Seated at the top table with high hopes of a second helping

There's no need to feel sorry for Lizzie Kelly this Christmas. She may be heading all the way from Devon to the outskirts of London for one ride on Boxing Day, but it’s a ride all but a couple of jockeys in Britain would gladly swap their grandmothers for and it’s at a weight that won’t even put paid to the turkey and mince pies.

Paddy Brennan has the joint-favourite Cue Card lined up as his holiday banker in the 32Red King George VI Chase and Tom Scudamore will be full of festive cheer on top novice and the other joint-favourite Thistlecrack, but beyond that the rest of them would like to be in the boots of the 23-year-old conditional from the wilds of George Nympton.

She’ll be on the steadily improving Tea For Two for her mum Jane and stepdad Nick Williams and if the seven-year-old can deliver with the same aplomb as last yule – when he landed the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase by a comprehensive four lengths – then the long drive will have been well worth it.