With the presents open, dinner tucked away, and in-laws seen off for another year, sports fans can relax on Boxing Day. With the bulk of the Premier League football action taking place on Saturday, 27th December, Day One of the Kempton Christmas Festival revels in the spotlight. The King George VI Chase is the glittering centrepiece but is just one of three Grade 1 contests on offer.
Just over half an hour before the three-mile chasers take to the track, the top-tier two-mile hurdlers step into the fray for the Christmas Hurdle. First run in 1969 and offering £130,000 in prize money, the roll of honour is littered with all-time greats, including Dawn Run, Faugheen, and Constitution Hill.
Looking ahead to the 2025 edition, six runners remain in contention. The reigning Champion Hurdle queen is included in that number, however, the market suggests that this may be all about a horse last sighted scoring over fences at this meeting in 2024.
Sir Gino to Add to Henderson’s Incredible Record?
When it comes to training two-mile hurdlers, Nicky Henderson has few equals. The most successful trainer in Champion Hurdle history has been the dominant force in this festive highlight. First successful with Geos in 2000 and most recently with Constitution Hill in 2024, Henderson has 13 Christmas Hurdle wins to his name. No other trainer has more than four.
When the season began, this race was an obvious target for Constitution Hill. Already the only three-time winner of the race, hopes were high that he could make it four in 2025. Those hopes were dashed at the second flight in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, where he once again suggested he has forgotten how to jump. Having now fallen in three of his last four starts, the most talented hurdler of his generation is taking a break while connections ponder their options.
With Constitution Hill sidelined, Henderson calls upon the Mrs J Donnelly-owned Sir Gino. To label Sir Gino a “super sub” would do scant justice to a horse who has emerged as a phenomenal talent in his own right. Now unbeaten in six outings over hurdles and fences, he is a dual Grade 1 winner over the smaller obstacles. The most recent of those top-tier victories came when stepping in for Constitution Hill in the 2024 Fighting Fifth Hurdle. Eight lengths too good for the field on that occasion, he followed up with a spectacular chase debut in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at this meeting.
If at anything like his best, Sir Gino is undoubtedly the horse they all have to beat. That is a significant “if”, however. Not seen at the track since that win at this meeting 12 months ago, Sir Gino has experienced a terrible time with his health. After picking up an infection in the ligaments in his near-hind leg, his condition deteriorated to the extent that not only his career, but his life, was in danger.
Happily, Sir Gino has been restored to health and is being given a gentler return over hurdles rather than continuing his chase career. Looking ahead to the race, Henderson stated:
“The Christmas Hurdle is the plan, and he’s ready. He’s in very good form, and his work has been great.”
Sir Gino’s Owner-Mate Heads to Leopardstown
Willie Mullins claimed back-to-back editions of this with Faugheen in 2014 and 2015 but has been without a win since. Having saddled Lossiemouth to finish second 12 months ago, he may have bid to go one better with Anzadam. Unbeaten in two starts last season, he finished second in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle on his seasonal return. That was a fair effort on his first crack at a Grade 1, and he could have come on for the outing. However, he also carries the silks of Mrs J Donnelly and they look like taking up an alternative engagement in the December Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Don’t Underestimate Golden Ace
Second in the current betting is a horse who is becoming a Grade 1 shock specialist. Hailing from the yard of Jeremy Scott, Golden Ace took advantage of falls by Constitution Hill and State Man to land the Champion Hurdle at 25/1. It was then a case of déjà vu in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. The New Lion joined Constitution Hill in crashing out that day, leaving Golden Ace to stay on for a 22/1 success. She’s only around the 7/2 mark here but has fitness on her side and could go close again under Lorcan Williams.
Of the others, Nemean Lion was less than two lengths behind Golden Ace in the Fighting Fifth, Celtic Dino brings excellent handicap form to the table, and the Paul Nicholls-trained Rubaud is a five-time course winner. Plenty in with chances, but it’s all eyes on Sir Gino in the main event on the King George undercard.
