Frodon and Jenkins among Boxing Day tips for Kempton
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Coral horse racing experts give their Kempton tips for Boxing Day on the supporting card around the King George VI Chase and Christmas Hurdle, including Frodon odds and Jenkins bets both to follow up.
Frodon odds say he’ll shine in Kauto Star Novices’ Chase
Frodon looks to hold outstanding claims of providing trainer Paul Nicholls with a fourth winner of the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day (14:05).
The Ditcheat handler saddled See More Indians (1883), Strong Flow (2003) and Breedsbreeze (2008) named in honour of his superstar chaser.
In Frodon, he has a highly progressive novice chaser who has won four of his five starts over the larger obstacles this season.
The four-year-old was particularly impressive in the last of those at Cheltenham over 2m 5f when landing the ultra-competitive 16-runner Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase.
Cracking success at Cheltenham
After racing throughout on the heels of the leaders, Frodon was produced at the last and only had to be driven clear on the run-in to readily beat Aso by 1 1/2 lengths.
It was a cracking effort for such a young and inexperienced novice, which earned him an official rating of 153.
That sets a clear standard in this line-up and, although Frodon’s stamina has to be taken on trust now he steps up to 3m for the first time, the way he finished off the race suggests it should not be a problem.
Another plus is the selections receives a handy 7lb age allowance from his rivals, leaving Frodon odds well-fancied in this year’s Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.
Jenkins bets tough to beat in opener
Jenkins can further enhance his Cheltenham Festival claims with success in the 2m novices’ hurdle that gets proceedings underway (12:55).
This four-year-old put in a stunning performance when making a winning debut in a bumper at Ascot last April, leading on the bit two from home before stretching effortlessly clear to score by nine lengths.
Jenkins was sent off odds-on for a bumper at the Punchestown Festival on the back of that stunning success, and lost little in defeat when beaten just 1/2 a length by Coeur De Lion.
The front two pulled seven lengths clear of the third home Moulin A Vent, who has scored twice since to give the form a rock-solid look.
Impressive winning hurdles’ debut at Newbury
Those runs suggest Jenkins has a huge future over hurdles, and that view was confirmed when he kept on strongly to beat Bags Groove by five lengths in a 13-runner contest at Newbury last month.
That race is a traditionally a strong contest, in which handler Nicky Henderson unleashed the very smart Buveur D’air to land the spoils in this 12 months ago. Jenkins is currently 7/1 joint-favourite with Coral for the 2017 Surpeme Novices’ Hurdle on the back of that success.
The Lambourn trainer also saddled Altior to land this Kempton opener last year, before going on to score the traditional Cheltenham Festival curtain raiser, and Jenkins looks another potential top notch prospect.
Kempton tips for Boxing Day
12.55: Jenkins (NB)
13.30: Gold Present
14.05: Frodon (NAP)
14.40: Yanworth
15.15: Thistlecrack
15.45: Big Chief Benny
Related
Why not read our separate Christmas Hurdle tipping piece, featuring Yanworth and The New One?
