Horse Racing Picks: UK & Irish Horse Racing Picks, Previews, and Odds (Dec 26)

• One of the busiest days on the racing schedule in UK & Ireland is staged on Boxing Day
• Prestigious G1 King George VI Chase headlines the action on track

One of the best days of the year for horse racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland is staged on Boxing Day, with a total of 69 races being staged across the nations across a frantic four hours. You can find our UK & Irish horse racing picks for Boxing Day here.

Schedule and How To Watch

• When: Saturday, December 26, 2023
• Where: Various   
• How To Watch: FanDuel TV

King George VI Chase Odds & Pick

Latest odds are taken from an offshore sportsbook.

Only the Cheltenham Gold Cup ranks higher in terms of prestige over fences than the King George. It is one of the hottest renewals of the race in recent memory this year, with multiple-time Ryanair Chase winner Allaho heading the betting.

The Willie Mullins runner made a pleasing return to action after being off the track for over 500 days in Ireland, but his long-term injury ensures questions remain. Bravemansgame was an impressive winner of this race 12 months ago for Paul Nicholls, but he has been below-par this term, including when second to Royale Pagaille in the Betfair Chase.

Shishkin is the joker in the pack, but the Nicky Henderson runner comes into the King George without a prep race after refusing to run at Ascot. Therefore, a chance is taken on The Real Whacker. I’m prepared to draw a line through his effort in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, as he reported lame after the race. He was excellent throughout last season, including when beating Gerri Colombe in the G1 Brown Advisory. Kempton could play to the strengths of this strong-traveling front-runner.

UK & Irish Horse Racing Picks

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Formby Novices’ Hurdle Odds & Pick

Latest odds are taken from an offshore sportsbook.

The Formby Novices’ Hurdle, formerly the Tolworth Hurdle, will now be staged on Boxing Day, with Aintree playing host as opposed to Sandown. Constitution Hill was stunning in this race last year, but the 2023 renewal looks like a more open contest.

Farren Glory is the Irish raider for Gordon Elliott, and the six-year-old is yet to put a foot wrong after winning on each of his two starts this term. He boasts solid form claims ahead of the race after winning in Grade 1 company on his previous start when landing the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse.

However, a number of other horses are of interest, including the strong-staying Lookaway and July Flower. But, the preference is for Florida Dreams for trainer Nicky Richards. The five-year-old finally got off the mark over hurdles at Ayr on his previous start, staying strongest over two miles on testing soft ground. The forecast will see him get his conditions, and he was a previous winner at Aintree when winning a bumper at the Grand National meeting in April.

UK & Irish Horse Racing Picks

Racing Post Novice Chase Odds & Pick

Latest odds are taken from an offshore sportsbook.

Over in Ireland, there will be competitive novice chase action at Leopardstown. There have been some stunning winners of this race throughout history, including Douvan, Min, and Footpad between 2015 and 2017. Willie Mullins boasts a strong hand at this stage, but progressive runner Gaelic Warrior is unlikely to run on Tuesday.

Therefore, Facile Vega will be the horse that heads the betting. The six-year-old made a winning start over the larger obstacles for Mullins, beating Inthepocket by over three lengths at Navan. He will need to come on from that effort if he is to land a first Grade 1 over fences.

However, from a betting perspective, it could be worth siding with the form being reversed. The runner for Henry De Bromhead always needs a run before we see the best of him, and he jumped extremely fluently around a track that didn’t really suit his running style.

UK & Irish Horse Racing Picks

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