King George VI Chase the highlight of a packed programme on Sunday We are in for a real Festive feast of horse racing on Sunday with 11 race meetings taking place across Ireland and the UK. The action starts early with the first race of the day taking place at Sedgefield at 11.45am. The Irish racing gets underway at 12.00 with the Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle and the action will be coming thick and fast after that. The first of the feature races on St Stephen’s Day is the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle at 1.10pm at Leopardstown which has thrown up the mouthwatering rematch of Fil Dor and Lunar Power. A length and a quarter separated the pair at Fairyhouse last month when the Gordon Elliott-trained grey son of Doctor Dino came out on top. Another potential match is in the 2.20pm at Leopardstown when exciting novice chaser Ferny Hollow (4/6 BoyleSports) must concede 13lbs to the four-year-old filly Riviere D’etel (6/4 BoyleSports) in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Steeplechase over two miles and one furlong. Riviere D’etel is the more experienced of the pair over fences having rattled off a hattrick of wide-margin victories already this season. Ferny Hollow has won his only start over fences but boasts high class form including when beating Appreciate It in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and a Maiden Hurdle success against the talented Bob Olinger last year. The big race of the day on Sunday is undoubtedly the Ladbrokes Grade 1 King George VI at Kempton Park at 3.05pm. Nine runners, including three from Ireland, make up the field for what promises to be a fascinating renewal. BoyleSports make Gold Cup winner Minella Indo their 11/4 favourite ahead of Clan Des Obeaux at 3/1 with next in the betting Chantry House (9/2) and Frodon (6/1). Minella Indo will wear cheek-pieces for the first time as he looks to bridge a gap of five lengths with Frodon from their October clash at Down Royal. The front-running Frodon is bidding for a repeat victory in the hands of Bryony Frost having caused a 20/1 shock in this race twelve months ago. Clan Des Obeaux, third in the race last year, had won the previous two renewals of the king George VI but he returns this time without the benefit of a prep-run. The ultra-consistent Chantry House is not out of this having landed the odds in style at Sandown last month while Willie Mullins’ Asterion Forlonge (13/2 BoyleSports) is another that could contend with a clear round of jumping. The seven-year-old has failed to complete on three of his last seven outings including when in a challenging position for the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown earlier this month. New Customers of BoyleSports can avail of their enhanced Welcome Offer - Bet €10 Get €50 + Money Back as a free bet on All Losers 13.20 Kempton Park on Sunday. 18+. IRE & UK mobile customers & in-shop BoyleXtra cardholders. Max Free Bet refund €10 on losing selections. Applies to first bet on race from 3pm on thursday 23rd December on win single & win part of each way single on the outright market. Applies to selected races as advertised on mobile. Antepost/combined odds/Free/void/cashed out bets won’t qualify. Free Bets will expire after 7 days. T&Cs Apply. Begambleaware
