talkSPORT have you covered with free horse racing tips and free bets on Friday’s huge fixtures at Kempton, Chepstow & Leopardstown.
Tom Lunn has gone through the cards, form, going and much more to help guide your horse racing betting choices.
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Friday racing tips
- KEMPTON
1.55: Sir Gino 10/11 (2pts)
2.30: Martator 15/8 (1.5pts)
3.08: Highstakesplayer 5/1 each-way (1.5pts) - CHEPSTOW
1.05: Georges Saint 4/1 (1pt)
2.50: Galia Des Liteaux 8/1 Each-way (1pt) - LEOPARDSTOWN
1.10: Gaelic Warrior 6/5 (2pts)
Sir Gino
This five-year-old made it look easy last time out over in Newcastle to win the Fighting Fifth Hurdle, replacing Constitution Hill quite nicely.
He won at this meeting last year and continues his unbeaten form with ease, going on to beat Burdett Road at Cheltenham and then Kargese at Aintree in April.
Sir Gino has looked a top-class horse for Nicky Henderson for quite some time now and could face his toughest challenge yet with this set to become a match between him and Ballyburn, the six-year-old Irish-trained horse from Willie Mullins’s yard.
They’re always in superb form but going chasing, Sir Gino is the clear favourite, also receiving 6lb from his older rival.
Martator
Has gone on a long unbeaten run winning his last five in a row, handling the rise in the weights each time.
Now he really steps up the gears into a Grade 2 for the first time for the Desert Orchid chase.
He doesn’t mind good or heavy ground which is ideal coming into this meeting with the weather able to take a turn at any minute, and the current going looking to be on the firm side but with a little bit of give from the small amounts of rain in the area.
He faces some regular Grade 1 runners in ten-year-old Edwardstone and nine-year-old Boothill, both of which haven’t won in a little while and could be prone to be taken on by a horse of Martator’s quality.
Editeur Du Gite won this race in 2022 but at 6/1 given his recent form is tough to back as that seems far too short.
Edwardstone has been prone to falling recently and in a race like this despite winning over course and distance could be up against it again.
All signs point to Martator and given his comparative form it’s no surprise he’s the favourite, having beaten Sans Bruit last time out quite comfortably.
Highstakesplayer
Tipped Dreaming Blue last time out as his form behind Beau Balko was impressive on seasonal debut at Wincanton.
He comes here having been upped just 3lb and looked to have suited being upped in trip to 3m for the first time very well.
The seven-year-old faces some tough opponents today like Highstakesplayer who has been quite consistent over this trip, winning over course and distance in April and February.
It was a rare poor run last time out for him at Newbury considering he impressed earlier that month going close to Chianti Classico at Ascot.
Frero Banbou is the favourite though having overturned a long winless streak with a big win in a Grade 3 at Newcastle a month ago.
He’s still well-weighted on prior form but does face an 8lb rise from that win and doesn’t have a 5lb claimer on board today, so will still be a risky bet at the smallest price.
Highstakesplayer may be a touch risky based on his run last time out but if he can bounce back, should be a tough horse to beat with his course form.
Georges Saint
Four wins from nine chase starts and this grey gelding comes from a yard who do well in this particular race.
He’s running off the same weight he was two starts ago, in January, when less than a length off Dibble Decker at Wincanton.
Not quite as good last time out back in April but that could be to do with being upped in trip.
Goes well on soft and heavy which should bode well today in Wales and this eight-year-old will likely be at his best after the summer, with progression very much on the cards.
Galia Des Liteaux
Now over to the Welsh Grand National, where you can imagine anything can happen.
I’m interested to see how Galia Des Liteaux does here considering Harry Skelton is on board so they are clearly hopeful of a big run.
She was eighth at Aintree in the Grand National in April and has been nudged down the weights since with a couple of runs in November.
She does well over long distances and despite carrying among the top-weights of the field she has the class to hopefully go close at a nice price.
Gaelic Warrior
Over in Ireland Leopardstown have a great Christmas meeting, with the Grade 1 chase over 2m1f, starring Gaelic Warrior, Dinoblue, Found A Fifty and Marine Nationale.
Gaelic Warrior has to be the pick today on seasonal debut and he should be even better now six-years-old, having previously beaten Found A Fifty and has clear form over Dinoblue too.
Willie Mullins has had 12 winners from 41 runs in the last two weeks and should be able to add to that.
Tom Lunn’s Profit/Loss
- November ’24: +53.11
- From May ’24: +207.47pts
- From July ’23: +420.37pts
All odds correct at time of writing
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