Ciaron Maher has three of the nine runners in the Christmas Stakes on Boxing Day at Sandown – Nadal, A Little Deep and Extratwo.

The horses have also been handed amazing barriers in the 1200m Listed Race with Nadal, A Little Deep and Extratwo drawing barriers 1, 3 and 4 respectively.

Despite training one third of the field, Maher believes there is one sprinter that stands above the others – Nadal.

“I think he’s the best of the three,” Maher told SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.

“A Little Deep will improve from the run. Extratwo down in the weights is a sneaky chance.

“But I’d say Nadal is clearly the pick.”

The five-year-old finished sixth in his last-start in the 1200m Meteorite, but Maher claims the gelding had an excuse for the run.

As Nadal is a backmarker, the race pattern of the million-dollar Cranbourne race didn’t suit the bay’s running style.

“Cranbourne, figures wise, he ran well in the Meteorite,” Maher said.

“But it was dominated from the front half of the race, he was back in his usual style.

“I think the horse is going well. It’s his day (on Boxing Day) where he’s got to stand up.”

Nadal is currently $8 with Sportsbet to win the Christmas Stakes and will be ridden by Robert Whearty.

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