Five to follow away from the Grade 1 action in Britain and Ireland this Sunday

Three Grade 1s at Kempton – the King George VI Chase, Christmas Hurdle and Kauto Star Novices' Chase – plus the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown dominate proceedings on December 26, but it is a jam-packed day of racing with 11 meetings in Britain and Ireland.

With so much on it is easy to miss some of the key names who could also be in action, so here are five potentially interesting runners away from the Grade 1 races on Sunday.

Sir Gerhard

12.35 Leopardstown: Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle

Willie Mullins has slowly been unleashing his team in the last couple of weeks after a steady time of it in the autumn and Champion Bumper winner Sir Gerhard could make his seasonal reappearance at Leopardstown.

The Cheveley Park-owned six-year-old lost his unbeaten record to Kilcruit at the Punchestown festival but is an exciting prospect for novice hurdles, so much so he is already 5-1 ante-post favourite for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

Mullins does have six options in the race, including Kilcruit, but Sir Gerhard is the one who would trigger the most interest if declared.

King Ottokar (right): a smart recruit from the Flat for Nicky HendersonCredit: Edward Whitaker

King Ottokar

12.45 Kempton: Play Ladbrokes 5-A-Side On Football Novices' Hurdle

Nicky Henderson has four entries in the novice hurdle which kicks off Kempton's stellar Boxing Day card, but King Ottokar is perhaps the most intriguing of them.

The five-year-old was a smart but frustrating type for Charlie Fellowes on the Flat and ran in Group 1 company as a juvenile. However, he won only two of his 15 starts despite a Flat rating of 93 (106 at his peak).

He is an interesting recruit to hurdling for Henderson and could just be the type to be rejuvenated by the switch of discipline. The Seven Barrows trainer has won this race five times in the last decade, including with the brilliant Altior in 2015, and it is normally an informative contest.

Yorksea

1.07 Fontwell: Follow @attheraces On Twitter Juvenile Maiden Hurdle

This 2m1½f juvenile hurdle will not be the highest quality contest of the day, but Yorksea's possible inclusion could at least help determine the strength of some of the division's formlines in Britain.

The Gary Moore-trained three-year-old has fared well on his first two outings over hurdles, pushing Knight Salute close in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham (winner has subsequently followed up at Doncaster), while he went one place better at the same track this month when second to Interne De Sivola.

Cloudy Glen takes the final fence on his way to winning the Ladbrokes Trophy at NewburyCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Cloudy Glen

2.10 Wetherby: William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase

A surprise 33-1 winner of the Ladbrokes Trophy last month in the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings, Cloudy Glen could bid to follow up in Wetherby's Boxing Day highlight.

Trained by Venetia Williams, the eight-year-old was put up 10lb for his half-length defeat of Fiddlerontheroof at Newbury, although there was a further 28 lengths back to the third.

Cloudy Glen's best four performances on Racing Post Ratings have all come over fences on left-handed tracks, conditions he is set to get again. Previous Rowland Meyrick winners Canelo, Top Ville Ben and Lake View Lad could be among the opposition.

An Tailliur

3.40 Kempton: Ladbrokes We Play Together Handicap Hurdle

Few hurdlers have progressed as much this season as An Tailliur, the winner of his last six completed races.

The Jonjo O'Neill-trained five-year-old has gone from strength to strength as he has crept up the handicap, with his only blemish coming at Cheltenham last month when he slipped and unseated his rider Kevin Brogan at the first when 3-1 favourite.

His wins since May have come at six different tracks – Market Rasen, Worcester, Southwell, Warwick, Exeter and Taunton - and his remarkable run has seen him rise 35lb in the handicap from 94 to 129.

His only entry on December 26 is the final race at Kempton and there is still no knowing what his ceiling is.

Read these next:

Tritonic set for surprise clash with Epatante in Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle

Ferny Hollow and Riviere D'Etel on course for Leopardstown Grade 1 clash

The Racing Post Annual 2022 is here! Look back on a star-studded year in this fabulous 224-page book packed with the best stories and pictures. The perfect gift at £14.99. Order from racingpost.com/shop or call 01933 304858 now!