'He'll be our worst result' - who do the bookies fear over the festive period?

Which horse are you most keen to avoid over the Christmas period?

James Knight, Coral Secret Reprieve was a really popular winner with punters when winning last year's Coral Welsh National (2.50 Chepstow) and I have a feeling he would be a very poor result for us again as he bids for a repeat win in the race.

Frank Hickey, Paddy Power Forever Blessed has looked really good in two starts over hurdles and I don’t think the Grade 1 Finale Hurdle (1.40) is the strongest running. He could take plenty of stopping there and I wouldn’t want to be sitting on a big liability on him come Monday afternoon.

Barry Orr, Betfair Frodon has a big following among punters for obvious reasons so we are expecting him to take up a fair share of bets in the King George (3.05 Kempton). He’s an each-way price too, and with there being nine runners it looks the perfect set-up for one who we will look to avoid come Boxing Day!

Pat Cooney, bet365 Well, none of the high-profile runners who are all priced accordingly, but with 11 meetings and 76 races on Boxing Day, there are plenty of races with lesser names that may end up proving more problematic!

Jamie Hart, tote Previously the tote wouldn’t have minded who wins a race because we simply redistribute the pool to the winners, but now we guarantee to pay a minimum of SP on every runner, the horse we fear is the one who gets smashed on the tote and left alone in the market and Bravemansgame fits the bill (1.55 Kempton). A four-runner race is brutal for a traditional tote, and I think the pro-money will come for Ahoy Senor in the SP market.

Michael Shinners, Sky Bet It’s early days in our betting markets. However, early signs suggest Danny Kirwan will be one of the first horses we want beat in the 1.20 at Kempton on Boxing Day. Paul Nicholls’ chaser is currently a 10-3 chance with ourselves but customers have latched on to him early as the selection they want in what is our Money Back As Cash Race (if second or third). It looks an excellent running of the King George (3.05) and it’s unsurprising the very popular Frodon has already established himself as a significant loser with Bryony Frost aboard. There’s little doubt he’ll be our worst result in the big one. Elsewhere, it looks a tricky bookmaker card over at Leopardstown where Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have a strong book of runners. We would need at least one of the shorties beaten to avoid Boxing Day accas.

Jamie McBride, William Hill We are keen to keep Saint Calvados onside in the King George (3.05). If he is able to replicate the level of form when just touched off by Min in the Ryanair he is overpriced at around 25-1. Joining Paul Nicholls and having a wind op are reasons for optimism.

Which horse are you keen to take on and why?

James Knight There's a couple we will look to be top price on in the King George – Frodon surely won't get it all his own way this time and this year's race looks stronger. I'm not sold on Asterion Forlonge either – his jumping may not hold up and I'm not sure his form is good enough anyway.

Frank Hickey Bravemansgame at odds-on. I was really impressed with Ahoy Senor at Newbury and the clock backed up the visual impression. Ahoy Senor easily accounted for Bravemansgame at Aintree last season and while Paul Nicholls claimed that Bravemansgame was below his best there, Ahoy Senor was only having his second start over hurdles that day and looks to be improving with every run. Bravemansgame will need to have Ahoy Senor in trouble turning into the home straight, as if not, I can only see one winner.

Barry Orr We are keen to take Minella Indo on in the King George. Nearly all of his best form has come at Cheltenham and Kempton is a totally different test for a horse. Connections are trying cheekpieces to try keep his mind on the job early on, in a race they go a really good gallop from the outset. We feel he needs to run at Cheltenham to show his best, so we are happy taking him on around Kempton in what looks a brilliant running.

Pat Cooney Epatante at Kempton has to be taken on at her current odds. She had a hard race on her seasonal reappearance when dead-heating with old rival Not So Sleepy on the same terms here. Also, she was beaten in this race at 1-5 last year, so on balance is more of a lay than a bet.

Jamie Hart Envoi Allen. He cost me a fortune when he tipped up at Cheltenham, but I’m now not convinced he would have beaten Chantry House if he’d stayed on his feet. Chacun Pour Soi loves Leopardstown and I’m prepared to forgive his poor showing in the Tingle Creek.

Michael Shinners Epatante dead-heated on her reappearance in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, but she’s got a little to prove if she’s to return to her best form. Her infamous final kick appears to be a little less potent these days, and she’s failed to win a race outright on her last four starts, including when beaten at 1-5 in this race last year. She could be vulnerable, with the in-form and progressive Tritonic one we’d like to keep onside against her in what appears a substandard running of the Christmas Hurdle.

Jamie McBride Grangee looks plenty short enough at around 5-2 in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown (1.45) on Monday. She is far from certain to reverse form with Three Stripe Life from the Cheltenham Bumper and faces other promising rivals in Largy Debut and Mighty Potter.

What's your best bet?

James Knight I like Twotwothree at Wetherby (1.00) – he won the equivalent race last season and the three horses he beat all won on their next start – it looks like he has been targeted at a repeat and conditions should come right for him.

Frank Hickey Top Ville Ben in the Rowland Meyrick (2.10). He was showing plenty in the Becher when he fell and with the forecast rain likely to turn the ground quite testing, he can repeat his 2019 win in the race off a 4lb lower mark.

Barry Orr Western Zara in the 2m4f mares' handicap hurdle at Limerick (2.08) on Boxing Day.

Iwilldoit (right): big chance in the Welsh NationalCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Pat Cooney I’ll wait for Monday’s Welsh National (2.50) for the Sam Thomas-trained Iwilldoit, who impressed when winning well on his seasonal reappearance. To me, he looks the best handicapped in the race and has no weight to carry. The trip is the unknown but he’ll go well if getting it.

Jamie Hart The best value bet anybody could have over the Christmas period is to play the Trifecta in the King George. Across the year the tote Trifecta pays more than double the Tricast dividend when there’s a rollover. There’s just over £14k rolling into this pool. With just nine declared you can perm the whole field for 504 bets and hope for an upset but be guaranteed a return (you can play for penny lines), or trim out a few you don’t like and give yourself an even better chance of a profit.

Michael Shinners There’s plenty to choose from, but of the Graded action Three Stripe Life looks overpriced in the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 27. Gordon Elliott’s runner has quickly established himself as a high-class prospect, with a bloodless success on his bumper debut in January followed up by a very encouraging fourth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March. His effort that day can be upgraded (raced freely) and as always, that race appears to be working out well. He should be capable of taking this step up in grade in his stride following an easy hurdling debut success at Fairyhouse in November.

Jamie McBride It would not surprise me if Debece ran a big race in the Rowland Meyrick (2.10). He is unexposed for Dan Skelton and has shown in the past he is capable of winning from this kind of mark.

Give us an each-way yankee that has a chance of paying for Christmas?

James Knight Minella Indo - 3.05 Kempton, Twotwothree - 1.00 Wetherby, Spycatcher - 3.35 Wolverhampton and Takingrisks - 2.10 Wetherby. These are all on Boxing Day.

Frank Hickey Top Ville Ben - 2.10 Wetherby on December 26, Arvicta - 3.15 Limerick on December 26, Twotwothree - 1.00 Wetherby on December 26, Le Musigny - 2.55 Leopardstown on December 27.

Barry Orr Western Zara - 2.08 Limerick, Cullaghs Star - 1.45 Leopardstown, Soviet Pimpernel - 2.55 Leopardstown and Arctic Ambition - 3.15 Limerick. All are on December 26.

Pat Cooney Iwilldoit - Welsh National (2.50) December 27, Empire Steel 2.10 Wetherby December 26, Bothwell Bridge 1.20 Kempton December 26 and Our Surprise 3.40 Kempton December 26.

Jamie Hart Its All Guesswork - 3.03 Down Royal 26th, Bleue Away - 2.52 Fontwell 26th, Fortescue - 2.50 Chepstow 27th, Le Musigny - 2.55 Leopardstown 27th.

Michael Shinners 12.18 Wincanton Fire Lake, 12.40 Huntingdon Last Royal, 3.32 Huntingdon Supreme Gift, 3.45 Wincanton Holetown Hero.

Jamie McBride Debece - 2.10 Wetherby 26th, Saint Calvados - 3.05 Kempton 26th, Nothing New 8.05 Sha Tin 27th, Stones And Roses 2.55 Leopardstown 27th.

Finally, your best ante-post selection for the new year?

James Knight I fancy Energumene to prove himself the best two-mile chaser in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. If that's a little conservative for an ante-post pick, then maybe put him in a double with the super-talented Coroebus in the 2,000 Guineas.

Frank Hickey Shady Operator in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. There is 14-1 and 12-1 in places and that looks big to me.

Shady Operator: a big player at Cheltenham in Frank Hickey's opinionCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Barry Orr Mighty Potter for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Pat Cooney The much-touted Facile Vega, a son of Quevega, makes his debut in the bumper at Leopardstown. There’s wisdom in backing him now at a double-figure price for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. He may be the new favourite for it come Monday evening.

Jamie HartColonel Mustard each-way at 33-1 in the Supreme. His taking performance behind Jonbon at Ascot recently, staying on strongly to the line, confirmed the promise of his first season where he ran some excellent types very close in Ireland. Still a novice in spite of his Grade 1 experience, his racing style suggests he will enjoy the Cheltenham hill and his owner, tote CEO Alex Frost, has confirmed this race as his target.

Michael Shinners Constitution Hill looked a freakish prospect on his rules debut for Nicky Henderson in getting the better of a horse who brought serious form to that Sandown race. Connections have made no secret of the regard he’s held in and he looks a surefire contender for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle, for which he’s currently 10-3 second-favourite behind stablemate Jonbon with ourselves. We’re likely to see him back in action at Sandown in the Tolworth Hurdle at the start of January where he can hopefully create another deep impression.

Jamie McBride I was hugely impressed by Antarah on his debut at Newcastle on the all-weather and would suggest him for the Derby at around 33-1, other than Luxembourg there is little to fear at this stage.

Read this next:

2021 King George VI Chase: why this horse can win the big race at Kempton

Paul Nicholls: Clan Des Obeaux and Frodon are the pair to beat

The Punting Club: 'I think he'll let down odds-on backers at Kempton' - big-race festive views

Christmas tips: 'Odds of 20-1 look generous' - why this horse can win

New customers can get £50 in free bets. First single & e/w bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 5 x £10 bet token. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets for horseracing only. Free bets are non-withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply. 18+. begambleaware.org. Claim the offer here.