The Christmas Meeting takes centre stage this weekend at Prestbury Park and we’ve got Friday and Saturday covered in our Cheltenham Races Preview. Read below for all the insights ahead of the two-day meeting at the home of jump racing.
Cheltenham Races Preview: Christmas Meeting 2024
The Christmas Meeting includes action on the track, The Tattersalls Cheltenham Sales on the Friday and entertainment and experiences like pony riding.
Cheltenham Races Preview: Day 1, Friday 13th December
There are seven races on Friday afternoon at Cheltenham as the racecourse gets into the festive spirit. The card runs from 12:10 until 15:35 and will include action featuring promising novices in the British EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle and the SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Chase before the Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase attracts some stellar jumping names.
Later, the always-intriguing Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase takes the runners on a spin around Prestbury Park tackling a wide and varied array of jumping tests. Also on the card will be the Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle (2m1f), the Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Coming Soon Handicap (3m2f) and the Citipost Handicap Hurdle (3m).
Dysart Enos gave local trainer Fergal O’Brien some extra Christmas cheer when she won on this card in 2023, while other winners on the day included Ginny’s Destiny and La Malmason. Paul Nicholls’ big-money purchase Caldwell Potter is amongst the possibles for the Novices’ Chase on day one, while Eldorado Allen, Dasher Drasher, Two For Gold and Shan Blue are some of the names in the mix for the veterans’ race.
Cheltenham Races Preview: Day 2, Saturday 14th December
Another seven contests are down for decision on day two, with racing again set to take place from 12:10-15:35. The action commences with a JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle while the handicaps on the card include the Josh Wyke Birthday Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase and the Quintessentially Mares’ Handicap Chase.
The features on Saturday include the Nyetimber December Gold Cup Handicap Chase and the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – a recognised trial for the Festival race carrying the same name in March. The December Gold Cup went the way of trainer Richard Hobson and his charge Fugitif last time around, while Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville took the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle with Shanagh Bob in the familiar colours of the Donnellys’.
This year’s December Gold Cup could include the likes of Ga Law, Stage Star, Shakem Up’arry, In Excelsis Deo and Guard Your Dreams, while progressive hurdler Skyjack Hijack is a possible Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle contender for Jennie Candlish
Cheltenham Races Preview: Christmas Fun
Aside from the racing, there will be plenty going on around Cheltenham Racecourse during the Christmas Meeting. Richard James will be providing entertainment as he returns to Quevega’s for an afternoon of feel good favourites and Christmas classics, while the Got2Sing Choir and Hornbrokers brass trio will provide magic around The Plaza’s Christmas Tree.
For the younger patrons, the trip to Cheltenham can be extra special with a magical Christmas pony ride at the Home of Jump Racing.
By Jack Ogalbe
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