Horse Racing betting tips for December 27: Best racing bets and picks for Kempton and Chepstow

For fans of National Hunt racing this truly is the most wonderful time of year and, hot on the heels of the Boxing Day racing bonanza, Saturday is laced with quality action across Britain and Ireland.

There are six meetings on Saturday, with the Welsh Grand National (2.50) at Chepstow amongst the highlights alongside the Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (2.30) at Kempton and the Future Champions Novice Hurdle (1.47) from Leopardstown.

Our racing expert has picked out a trio of best bets for Saturday’s action including one in the Chepstow marathon.

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December 27th Tips

• 1.27 Limerick – The Big Westerner @ SP
• 2.30 Kempton – Ryan’s Rocket @ SP
• 2.50 Chepstow – Haiti Couleurs @ 7/1

1.27 Limerick – The Big Westerner @ SP

This Mares Grade 2 sees Jade De Grugy for Willie Mullins and THE BIG WESTERNER for Henry de Bromhead as the two key players.

The former had little excuse when turned over at Cork last month, beaten more than 15 lengths in third behind Kala Conti. That Gordon Elliott inmate won well back at the Mallow track since – beating Kargese in the same Kenny Alexander silks as Jade De Grugy – but this Closutton mare is taken on nonetheless now.

The Big Westerner was a good second behind Jimmy Du Seuil at Fairyhouse (2m5½f, yielding to soft) last month on chasing bow under Mike O’Connor and he’s in the plate again now.

The extra distance on what will be a testing surface should play to the strengths of this strong stayer – she finished second in the Albert Bartlett over 3m at Cheltenham in the spring – and her stamina could be decisive.

2.30 Kempton – Ryan’s Rocket @ SP

The Grade 2 Desert Orchid Handicap Chase is one of Kempton’s features on the second afternoon of their Christmas meeting and RYAN’S ROCKET can take it for trainer Fergal O’Brien and rider Johnny Burke.

The chestnut gelding showed promise last season, winning on his chase bow at Chepstow over this trip in November and going close at Ascot in a decent little race before Christmas.

He was well beaten as Jagwar advertised his skillset at Cheltenham on Trials Day and then unfortunate to unseat Burke very early on at Market Rasen in March.

Back from his break last month at Newbury, he won the final race on Coral Gold Cup Day in good style, going by the big two in the market after they jumped the last in unison.

That contest has been won in the last four years by Grade 1-winning chaser Elixir de Nutz and Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Il Ridoto and is usually a good guide. He’s 6lb higher in better company now but this track looks sure to suit and Ryan’s Rocket has more scope for improvement than some of these rivals.

2.50 Chepstow – Haiti Couleurs @ 7/1

A couple of mistakes put paid to the hopes of HAITI COULEURS in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last month and Sean Bowen duly pulled him up. It would be wrong to judge him too harshly on that effort, with a genuine Gold Cup contender in Grey Dawning leading the pack home and course specialist Royale Pagaille in second spot.

Rebecca Curtis’ charge needs to leave that run behind but a repeat of his National Hunt Chase win at the Cheltenham Festival or his Irish National victory from the spring would make him tough to beat.

He’s got a hefty weight burden to carry here but the eight-year-old could well have the class to defy it over a stamina-sapping test that promises to really suit with champion jockey Sean Bowen in the saddle.

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