Jack Topping is releasing his charity single Tomorrow to raise funds for the NGO Save the Children that provides relief and support for children in developing countries. Photo: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

Choirboy Jack Topping is to challenge the winner of The X Factor by entering the race for the Christmas number-one song.

Bookies have placed the 11-year-old as second favourite to clinch the seasonal chart-topper, behind the winner of the ITV contest.

The schoolboy is to release his charity single Tomorrow which will raise funds for Save the Children, and will feature in the organisation’s Christmas TV ad.

Last year’s winner of the ITV series James Arthur missed out on the top spot for Christmas week to a Hillsborough charity single by the Justice Collective, but he went on to claim his number one the following week.

Topping, who is an ambassador for the charity, said: “I watch The X Factor every week so it’s really exciting and a bit scary that I will be going up against them.

“I really like the contestants on The X Factor but I would love to have a Christmas number 1 so it raises lots of money for Save the Children and the children I have met so far.

“There are boys and girls all over the world that need help. Together, I know we can make a difference this Christmas,” said the youngster, who is a choirboy in Liverpool.

Choirmaster Gareth Malone – who shares a record label, Decca, with Jack – has already indicated that he is keen to put his new ensemble Voices in the running for the Christmas number one too.

His Military Wives choir denied the 2011 X Factor winners Little Mix a Christmas number one.

The boy will release his single on December 16 and bookmaker William Hill puts him at 6/1 for the festive chart topper, while The X Factor champion is attracting even money.

A spokesman for Hill’s said: “We listened to Tomorrow and we think it will be a definite contender. There is a huge amount of buzz around it. To be second favourite ahead of the likes of One Direction shows how seriously we’re taking Jack’s chances.”

Earlier this month, Topping performed at the Royal Albert Hall when he sang at the Classic Brit Awards.

His debut album, Wonderful World, is out on December 2.