Christmas Hurdle and rest of Kempton card

the Christmas Hurdle over 2 miles at 15.25 CET is the other Grade One race carried forward from Kempton´s Boxing Day card. Although it has only 6 runners, this is a very high class event, featuring the first two from last year´s Champion Hurdle, Binocular (Nicky Henderson/ Tony McCoy) and Khyber Kim (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Paddy Brennan). Howevr there must be a slight doubt about both of them, and we have a definite preference for Starluck (Alan Fleming/ Timmy Murphy), who finished in front of Binocular last time and also in this race last year. He loves Kempton and everything looks in place for a big race. Front-runner Overturn (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire) could be a big danger. He was last seen finishing last in the Ebor Handicap in August, but he had won his 5 previous races, including the Northumberland Plate on the flat, and the Scottish Champion Hurdle and Galway Hurdle over sticks. Paul Nicholls´ improving Escort´men could also get involved in an intriguing contest.< br />
The rest of the Kempton card is very strong, with Henderson and Nicholls both fielding several likely winners. In the opening 4yo hurdle at 12,50 CET Brampour (Nicholls/ Harry Skelton) makes his hurdling debut; he has already been well-backed for Cheltenham. He was runner-up in a French listed race at Deauville last time. Henderson supplies the most dangerous opponent in A Media Luz (Barry Geraghty). In the novice chase half an hour later Henderson´ s Nadiya de la Vega, an impressive winner on his British debut, can outpoint Nicholls´ Pepe Simo (Sam Thomas), winner of his last two, including a jumpers bumper over this CD.

The handicaps have large fields and look very competitive; we like The Betchworth Kid (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) in the big hurdle race at 16.35.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Brampour - A Media Luz - Kazzene
2. Race: Nadiya De La Vega - Pepe Simo - Dee Ee Williams
3. Race: Sybarite - Chablais - The Reformer
4. Race: Skint - Samsons Son - Via Galilei
5. Race: Ursis - Polyfast - Safari Adventures
6. Race: Binocular - Starluck - Khyber Kim
7. Race: Kauto Star - Long Run - The Nightingale
8. Race: The Betchworth Kid - Palomar - Organisateur
9. Race: Mallusk - Rey Nacarado - Mohi Rahrere