FIRST GOLD can prove a Christmas cracker for the second year running at Kempton on Boxing Day.

The brilliant French gelding, spectacular winner of the £150,000 Pertemps King George VI Chase 12 months ago, can stage a repeat in the outstanding racing showpiece of the holiday programme.

Trained by Francois Doumen, whose trips to Britain seldom fail to bear fruit, First Gold was beaten on his seasonal reappearance at Newbury at the beginning of the month. But that race was over hurdles and the wily Doumen admitted to no disappointment on his part and simply confirmed that, come 'King George' day, First Gold would back to his sensational best.

With the hugely-exciting Best Mate - ridden by Tony McCoy - in opposition, along with Irish star Florida Pearl, Bacchanal, an outstanding novice from last season, and recent Haydock winner Legal Right, a thrilling race is guaranteed.

But First Gold holds all the aces as he bids to gain back-to-back 'King George' wins in the hands of his regular rider Thierry Doumen, the trainer's son.

The televised Kempton card is sure to warm ever jumping enthusiast's heart. The Doumen team are well represented throughout the afternoon and can win the Pertemps Christmas Greetings Novices' Hurdle with the tough and talented Barito.

Bilbao should go well for the French duo in the £50,000 Pertemps Christmas Hurdle, but I prefer the chances of Landing Light. Nicky Henderson's high-class gelding made a winning start to the season in Newcastle's Fighting Fifth Hurdle when he was reckoned to be in need of the race. He should be cherry-ripe now.

The unbeaten Valley Henry can extended his winning sequence to three in the Pertemps Learning Feltham Novices' Chase, while the booking of Tony McCoy for Henrietta Knight's promising Perfect Fellow - a stable-companion of Best Mate - should not go unheeded in the Network Design Handicap Chase.

With prospects of racing at Sedgefield looking "slim", attention is turned instead to Ayr, where Stormin' Native looks the the one to be on in the Jack And The Beanstalk Novices' Chase after his cracking effort behind October Mist at Wetherby earlier in the month.

Boxing Day selections:

KEMPTON

12.40 - Barito

1.10 - Valley Henry

1.45 - Landing Light

2.20 - First Gold

2.55 - Perfect Fellow

3.25 - Alka International

AYR

12.55 - Stormin' Native

1.30 - Cherry Tart

2.00 - Single Sourcing

2.35 - The Phair Crier

3.10 - Solsgirth

3.40 - Mytimie

Wetherby

12.50 - Man Murphy

1.25 - Turgeonev

1.55 - Hussard Collonges

2.30 - Reverse Charge

3.00 - The Major

3.30 - Gohh

Market Rasen

12.30 - Il Cavaliere (Nap)

1.00 - King's Chambers

1.35 - Master Tern

2.05 - Three Weeks

2.35 - Suntas

3.05 - Native Buck

3.35 - Abinito Lady

Updated: 09:53 Monday, December 24, 2001