Confirmed runners and riders for the Christmas Hurdle and other big races

Unbeaten superstar Constitution Hill will take on four rivals in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (1.55) at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The Nicky Henderson-trained five-year-old extended his record to four wins from four starts when blowing the field apart in last month's Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, a race which provided him with a third successive Grade 1 victory.

Constitution Hill finished 12 lengths clear of stablemate Epatante that day and the eight-year-old mare, who won this race last year, will once again take her chance.

The Alan King-trained Sceau Royal also holds an entry and landed a Listed contest over course and distance on his seasonal reappearance in October.

Grade 1 winner Metier and the Chris Gordon-trained Highway One O Two complete the field of five.

Christmas Hurdle runners and riders

Constitution HillNico de Boinville
EpatanteAidan Coleman
Highway One O TwoJamie Moore
Metier Jonathan Burke
Sceau Royal Sam Twiston-Davies

Champ and Paisley Park to meet in Long Walk

Champ and Paisley Park are on course for their rematch in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle (12.45), with a field of five set to take their chance.

Coral Hurdle winner Goshen, Miranda and Not So Sleepy are all confirmed runners in the 3m½f contest, which was rearranged after the original race at Ascot on December 17 was postponed due to frozen ground.

It will be the first time Champ and Paisley Park will meet since their memorable clash in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month, a race in which the former came out on top.

Champ, trained by Nicky Henderson, won this race last year, while the Andrew Gemmell-owned Paisley Park was successful in 2018 and 2020.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Miranda holds leading claims having landed a Listed race by 11 lengths over course and distance last month.

Goshen returned to winning ways in the Coral Hurdle, finishing eight and a half lengths clear of Brewin'upastorm, after a disappointing chase debut in October.

The Hughie Morrison-trained Not So Sleepy completes the line-up and the ten-year-old is making his first start since finishing a distant third to Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle.

Long Walk Hurdle runners and riders

Champ Jonjo O'Neill Jr
GoshenJamie Moore
Not So SleepyJonathan Burke
Paisley ParkAidan Coleman
MirandaHarry Cobden

Five remain in contention for Kauto Star

McFabulous and Thyme Hill feature among a field of five for the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase (1.20) at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The duo clashed in the Grade 2 John Francome Chase at Newbury last month where the Nicholls-trained McFabulous came out on top by six and a half lengths.

The Champion trainer will also be represented by Grade 1-winning hurdler Gelino Bello, who has won his last four starts. His last outing resulted in a 29-length victory over City Chief in a match race at Exeter this month.

Dan Skelton, who has fired himself into contention for this year's trainer's championship, has entered Galia Des Liteaux. The six-year-old landed a Listed race at Bangor on his seasonal reappearance last month.

Mortlach, who finished behind McFabulous and Thyme Hill at Newbury, completes the field of five.

Kauto Star Chase runners and riders

Gelino BelloBryony Frost
McFabulousHarry Cobden
MortlachPaddy Brennan
Thyme HillTom O'Brien
Galia des LiteauxHarry Skelton

Fil Dor faces four in top-class novice chase

Fil Dor will face four rivals as he bids for his first top-level success in the Brand New Racing Post App Novice Chase (2.20) on the opening day of Leopardstown's Christmas meeting.

The Gordon Elliott-trained four-year-old made a perfect start to life over fences when winning at Navan last month and is pitched at the top-level on his next start, where he will be ridden by Jack Kennedy.

Elliott also trains other leading fancy Hollow Games, who will be ridden by Denis O'Regan, while Saint Roi, Midnight Run and Visionarian make up the field for the 2m1f Grade 1.

Also on Leopardstown's card, Triumph Hurdle favourite Lossiemouth will face ten rivals in the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle (1.10), including other Triumph fancies Nusret and Cougar.

Gerri Colombe and Kilcruit set for fascinating Faugheen clash

The highly-rated Gerri Colombe will put his unbeaten record on the line in a top-class duel against Kilcruit in the Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase (2.40) at Limerick.

The six-year-old made a taking debut over fences when an easy winner at Fairyhouse last month and bids to give Gordon Elliott a third win in the race, as well as enhancing his Cheltenham Festival claims.

It will be no easy task however, with proven Grade 1 performer Kilcruit in the line-up, who also made a winning start over fences at Punchestown last month.

His trainer Willie Mullins will also be represented by Authorized Art and Adamantly Chosen, while rank outsider Aarons Day completes the field of five.

Introducing the ITV Racing Christmas Festival

The ITV Racing Christmas Festival features six days of top-class action on the channel from 12 different tracks in Britain and Ireland between December 26 and January 1.

Some 41 live races will be shown in all, including eight Grade 1s such as the King George VI Chase, with the Welsh Grand National and Cheltenham's New Year's Day card among the big-race highlights across a spectacular six days of racing on terrestrial television over the festive period.

December 26
Kempton: King George VI Chase day
Wetherby: Rowland Meyrick Chase day

December 27
Chepstow: Welsh Grand National day
Kempton: Desert Orchid Chase day

December 28
Leopardstown: Savills Chase day
Leicester

December 29
Leopardstown: Matheson Hurdle day
Doncaster

December 31
Newbury, Warwick and Lingfield

January 1
Cheltenham, Musselburgh and Tramore

2022 ITV Racing Christmas Festival offers

• Paddy Power are giving away free bets to new and existing customers, and all you need is an account. Sign up here.
• Sky Bet are offering new customers free bets when they sign up. You can get them, along with money-back specials and extra places, here.
• Betfair have lots of offers, extra places and money-back offers. Sign up for a new account here.
• To get a free bet from Ladbrokes today, simply sign up to a new account here.
• Don't have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here.
• bet365 have a new customer offer available. Sign up here.
• New William Hill customers can claim free bets here and benefit from their money-back offers here.
• If you're a new customer, Tote will give you a free bet. Sign up here to claim.

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Confirmed runners and riders for the 2022 King George VI Chase - plus a free bet

2022 King George: who wins the big race at Kempton based on previous trends?

Who is set for King George glory? Assessing the key players in a Kempton cracker

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