From the Ashes to Chepstow: our ace tipsters give their best bets over Christmas

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Marnus Labuschagne top Australia first-innings runscorer

Australia v England, Third Ashes Test, Melbourne, 11.30pm, Christmas Day

In the first two Tests of the 2021-22 Ashes series, hosts Australia have piled on first-innings totals of 425 and 473 against England, with Marnus Labuschagne the standout player in their top order.

Named player of the match in the second Test in Adelaide, Labuschagne has so far scored 74, 103 and 51 in the three innings in which he has faced a ball, making him the leading runscorer in the series.

He made a name for himself in the 2019 Ashes when brought in as a concussion substitute for Steve Smith, but is now arguably outshining his compatriot and he could once again set the tone in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

A patient and polished number three batsman, Labuschagne can top score for his side in their first innings against an England attack lacking variation.
Liam Flin, cricket tipster

Indianapolis Colts +1

Indianapolis Colts v Arizona Cardinals, NFL, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, 1.15am, Sunday

Seven wins from nine games mark the Indianapolis Colts out as a team to fear as the NFL season approaches the playoffs, and it's a surprise to see them priced as the underdogs for the trip to an out-of-sorts Arizona Cardinals.

Four losses in seven outings have seen the Cardinals slip from top spot in the NFC conference and they look vulnerable to the run-heavy offence of the Colts having struggled to contain the Detroit Lions’ ground game last time out.

The Colts should dominate in the trenches with both their offensive and defensive lines ranked in the top eight in the NFL, while they bring the league’s top running back to the table in the form of Jonathan Taylor.

Taylor was the decisive factor for Indianapolis in their impressive win over the New England Patriots in Week 15, while the Colts have covered the handicap in five straight games and can’t afford to stop winning if they want to chase down AFC South leaders Tennessee.
Chris Rivers, NFL tipster

Danny Kirwan

Get Your Ladbrokes £1 Free Bet Today Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, 1.20 Kempton, Sunday

Paul Nicholls rarely leaves Kempton on Boxing Day without a selection of winners and Danny Kirwan, who ran brilliantly to finish second behind Annual Invictus at Cheltenham in October, is fancied to give him reason to celebrate.

This quirky but highly talented eight-year-old jumped beautifully despite being unfavoured by the test Cheltenham presents. Not only did the winner follow up next time, but the fourth and fifth have won since, while third-placed Torn And Frayed has filled the runner-up berth on his two subsequent starts.

Five of Danny Kirwan's six best runs have come on flat, right-handed tracks, and the return to Kempton, where has form figures of 12, should help. A mark of 133 is certainly fair.
Tom Collins, tipster

Debece

William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, 2.10 Wetherby, Sunday

Dan Skelton has won the Rowland Meyrick only once, but it is not for want of trying. In the three runnings since Get On The Yager won in 2017, Skelton has sent out the favourite once and second-favourite twice.

Debece is well treated on his best form and was a plunge for the yard on his stable debut in March, when he went haring off at Sandown only to be caught by Fortescue after the last.

He has not run since but, while some horses have multiple Boxing Day entries, Debece has only one and Harry Skelton takes the ride. This has more than the faint whiff of a best-laid plan from a yard that has made a habit of targeting this race.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

Riviere D'Etel

Racing Post Novice Chase, 2.20 Leopardstown, Sunday

Ferny Hollow is already as short as 7-4 for the Arkle at Cheltenham, so goodness knows what price he'll be if he beats Riviere D'Etel on these terms at Leopardstown.

One thing is for certain, though, and that is the market for this Grade 1 on Monday in no way reflects the size of his task.

The four-year-old Rivere D'Etel has neither touched a twig nor come off the bridle in winning all three of her chase starts for Gordon Elliott this season, the last two coming in Grade 2 and Grade 3 affairs at Punchestown and Navan.

In making all to win by an eased-down 12 lengths at Navan last time she record an RPR of 153, which is just 1lb below what Ferny Hollow earned for his Punchestown success.

Because of her age and sex, though, Ferny Hollow has to concede her 13lb, and he'll need to be a superstar if Riviere D'Etel can run to the same level again. He might be, but at the odds on offer, I'm happy to bet he's not.
Paul Kealy, tipster

Soaring Glory

Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle, 2.30 Kempton, Sunday

The Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle is a dreadful affair this year and I'm very keen to take on the top two in the market as they both contested a gruelling Fighting Fifth in the driving wind and snow last time.

We saw how much that event took out of Sceau Royal when he went out like a light in the International Hurdle and beat only one home. Epatante and Not So Sleepy could still be feeling the effects of that battle here.

Alan King has admitted the Christmas Hurdle is an afterthought for Tritonic after his Grade 3 Ascot success, and it's hardly ideal that he comes here just over a week later.

Glory And Fortune can't win on ratings, so that leaves us with Soaring Glory, who would appear to have it all to do on the figures, but I'm convinced he's a much better hurdler than his mark of 149 suggests.

Kempton will suit and Not So Sleepy will ensure he will get the brisk tempo he needs. Soaring Glory looks outstanding value at 7-1.
David Jennings, deputy Ireland editor

Fever Roque

Pallinc New Opportunities Novices' Handicap Hurdle, 3.25 Market Rasen, Sunday

The lightly raced Fever Roque caught the eye when third at Kelso last time out on only his second start in handicap company.

The grey travelled strongly to the second-last that day over 2m6½f before weakening on the run-in, giving the distinct impression this shorter trip will play more to his strengths.

The impressive winner Grand Voyage was subsequently raised 11lb by the handicapper, while runner-up Hungry Tiger went up 4lb.

Fever Roque can compete off an unchanged mark at Market Rasen, and takes a slight drop in class.

He had the option of four engagements over Boxing Day/Monday, and trainer Rebecca Menzies looks to have picked the most suitable race for him.

Fever Roque is open to further improvement on just his fourth start over hurdles, and is one to be highly interested in.
Richard Birch, tipster

Shallow River

MansionBet Proud To Support British Racing Open National Hunt Flat Race, 3.45 Wincanton, Sunday

This exciting five-year-old was bought for £66,000 out of Mags Mullins’ yard in Ireland after finishing third in a Thurles bumper in March where he ran on strongly late after losing his place, shaping with promise behind two horses who have improved over hurdles since.

Shallow River went off 5-2 joint-favourite on his British debut for Fergal O’Brien’s stable in a course-and-distance bumper last month and confirmed the promise of his Thurles run when coming from a long way off the pace and keeping on strongly for a never-nearer fourth of 11.

That form has already been franked by the third Malina Jamila, who has since won a Listed mares’ bumper, and Shallow River should be hard to beat if he improves for that outing. He should certainly strip fitter for the run as it was his first of the season after a 240-day break.
Graeme Rodway, deputy betting editor

Mervyn King to win second quarter

William Hill World Darts Championship, Alexandra Palace, play starts 12.30pm, Monday

The elimination of Dimitri van den Bergh on Tuesday night threw the second quarter of the William Hill World Darts Championship wide open, and the ultra-experienced Mervyn King can take advantage by moving through to the semi-finals.

King will take great heart from his second-round fightback against Ryan Joyce. The veteran fell two sets behind before rattling off nine consecutive legs to triumph 3-2, a gutsy effort which sent the Ipswich-born arrowsmith to his Christmas turkey in high spirits.

King will return from the Christmas break to face Steve Lennon, an edgy Irishman who has failed to progress past the second round in the previous four World Championships. King, a two-time BDO World Championship runner-up who made the semi-finals of the 2009 PDC Worlds, can be expected to outclass Lennon.

World Championship debutant Florian Hempel or 42-year-old Australian journeyman Raymond Smith would be waiting for King in the fourth round should he beat Lennon. James Wade, the top seed in this section, averaged just 83.74 in round two. Everyone in this quarter may have to bow down to The King.
Steve Palmer, tipster

The Big Dog

Coral Welsh Grand National, 2.50 Chepstow, Monday

I can't wait to see how The Big Dog fares in the Coral Welsh National.

The Big Dog landed a major payday in the Irish Grand National Trial at Punchestown in his last big-field handicap chase, and the 20-runner Welsh National should play to his strengths.

Peter Fahey is one of the finest operators in Ireland and he has had a big red circle around Chepstow on December 27 for The Big Dog all year.

He's tough, stays and loves soft ground – there really isn't anything not to like about his chances.

He needs a bit of luck in running, but The Big Dog should be fighting out the finish and is one you simply have to keep onside this Christmas.
Brian Sheerin, tipster

Morozov Cocktail

William Hill Super Odds Novices' Handicap Chase,
11.52 Wetherby, Sunday

Not many punters will be keeping a close eye on the 0-105 novices' handicap chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day, but I have been waiting for Morozov Cocktail to run in a staying chase on testing ground and he has everything in his favour for the first time in his fledgling career.

The key to his chance was his run at Doncaster over hurdles last season when he chased home J'Ai Froid, who ended the season rated 34lb higher than he was that day.

Morozov Cocktail stayed on all the way to the line on that occasion, while he ran as well as could be expected on his chase debut at this track three weeks ago when conditions were all against him and he would have needed the run.
Tom Segal, Pricewise

Dan Childs had tipped Burnley to beat Everton on December 26, but the match has been called off due to Covid cases and injuries in the Toffees squad

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