double Shuffle, Tea For Two is back again for Nick Williams while Traffic Fluide represents Gary Moore.