A star hunter chaser returns, Grade 1 stars are back and a Christmas treat for Flat fans - Thursday's punting pointers

Punting pointers from some of the meetings Boxing Day – or St Stephen's Day – on Thursday. . .

Down Royal: star hunter chaser is back

The 3m hunters' chase (2.33) is the highlight of this card and it has once again attracted last term's champion Its On The Line for his eagerly awaited comeback.

The Emmet Mullins-trained seven-year-old was the best chaser in this sphere in both Britain and Ireland last season. After scooping this a year ago, he narrowly won at Naas before agonisingly being nabbed in the closing stages by Sine Nomine at the Cheltenham Festival.

He got back to winning ways at Aintree's Foxhunters' Chase over the Grand National fences, before capping his fine campaign by winning the Champion Hunters' Chase at the Punchestown festival.

He makes his return from a 237-day absence as he bids to set up another lucrative season, but is not likely to have it all his own way. His 12 rivals include Angels Dawn, the 2023 Kim Muir heroine who won a point-to-point at Boulta last month.

Its On The Line14:33 Down Royal

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Jky: Miss M O'Sullivan (5lb)Tnr: Emmet Mullins

Fontwell: Brown's royal runner

It's a landmark day in the career of trainer Gary Brown as he saddles his first runner for the King and Queen in the 2m1½f juvenile maiden hurdle (1.42).

The Wiltshire-based handler is set to unleash Candle Wax in the royal silks for his jumps bow at the Sussex track. The gelding will be ridden by James Davies and faces five rivals.

The three-year-old, bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II, was formerly trained by William Haggas on the Flat. However, four runs in that sphere didn't yield much and he was last seen finishing down the field when sent off favourite for a Redcar maiden handicap in May.

He has a 212-day absence to contend with as connections switch discipline to try to spark a revival in his career, and make it a day to remember for Brown.

Candle Wax13:42 Fontwell

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Jky: James Davies Tnr: Gary Brown

Market Rasen: veteran back for Lincolnshire National glory

The evergreen Crosspark was agonisingly denied Lincolnshire National (1.47) glory a year ago and bids to get his revenge for that just a few days shy of his 15th birthday.

The veteran was an Eider Chase winner back in his heyday for previous trainer Caroline Bailey, before he was runner-up in the 2019 Scottish Grand National. Now with Nick Kent, he ended a long losing streak at Huntingdon in November 2023.

He looked like he would take the track's festive highlight for a long way last year too, but was reeled in during the closing stages when going down by a neck to Landen Calling.

He returns this time off a 2lb lower mark than his gallant effort 12 months ago, having been well-beaten on his comeback at Carlisle this month. Should he score, it would be a special success for Kent at his local track, as he trains less than half an hour away.

Crosspark13:47 Market Rasen

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Jky: Tom Broughton (5lb)Tnr: Nick Kent

Market Rasen: trainer it pays to follow

Backing Philip Kirby's runners in handicap chases at the track this season at a £1 level-stake would've yielded a £19.00 profit at a 75 per cent strike-rate. He saddles Asa (12.40), who fits that bill.

Sedgefield: Sutton out for a family affair

Ben Sutton aims to give his family a late Christmas present when he bids for his first course success in the 2m4f handicap hurdle (1.25) on Hill Of Scarriff.

The amateur rider, who last won in August, has failed to win in his previous two rides at the track. He has the chance to break that duck on the Dan Skelton-trained five-year-old, owned by Sutton's father, Nick.

Skelton said: "Ben rides his father's Hill Of Scarriff and she looks handicapped to win a race. I think the better conditions here will suit her."

Skelton has struck with one of his two runners at the track this season, which came with Lady Kluck this month. She bids for another course-and-distance success in the 2m1f mares' bumper (3.10).

The trainer added: "She got on top well at the end last time and we're looking for the same here. She'll obviously have a big chance."

Sedgefield: course specialist

Foster's Fortune has been in flying form at Sedgefield this season, with two victories and two runner-up efforts. He runs in the 2m4f handicap hurdle (2.35).

Wincanton: Nicholls' Grade 1 stars return

Grade 1 stars will be in action at the Somerset track as Paul Nicholls unleashes two performers at the highest level in the 3m½f handicap hurdle (2.38).

The star of Nicholls' duo is undoubtedly Stay Away Fay, who makes his seasonal comeback in new colours after being sold in former owner Chris Giles's dispersal sale earlier in the year. He'll be partnered by Freddie Gingell for the first time.

The seven-year-old won the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival before winning a Grade 2 and finishing third in the Cotswold Chase as a novice chaser last term. 

However, his season derailed after that with a no-show in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase and he has his first run following a wind operation after being pulled up in the Scottish Grand National.

Gelino Bello, also a Grade 1-winning hurdler, makes his comeback from a 698-day absence for Nicholls, having last been seen when pulled up in the 2023 Cleeve Hurdle.

Wolverhampton: Onesmoothoperator flies in for pit-stop

Flat fans get an extra Christmas treat too as one of the most popular performers last season, Onesmoothoperator, stars in the 1m4f handicap (4.05).

The six-year-old gave Brian Ellison a famous triumph in the Northumberland Plate, but it was his exploits in Australia that made him a fan-favourite, including when winning the Geelong Cup in October.

He was sent off the 6-1 second-favourite when 12th in the Melbourne Cup and he makes a swift comeback just 51 days after that race, with Ellison already eyeing up more major international targets.

He said: "We gave Onesmoothoperator a little break after Australia and he seems in good form. He's going to Dubai in the new year, so we felt it made sense to give him a prep run.

"If all goes well, he'll stay out there for Dubai World Cup night. He's had a great year and hopefully he can keep it up."

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