One trainer, one jockey, one horse and one race to watch on Monday

Trainer

Dan Skelton has fired himself into contention for the trainer’s championship after a number of big-race victories and Monday provides more opportunities for his team who have recorded 66 wins this season.

Like many of his counterparts, Skelton is sending runners all over Britain with 20 runners declared across six tracks. Galia Des Liteaux, who landed a Listed race at Bangor in November, will take on the boys in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase (1.20) at Kempton. Greatwood Hurdle winner West Cork will also run in handicap company for the first time over fences (3.05).

Skelton will saddle Shan Blue in Wetherby's feature Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (1.35). Amoola Gold runs at the same track, while Jet Plane is one of the market leaders in Market Rasen's Lincolnshire National (2.50).

Jockey

Harry Cobden is in red-hot form, operating at a 33 per cent strike-rate for the season, as he prepares for six rides at Kempton.

The jockey is likely to have a number of leading claims on the seven-race card, including Bravemansgame in the Grade 1 King George VI Chase (2.30). Cobden has registered 63 winners from 192 rides this season and will also ride Miranda in the Long Walk Hurdle (12.45) and McFabulous in the Kauto Star Novice's Chase (1.20) in two of the other top-level contests on the card.

Rubaud (12.10), Solo (3.05) and Ivaldi (3.40) complete Cobden's book of rides, which will all be for his boss Paul Nicholls.

Horse

Nicky Henderson will unleash some of his biggest stars on Monday, with unbeaten superstar Constitution Hill leading the Seven Barrows charge.

The Michael Buckley-owned five-year-old will line-up in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (1.55) at Kempton and will bid to extend his 100 per cent record under rules against four rivals.

Constitution Hill has won all four of his starts, including three Grade 1s, the latest when bolting up in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on his seasonal reappearance last month. The odds-on favourite for the Champion Hurdle finished 12 lengths clear of stablemate Epatante, who reopposes here.

Race

There are a mammoth 77 races across Britain and Ireland on Monday, so punters are not short of options for the day. However, the feature of the afternoon is undoubtedly the Grade 1 King George VI Chase (2.30) at Kempton.

The £250,000 Grade 1 is always a must-watch contest and this year a field of nine of the best three-milers in Britain and Ireland are set to clash. Champion trainer Nicholls, who has won this race three times in the last four years and a record 12 times, has a serious contender in Bravemansgame.

The dual Grade 1 winner, Cheltenham Festival winner L’Homme Presse, stablemate Hitman and seven-time Grade 1 winner Envoi Allen are prominent in the market. 2020 winner Frodon, Royale Pagaille, Eldorado Allen, Ahoy Senor and Millers Bank complete a stellar line-up.

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