The headline acts come on the opening day of the Kempton Christmas Festival, with the 2024 editions of the Christmas Hurdle and King George VI Chase. Day 2 on Friday, 27th December, is more relaxed in comparison but offers much to keep the festive good times rolling.
The Desert Orchid Chase is the most valuable event on the six-race card, but if the current entries stand their ground, the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase promises to be the race of the day.
First run in 1988 and named in honour of the three-time King George hero of the 1980s, this 2m affair has been claimed by racing greats such as Remittance Man, Sprinter Sacre, Altior, and Shiskin. Always a race well worth tuning into, the 2024 edition is set to present a titanic Britain vs Ireland clash.
Mullins Star to Burn off Rivals?
Leading the charge for the Irish is one of the latest stars to roll off the seemingly endless Willie Mullins production line. The British and Irish Champion Trainer has never hidden the regard in which he holds Ballyburn, and thus far, the six-year-old has more than lived up to the hype.
A perfect two from two in Bumpers, he bounced back from a surprise defeat on his hurdles bow to win four on the bounce, including a Grade 1 treble. Sensational when slamming the field by 13l in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle, he rounded off his campaign with an effortless win in the Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. All of which saw his reputation hit new heights ahead of his debut campaign over fences.
One start and one 13l win into his chase career, Ballyburn continues to ooze superstar quality and heads the betting for the Arkle Challenge Trophy and Brown Advisory Chase at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Henderson to Strike Again?
Boasting 10 previous wins on his CV, Nicky Henderson is the most successful trainer in the history of this event. With three of Henderson’s last four winners going on to land the Arkle Challenge Trophy and two the Queen Mother Champion Chase, any runner heading here from his Seven Barrows base is well worth a second look.
In 2024, that horse looks likely to be the unbeaten four-year-old Sir Gino. Joining the Henderson operation in October 2023, this Mrs J Donnelly-owned star was flawless in a Novice Hurdle campaign, which culminated in a Grade 1 success in the 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at the Aintree Grand National.
Despite his brilliance over the smaller obstacles, the intention was to send Sir Gino straight over fences in his second season in Britain. Those plans were temporarily shelved when Sir Gino was required to replace Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Wearing the super sub tag with distinction, the mount of Nico De Boinville proved in a different league to his rivals en route to an 8l success in that Grade 1 affair.
Reportedly wowing Henderson with his jumping ability at home, and with Constitution Hill seemingly on the mend, Sir Gino belatedly gets his first chance over the larger obstacles here.
Nicholls Duo Best of the Rest
Having sent out six winners from his Ditcheat yard, Paul Nicholls lies behind only Nicky Henderson in the Wayward Lad trainers list and is responsible for two of the remaining entries in 2024.
Kalif Du Berlais reached a decent level over hurdles, winning in Grade 2 company at this track but finishing 17l behind Sir Gino at Aintree. However, Nicholls always thought he would make a better chaser. Two starts into his fencing career, he is yet to live up to that assessment. Falling four from home on chase debut, he then made heavy weather of landing a Class 3 contest at Newbury. Nevertheless, Nicholls knows a talented horse when he sees one, and the best may be yet to come from this son of Masked Marvel.
Successful four times in Grade 2 hurdles, Rubaud had the misfortune of running into Constitution Hill in his only Grade 1 outing over the smaller obstacles. In common with Sir Gino, this would represent his first outing over fences, but on his hurdles form, he may be the most likely to give the big two in the market something to think about.
