A Merry Christmas from Matt Chapman as he plumps with Clan Des Obeaux in King George at Kempton on Boxing Day

MERRY Christmas!

Memories flooded back of my great 1988 Bros hit Cat Among the Pigeons this week when Santini popped up as an unlikely contender for today’s festive Christmas cracker at Kempton.

Oh yes, the cat – or gelding – was thrown in the mix on Monday when Nicky Henderson supplemented Gold Cup runner-up Santini for the annual Boxing Day joy that is the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase, live on the main ITV network.

Henderson said: “This wild idea occurred to me on Sunday afternoon. My worry is that Kempton isn’t an ideal track for a big galloping type like him, but there isn’t much else to do with him.

“We’re going to join the party. We’re up for it and looking forward to it.”

Henderson is right that it’s hard to think Santini will love Kempton, although he’s my idea of the 2021 Gold Cup victor.

The eight-year-old ran at the track once before in 2018, finishing third behind La Bague au Roi in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase. It wasn’t a bad effort, with Topofthegame second, but Santini was the beaten short priced favourite.

Nevertheless, Santini’s King George presence certainly adds some spicy nutmeg to today’s big prize and will have shaken up Paul Nicholls, Henderson’s big rival in the training ranks.

Nicholls relies on Clan des Obeaux, bidding for a hat-trick of King George successes, and Cyrname, who was the beaten market leader in 2019.

I’m all over Clan des Obeaux, who returned this term with a fine second to Bristol de Mai at Haydock. He jumps and stays and is just a classic Kempton horse.

There is no doubt this is a race that has suited certain types over the years, resulting in the same animals taking centre stage year after year. Just think Pendil, Captain Christy, Silver Buck, Wayward Lad, Desert Orchid, The Fellow, One Man, See More Business, Kicking King, Kauto Star and Silviniaco Conti.

In order to ride Cyrname, Harry Cobden has ditched Clan des Obeaux for the second year in a row, and I believe he’s mad.

The problem with that theory is that Cobden is anything but bonkers.

Maybe he just doesn’t need the cash, and he’s thinking Sam Twiston-Davies might need it more!

Joking apart, a peak form Cyrname is sure to be a danger.  He was simply brilliant in the 2019 Betfair Chase at Ascot, slamming today’s rival Waiting Patiently by seventeen long lengths, and don’t forget Champion Chase hero Politologue was a distant fourth.

Of course Cyrname also beat Altior in the Christy 1965 Chase, and returned this term with a fine victory in the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, where he jumped for fun going left-handed which is not supposed to be his forte.

Cyrname is very good. But I still feel Clan des Obeaux will have his measure.

At a bigger price many will hope Lostintranslation will return to form. He was desperate behind Clan des Obeaux in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and also in this event last year.

But he was also third in the Gold Cup. He’s talented for sure, it’s just hard to predict when he will produce his best.

Elsewhere at Kempton the Champion Hurdle heroine Epatante is back in the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle, a race in which she burst onto the scene twelve months ago when defeating the re-opposing pair Silver Streak and Ballyandy by five and nearly four lengths.

The Nicky Henderson-trained mare will be at short odds and should score with ease after her Fighting Fifth success from Sceau Royal, although I still believe the 2021 Champion Hurdle victor – should Irish horses be allowed to take part – will be Saint Roi.

Trained by Willie Mullins, Saint Roi holds an entry in Tuesday’s Grade 1 Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown and must win there to keep my faith bouyant.

Also today is the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, run in memory of the five-time King George victor.

Some classy horses on show here, and I’m hoping The Big Breakaway and fulfil the promise he showed at Cheltenham first time over fences by bouncing back from a defeat at Exeter.

He’s up in trip and will probably get a lead which should help.

Tomorrow all eyes will be on Altior who is back in the Desert Orchid Chase, which of course is run in honour of the four-time dashing King George hero.

It’s a Christmas with a difference. That’s for sure. But there’s still plenty to make us merry.

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