All eyes will be on Kempton Park this Boxing Day for a thrilling renewal of the King George VI Chase, where Ben Pauling's The Jukebox Man has emerged as a compelling pick to claim the prestigious prize.
A Strong Contender Emerges from the Pack
With a case to be made for most of the eight runners, the profile of the Harry Redknapp-owned chaser is particularly appealing. Currently trading around 6-1 in the betting, The Jukebox Man arrives with ideal preparation. His convincing victory in a graduation chase at Haydock in mid-November was a perfect, undemanding warm-up, a point underlined when the runner-up, Iroko, won at Ascot last Saturday.
This contrasts with the tough return endured by the Willie Mullins-trained market leaders, Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File. Their epic duel in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown in late November produced a timefigure close to Gold Cup standard, raising questions about their ability to reproduce that level over an extra half-mile just 33 days later.
Experience and Aptitude Could Prove Decisive
The Jukebox Man holds significant tactical advantages. The seven-year-old has already demonstrated his aptitude for both the Kempton track and the three-mile trip, having won the Kauto Star Novice Chase on the same card a year ago. This will be just his fourth start over fences, suggesting ample scope for progression, and he is already renowned as a superb and assured jumper.
While he has something to find on official ratings, a strongly run King George could be the perfect scenario for him to reach a new level. The step up in trip is an unknown for last season's Arkle Trophy winner, Jango Baie, making The Jukebox Man's proven stamina a key asset in what promises to be an unusually strong renewal of the Christmas highlight.
Festive Friday Tips Across the Cards
Elsewhere on a busy Boxing Day, the unbeaten Sir Gino is a more than able substitute for the absent Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton (1.55). At Aintree (1.05), Dan Skelton's Mydaddypaddy, the ante-post favourite for the Supreme Novice Hurdle, can enhance his reputation with a first Grade One success.
Jamie Snowden's Wendigo is the selection in the Kempton handicap hurdle (1.20), with further improvement expected over the longer trip, while the progressive Konfusion is tipped to defy top weight in a small-field Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby (1.35).
