Six races - including the iconic King George VI Chase which I've previewed in-depth here - form a typically high-class card at Kempton on Boxing Day.

I've got a couple of tips for the occasion - including one in the first of the three Grade One contests.

12:45 - Russian Ruler @ 9/2

Eight go to post for the opener - a novices' handicap chase over an extended 2m4f - and Nicky Henderson's Russian Ruler is the one I've landed on.

To date, the six-year-old's reputation has exceeded what he's done on the track, but he started to put things together towards the end of last season and returned this term, at Newbury on the first day of this month, with a promising debut over fences.

He finished fourth, beaten just shy of 10 lengths by subsequent Grade 2 winner Djelo and five lengths by stablemate Persian Time who also won next time out, and stayed on particularly strongly from out the back, suggesting he'll benefit from this step up in trip.

His mark of 127 remains unchanged and, with Nico De Boinville back in the saddle, he ought to be extremely competitive in what looks a slightly easier assignment.

13:20 - Giovinco @ 2/1

The very next race is the Kauto Star Novices' Chase, which is like a mini King George. Three miles. Six runners. Competitive.

French raider Il Est Francais has a big reputation and consequently heads the betting at time of writing, but his form is hard to weigh-up against the British horses and there's enough reasons to oppose him.

The one for me is Giovinco, for Lucinda Russell.

I thought the six-year-old - who forms part of my 2024 Cheltenham Festival antepost book - came out of his length-and-a-half defeat to Albert Bartlett hero Stay Away Fay at Sandown earlier this month with plenty of credit.

He was free for a long time under Stephen Mulqueen yet, despite several encounters with a loose horse, was still travelling like a good thing approaching the final fence, before getting out-stayed by the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase antepost favourite. No shame in that, especially under the circumstances.

I think people are sleeping on his staying qualities, but at the same time there's no doubt a sharper three miles on better ground looks right up his street.

If this race doesn't come too soon - which is the one worry - I think he'll be hard to beat.