My bets for Boxing Day....

Wednesday, 24th December 2025

My bets for Boxing Day….

The ATC Christmas schedule….

In ATC today….

…. I bring you my best picks in Boxing Day’s biggest betting heats….

I’m on DJELO in the 2.30 at Kempton – up at 16s & 14s….

…. and I’m on KNAPPERS HILL at 6s & 11/2 in the 1.35 at Wetherby….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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Three horses share favouritism this morning for Friday’s King George VI Chase at Kempton (2.30)….

…. Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File – the Willie-Mullins-trained duo who fought out a humdinger of a John Durkan at Punchestown last month….

…. plus, Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie who won the Arkle last term and the 1965 at Ascot this term – and who looks sure to relish the step up to 3-miles….

I couldn’t really argue with any of those as a selection….

…. although my pick of the three would be Jango Baie based on a hunch that the Punchestown race – a proper battle royale – was sufficiently attritional to have left its mark on the Irish horses….

But ATC is not about simply repeating what the market is already calling out loud and clear….

…. instead – wherever possible – I take the contrarian route and seek out the value….

…. the horse that can confound market expectation…. the horse that can outrun its price….

….. and DJELO at 16s & 14s is my man for the King George….

He hasn’t broken through at G1 level yet – but he’s still only a 7yo and he’s putting numbers in the book that suggest it’s within his compass to do so….

Venetia Williams hasn’t been in fabulous form this term – producing just seven winners during November and December….

…. but Djelo is the horse in her yard that’s very much bucked the in-house trend….

…. winning the Charlie Hall at Wetherby on seasonal debut….

…. before winning the Peterborough at Huntingdon for the second time earlier this month….

He’s got to step up again to win the big one on Friday – but there’s every chance he’ll do so….

…. he arrives at Kempton on a progressive curve….

…. and at Huntingdon Charlie Deutsch rode him up the straight in mindful fashion – seeking to preserve the reserves….

We’ve not yet seen his peak effort and if he produces it on Friday then he’s entitled to run big at a fancy price….

Konfusion will take some beating up at Wetherby in the Rowland Meyrick (1.35)….

He’s already risen 20lbs up the ladder this term courtesy of wins at Wetherby and Newcastle….

…. and he might have won another race in between times at Haydock – where he was still going nicely when unseating his rider….

He won the Newcastle race easily and – while he’s up 10lb for that – you couldn’t say with any confidence that a mark of 136 puts the lid on….

…. but all that’s priced in at even money in a 5-runner field and I’m happy to take him on with KNAPPERS HILL at the 6s & 11/2….

I thought he ran a cracker at Ascot on his first go back from a 742 day lay-off – putting in a nice round of jumping and going deep into the race before tiring (understandably) in the closing stages….

…. he only got beat 8-lengths….

…. and let’s not forget he was pitched in against The Jukebox Man (who runs in the G1 King George on Friday) and Iroko (who won well at the weekend – cementing his position at the head of the betting for the Grand National)….

I don’t think he could have been expected to do any better than he did under the circumstances – and he showed that he retains the kind of ability that saw him win a G2 as a novice chaser….

He remains unexposed over fences after just three runs, and he’s just got to be well-handicapped when you think he was rated 153 when he won that G2 at Wincanton….

He runs off 145 on Friday – the same mark as he’s rated over hurdles – and if he’s improved for that outing at Ascot then he’s got a big shout….

He’s the only runner Paul Nicholls is sending up to Wetherby and Freddie Gingell travels up to partner – having picked up just one spare ride on the card….

Like I say, the favourite will take some beating – but there’s plenty to like about Knappers Hill and his chance….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back with more on Boxing Day….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd