RACING: Robbie Power’s guide to the festive action

Former rider Robbie Power is about to enjoy a first Christmas out of the saddle. For Power, that means no big-race pressure to come in the days following Christmas Day, mixed in with the fact he can enjoy a hearty Christmas dinner without the fear of putting weight on before a big race.

We caught up with the Gold Cup and Grand National winning rider to discuss a range of topics which are dominating a busy horse racing landscape. The King George VI Chase is undoubtedly the highlight of the Festive action, along with the four-day Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

Reflecting on a first Christmas outside the saddle, Power said to Horse Racing Betting: “This being my first Christmas away from the saddle is going to be different. Last Christmas I was injured with a broken hip and it was the only Christmas I ever missed in my career so it'll be different going to the racing this year and not having the excitement of riding but obviously I'm going to enjoy Christmas Eve and Christmas Day a whole lot more because I'll have no restrictions. I can eat what I want and drink what I want so I'm definitely going to enjoy this year more than I have the previous 20 years.

“There have been a few meetings over the last couple of months that I've gone to wishing I was riding and I think that will be the same wherever I go over the Christmas period. Some Christmases I was able to enjoy myself and eat what I wanted to eat but there were others where I'd eat a bit of dinner and then be straight in the bath afterwards to sweat off a few pounds.

“In general, I was one of the lucky ones compared to Davy Russell and AP McCoy but there were a few Christmases where I'd go straight to the bath for a sweat,” Power continued to Horse Racing Odds.

“I always enjoyed Christmas with the family but it did hang over me if I had to watch what I was eating because there were always so many nice things on the table on Christmas Day. I was never one to worry about the racing the day before, I took care of it the next morning.

The King George VI Chase at Kempton Park has long been the highlight of the Festive period and this year’s feature event looks sure to be a Christmas cracker. Bravemansgame is a leading contender as he looks to provide Paul Nicholls with a 13th win in the three-mile Grand One contest. He landed the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase 12 months ago and impressed on his reappearance when a ready winner of the Charlie Hall Chase.

He is of course a serious player for this event, along with stable companion Hitman who shaped with promise when second in the Old Roan Chase on his comeback, before scoring in a small-field affair at Haydock last time out. He remains thoroughly unexposed and commands all sorts of respect.

The Venetia Williams-trained L’Homme Presse was one of the success stories of last season with two Grade One victories in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. He impressed on his return in the Rehearsal Handicap Chase, shouldering top-weight in fine style.

Envoi Allen landed the Champion Chase at Down Royal on his return and is also respected in this event along with former winner Frodon. Eldorado Allen is another to consider following two runner-up efforts so far this term.

Analysing the race, Robbie Power believes Envoi Allen is a live player. “Envoi Allen has a great chance of success there”, said Power. “He was very good when he won at Down Royal, he's a horse with a lot of pace which you need around Kempton.

“Bravemansgame is the deserved favourite, his form around Kempton is very good and he's the one they all have to beat but I thought L'Homme Presse was very impressive at Newcastle. He's not a big horse so to carry a big weight was very good. He won with plenty up his sleeve.

“Envoi is an experienced campaigner, he had good runs over two miles last season, he was third in the Champion Chase, has plenty of pace and I think Kempton could play to his strengths. He's definitely the overlooked horse in the King George.”

One of the most exciting horses in training is also set to feature over the Festive period with Constitution Hill lining up in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Nicky Henderson’s superstar was magnificent en route to glory in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle on his return and he looks incredibly tough to beat.

Away from Kempton, the feature contest of the week at Leopardstown is the Savills Chase on December 28. The contest is set to feature three former champions with Kemboy, A Plus Tard and Galvin in the reckoning.

A Plus Tard landed a thrilling running of the 2020 Savills Chase and was collared close home by Galvin in the 2021 renewal. He went on to enjoy Gold Cup glory at Cheltenham with a seismic performance and he has to be respected here, despite blowing out on his return when pulled-up in the Betfair Chase.

Power, who is closely associated with the Henry De Bromhead yard believes we will see a different A Plus Tard at Leopardstown, commenting: “He seems fine and is in good form at home. I think Galvin has to bounce back from disappointment at Down Royal and a few others have questions to answer. Hopefully, A Plus Tard can get back to showing what he was like last year, at Leopardstown.

“At Haydock he just wasn't 100% on the day and that showed so hopefully he can bounce back in the Savills. It's very competitive and there are a few horses that have got questions to answer.”

The Gordon Elliott-trained Conflated landed the Irish Gold Cup last term and did shape with promise on his return in the Champion Chase at Down Royal, a race in which stable companion Galvin disappointed. If that run can be forgiven, he remains a serious player for this event as the defending champion.

The Willie Mullins-trained Stattler also demands attention having won the National Hunt Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham last term and he remains unexposed over fences, with three wins from three starts over the larger obstacles.

There is also a poignant event with the Christmas Hurdle run in memory of Jack De Bromhead on the same day. The last two winners of the event Klassical Dream (2021) and Flooring Porter (2020) look leading players along with Bob Olinger who did shape with promise when second to Home By The Lee in the Lismullen Hurdle on his return to action.

The Matheson Hurdle on December 29 is also a race to note with Sharjah chasing a record fifth straight win in the contest. However, standing in his way is State Man who recorded successive Grade One wins last term and enjoyed more top-level success in the Morgiana Hurdle on his return.

The sport was also rocked this week by the retirement of two champions. Frankie Dettori, widely regarded as a jockey who transcends the sport, announced he will retire at the end of next season, with the Breeders’ Cup set to be his swansong.

By comparison, Davy Russell announced his immediate retirement from the saddle following success at Thurles on Sunday aboard Liberty Dance. Russell, a three-time Irish Champion jockey and a partner of the likes of Tiger Roll and Galvin over the years, was a giant of the weighing room whose impact in the saddle will be deeply missed.

Power, who knew the rider well, said: “I was actually surprised when Davy came back after the horrific injury he suffered at the Munster National but it just goes to show the calibre of man that he is to come back after an injury as serious as that.

“I wasn't surprised at the news of Davy's retirement because no one is ever really surprised when a jump jockey hangs up their boots at 43 years old. 

“Davy's riding did the talking, he's won all the big races and was just a phenomenally good jockey.

“Davy Russell is right up there with all of the best jockeys in the game, he was flawless around Cheltenham and rode that track as well as anybody. I think he had a winner at every festival for ten or 12 years running, or maybe even longer which is a phenomenal achievement in itself.

“The only surprise for me surrounding Davy's career is that Gigginstown stopped using him as the number one jockey because he's been one of the best jockeys in the business.”

Reflecting on Dettori’s retirement, Power continued: “Frankie Dettori will be a huge loss to flat racing because he's a phenomenally good jockey and he's a real character. Frankie has been the face of flat racing for the last 15 or 20 years and what he's done for the sport has been unbelievable.

“I think Rachael Blackmore can become the figurehead for British and Irish racing because she's the face of racing at the moment and what she's achieved is phenomenal for a female jockey.

“The only thing that's unlikely because she's not attached to Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott is Rachael becoming Champion Jockey.

“Flat racing is very different because it's not as dangerous as the jumps. I always wanted to go out on a good note because I didn't want to retire down the road as there's so much that can happen to a jump jockey.

“What Frankie is doing, going out on a grand tour, is going to be huge for flat racing during 2023.”