Banbridge catches Il Est Francais in remarkable King George after Constitution Hill's sensational return - Boxing Day racing as it happened

Constitution Hill: returns on Boxing DayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Christmas Day is done. The kids are occupied with a wealth of presents, the turkey stress is over, and that new Lynx Africa set is smelling good. Now it is time to feast on an unbelievable Boxing Day.

We dared to dream it could be a little special and it is exactly that. The highlight, the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (2.30), has a combination of quality and unpredictability while a clash between Constitution Hill and Lossiemouth in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (1.55) is one to savour.

There is Grade 1 action at Aintree and Leopardstown, a Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby and a regional National at Market Rasen too.

Boxing Day is the busiest on the racing calendar with 77 races across 11 meetings in Britain and Ireland. This blog is the place for absolutely everything you need to know throughout the day. I'll be in charge in the early hours before you will be marching on together with my Leeds-supporting colleague Jack Haynes.

Do remember you can get in touch by emailing us at liveblog@racingpost.com. We would love to hear from you during what promises to be a sensational day of racing.

Kempton: home of the King GeorgeCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The first place to look is Kempton, the home of the King George. 

It remains good, good to soft in places at the Sunbury-on-Thames course with conditions misty this morning and sunny spells forecast later in the day.

There are no non-runners to report so far.

Constitution Hill: favourite for the Christmas HurdleCredit: Getty Images

This is interesting. There has been a change of favourite in the Christmas Hurdle since declarations with Constitution Hill proving popular.

He went from 6-5 to 10-11 yesterday with Sky Bet and the firm now go 5-6 to repeat his victory from 12 months ago on his seasonal comeback. Lossiemouth is odds against across the board to repel the 2023 Champion Hurdle winner.

You can find the thoughts of Constitution Hill's trainer Nicky Henderson in our race preview.

Elsewhere, here's how they bet with the sponsors Ladbrokes in the King George.

• Spillane's Tower 3-1
• Il Est Francais 9-2
• Banbridge 9-2
• Grey Dawning 6-1
• L'Homme Presse 10-1
• Bravemansgame 11-1
• Envoi Allen 11-1
• Corbetts Cross 16-1
• The Real Whacker 20-1
• Juntos Ganamos 25-1
• General En Chef 40-1

There is a great field for the Grade 1 William Hill Formby Novices' Hurdle (1.05) at Aintree, headlined by the back-to-back Cheltenham winner Potters Charm.

He has been one of Britain's most exciting novice hurdlers so far this season and is 13-8 to make it five wins on the bounce. He could also look to enhance claims for the Turners Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, for which he is no bigger than 16-1. More on the Formby here.

Potters Charm: impressive winner at Cheltenham this seasonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The ground at Aintree is good to soft, soft in places and we have three non-runners:

12.30
6 Petit Tonnerre (pricked foot)

2.15
7 Moonlit Potter (other)

2.50
1 Ballee (respiratory infection)

There is some brilliant racing to come over the festive period at Leopardstown, starting with the Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase (2.20). Gordon Elliott has three of the four runners with Better Days Ahead leading the market.

There is also the first start over obstacles for Grade 1 bumper winner Redemption Day (12.35), while the exciting Willy De Houelle runs in the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle (1.10).

The ground is good to yielding, yielding in places on the chase course and yielding, good to yielding in places over hurdles. There are two non-runners:

2.55
1 Affordable Fury (temperature)

3.30
13 Blanchett (allergy)

The Racing Post have you covered for the Boxing Day action with top tips from Tom Segal, David Jennings and Harry Wilson.

I will also use the opportunity to plug a very busy episode of the Postcast, with selections across the next two days.

Already some action on the track at Kempton...

We reported support for Constitution Hill earlier this morning and he has shortened again to 4-5.

We've also had our first email in regarding the Christmas Hurdle from Paul.

Don't forget 22-1 shot Burdett Road today. Constitution Hill may need the run, Lossiemouth may need two and a half miles, and Burdett Road was less than eight lengths behind Kyprios last summer. It's no two-horse race.

Get in touch with your thoughts on today's action at liveblog@racingpost.com.

Not the clearest of views at Aintree this morning

By Andrew Dietz at Aintree

It's a foggy start on course and racegoers would not be able to see much if the action was already under way.

Thankfully, there are no concerns with the fog expected to lift later this morning.

The first race is at 11.55 when hopefully the view from the rails and stands is much clearer. The Grade 1 William Hill Formby Novices' Hurdle (1.05), which looks a cracker, is the big highlight on the seven-race card.

Sir Gino and Ballyburn will clash in the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton on Friday

It has been a busy morning on the declarations front in Britain and we have more cracking races in store in the coming days.

Ballyburn v Sir Gino is officially on after the potential chasing stars featured among four declarations for the Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton tomorrow. That will be a belter.

Bryony Frost is back in Britain to ride bottomweight Sans Bruit in the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase on the card. Last year's winner Editeur Du Gite, Edwardstone, Boothill and Martator are among the opposition.

Leading fancies Monbeg Genius, Galia Des Liteaux, Where It All Began and Jubilee Express feature in a 16-runner line-up for the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow tomorrow.

Saturday's Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury has received plenty of hype in the lead-up and the line-up does not disappoint. Regent's Stroll, The New Lion and Bill Joyce feature in a seven-runner field stacked with promising types.

L'Homme Presse: returns in the King George VI ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch have been the top trainer-jockey combination to follow in the big weekend races in recent months and punters are putting their faith in the good run continuing with L'Homme Presse in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (2.30) at Kempton.

It is a first start since the Cheltenham Gold Cup for L'Homme Presse, who would be ideally suited by softer ground. He nonetheless has attracted support and is 9-1 (from 11) with several firms.

L'Homme Presse unseated Deutsch at the last when looking likely to finish second to Bravemansgame in this race in 2022 but he finished in front of that rival when fourth in the Cheltenham showpiece in March.

Williams said in our Pinstickers' Guide: "I’m happy with him. It’s not always plain sailing with him but I’m happy he’s ready to go there. He’ll still take his chance but rain would have been helpful."

Spillane's Tower remains the big-race favourite and is a best-price 10-3 with the race sponsors and William Hill. Corbetts Cross drifted out to 16-1 after declarations but has been snipped into 14-1 this morning.

Paddy Power's Paul Binfield said: "There hasn’t been a lot of change at the front end of the King George market with L’Homme Presse attracting each-way support, probably as a result of his trainer’s impressive big-race record recently.” 

L'Homme Presse14:30 Kempton

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Jky: Charlie Deutsch Tnr: Venetia Williams

Groom Jaydon Lee leads Constitution Hill off the horsebox at KemptonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Constitution Hill has arrived at Kempton for his much-anticipated return in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (1.55).

Nicky Henderson's stable star has not raced since winning this race last year and his off-the-track troubles have been well publicised.

It would provide lots of Christmas cheer if he is back to his best this afternoon and the market is speaking in his favour. He is 4-5 and Lossiemouth is out to 5-4.

Constitution Hill13:55 Kempton

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Jky: Nico de Boinville Tnr: Nicky Henderson

Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File: clash again in the Savills Chase

The big-race declarations continue to roll in and Leopardstown's card on Saturday is a cracker.

Galopin Des Champs, Fact To File and I Am Maximus are three of Willie Mullins' five runners in the feature Savills Chase. The nine-runner field also includes Gentlemansgame, Conflated and Inothewayurthinkin.

Paddy Power can't split Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File in the betting, with the latter winning the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in which Galopin Des Champs finished third last time.

The Savills Hurdle, the other Grade 1 on the card, lacks a star name but is nevertheless an open running. Bob Olinger and Hewick are the top two rated horses in the line-up, with Home By The Lee, Asterion Forlonge and Noble Yeats among others in the eight-runner race.

Daryl Jacob has an excellent chance of gaining a Grade 1 success in his final season in the saddle over at Limerick, where he rides Impaire Et Passe in the Guinness-sponsored Faugheen Novices' Chase. He will be odds-on in a field of eight runners.

Paddy Power: 11-8 Fact To File, Galopin Des Champs, 8 I Am Maximus, 12 Gentlemansgame, 25 Grangeclare West, 33 Heart Wood, Inothewayurthinkin, 50 Conflated, 66 Minella Coccooner 

Every vantage point will be taken at Kempton this afternoon

By Lee Mottershead at Kempton

There was reference to mist in the Kempton forecast. That has not so far proved accurate, which is great news because you would not want to miss a second of the two main events this afternoon.

We often lament the absence of meaningful showdowns during the winter, yet today we have a clash of momentous proportions, with Constitution Hill taking on Lossiemouth 24 hours before their stable companions Sir Gino and Ballyburn meet in a novice chase.

The King George might lack a true superstar – feel free to prove us wrong, Il Est Francais – but it's a humdinger of a renewal, while watching The Jukebox Man in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase could be a proper thrill.

For me, though, this day is principally about Constitution Hill. Let's not forget he has been hailed by some as potentially the greatest hurdler of all time. To see him back in action after a year off the track in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle is something to savour.

A slight improvement at Aintree with racing under way in half an hour

By Andrew Dietz at Aintree

The fog is slowly clearing on course but the improvement is not as immediate as the forecast suggested.

Officials are satisfied that racing can go ahead though with a 11.55 start but they will be monitoring the situation.

Aintree's clerk of the course Jon Pullin said: "We're foggy and it was forecast to clear by 11am. It's improving, although it's slower than we perhaps hoped. Having walked the track, you can see fence to fence and the half-furlong marker very clearly from the judge's box, which is one of the main criteria. As things stand, we're okay and we'll continue to monitor."

Oisin Murphy: riding over hurdles at Wincanton this afternoonCredit: Edward Whitaker

There are always some interesting subplots on the cards away from the main action and Wincanton is the scene for Oisin Murphy's first ride over hurdles.

The four-time champion Flat jockey partners the Neil Mulholland-trained Ike Sport in the Pertemps qualifier (2.38).

Murphy schooled the hurdler at Mulholland's yard this week and will be riding at the Somerset course which is run by his sister Blaithin, the track's general manager.

On the horse's chances, Mulholland said: "It's a good opportunity and Ike Sport is a great spin. He didn't take to fences, so we're going back to hurdles. He ran a decent race the last day on very soft ground at Sandown. He travelled into the home turn but just didn't get up the hill."

Ike Sport14:38 Wincanton

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Jky: Oisin Murphy Tnr: Neil Mulholland

The foggy scene at Aintree

By Andrew Dietz at Aintree

There will now be a ten- to 15-minute delay to racing at Aintree with the television cameras being redeployed due to the fog. The opener was supposed to be off at 11.55.

Course officials are planning to catch up the time lost because of the delay to the first throughout the course of the day.

Our award-winning photographer Edward Whitaker has been out and about at Kempton before racing . . .

Bravemansgame takes in the familiar surroundings at KemptonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ladbrokes staff are suitably dressed as they enter the trackCredit: Edward Whitaker

A young racegoer gets a high five from The GrinchCredit: Edward Whitaker

Aintree's opener is off and running and it's a foggy scene.

The same can be said for Leopardstown and visibility is reportedly not the best at Market Rasen either. Binoculars at the ready!

Riders reported no issues with visibility after the Aintree opener. Brian Hughes said: "There are no problems with the fog. We can see every hurdle and everything. It's soft ground, there's no good to soft in it."

Users of Smart View, our revolutionary racecard found on the Racing Post app, have been cheering home winners at a rate of 24 per cent this month, with the top-rated Smart View pick winning 155 of 658 races run in the final month of 2024.

Following four winners at Fakenham on Sunday (starting prices including 7-2, 6-5, 6-4 and 8-11) plus a 14-1 winner in Wiltshire Wonder at Southwell on Friday, Smart View users are clearly on to a winner right now and the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase is firmly in our sights.

This afternoon's running looks wide open but Smart View has one horse - at tasty double-figure odds - coming out on top. Find out who by clicking here.