Red-hot tipster Harry Wilson with four ante-post fancies for the festive period - including an 8-1 King George selection

We're just around the corner from an abundance of good racing over the festive period and here Harry Wilson pinpoints four horses who it could pay to follow . . .

Banbridge

Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1), 3m, Thursday, December 26

Banbridge strikes me as having that perfect blend of speed and stamina required to win a King George and arrives at Kempton off the back of a fine effort in the Hilly Way Chase two weeks ago.

The eight-year-old pulled clear of the field with returning dual Champion Chase winner Energumene and may have beaten that rival had he not unseated his jockey when that one jumped across him at the last, which was a fantastic effort considering he was conceding 10lb to the winner.

Winner of the Grade 1 Champion Chase at Punchestown in April, Banbridge landed the 2m4½f Silviniaco Conti Chase – his fifth victory at around two and a half miles – on his sole visit to Kempton, where he was strong at the finish, and could have untapped potential over this trip.

He is ground dependent, though, with his best performances coming on a better surface, but there doesn't look to be a lot of rain forecast in the build up.

Banbridge14:30 Kempton

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Jky: Tnr: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

Galia Des Liteaux

Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase, 3m6½f, Friday, December 27

I thought Galia Des Liteaux ran a cracker on her reappearance in a 2m4f Listed race at Carlisle last month, considering she's better going left-handed, the trip was short of her best and the ground was quick enough.

She again found the ground too lively when midfield in the Coral Gold Cup last time, but a 2lb drop for that effort leaves her on the same mark as when finishing second in the Classic Chase at Warwick in January behind My Silver Lining, who franked the form with solid placed efforts in the Grand National Trial and Midlands National.

This looks to have been her target and with the longer distance and likely softer ground sure to suit her well, she should be up to this test.

Galia Des Liteaux14:50 Chepstow

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Jky: Tnr: Dan Skelton

Hgranca De Thaix

Paddy Power Chase (Listed), 3m½f, Friday, December 27

Hgranca De Thaix looked progressive over fences last season, building on his three efforts over two miles when upped in trip in handicaps at Limerick and Punchestown.

He led in the final strides on the first occasion, a performance that looks good with subsequent winner Lets Go Champ in third, before taking his form to a new level when pulling four lengths clear of Perceval Legallois in a Listed contest in May.

The Paddy Power was mentioned as a potential target after that effort and he looked in need of the run when reappearing in a 2m6f handicap hurdle at Galway in October, so is sure to step forward from it.

He's 10lb higher than for his last win, but he's only a seven-year-old and this sound jumper should have plenty more to offer now going up in trip back over fences.

Hgranca De Thaix15:00 Leopardstown

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Jky: Tnr: Barry Connell

Springwell Bay

Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase, 2m4½f, Wednesday, January 1

Springwell Bay was a useful hurdler and wasted no time in opening his account over fences, jumping well and merely needing to be pushed out to gain a comfortable success in a Listed contest on his chasing debut at Chepstow in October.

The third from that race has since landed the Grade 2 Rising Stars at Wincanton, so the form looks solid, and he shaped well behind Hyland last month, when too keen and not seeing out the three-mile trip on the Old course.

That's not the first time he has looked a non-stayer at three miles, though, and he didn't look short of speed in comfortably landing his novice over 2m3½f.

He ran a fine race in second when trying to give Grade 1 novice hurdle winner Jango Baie 8lb in the 2m4½f novice chase at Cheltenham last week and looks tailor-made for one of these two-and-a-half-mile Premier handicaps.