Christmas Racing Preview
Christmas is a time like few others for racing fans, with a plethora of quality meetings taking place from Boxing Day through until New Year’s Day in a non-stop week of action.
Kempton, Leopardstown, Aintree and Chepstow are just four of the major tracks involved and here we look ahead to some of the major festive highlights in store next week.
Christmas Racing: King George shaping up for a cracker
The King George VI Chase at Kempton Park is the main Boxing Day attraction for racing fans on an intense day of sport that includes a whopping 11 meetings across Britain and Ireland.
The three-mile Grade 1 has been won by greats of the game down through the years.
French ace Il Est Francais sparkled over the course and distance on the card last year and is back for the big one, while rising Irish star Spillane’s Tower is a possible rival, along with Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning and former winners Hewick and Bravemansgame in what promises to be a stunning race.
Constitution Hill has missed every target in the last 12 months, but is reported to be on track for the Christmas Hurdle, where a fascinating meeting with Lossiemouth could be on the cards as Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins butt heads.
Christmas Racing: Aintree joins in the fun
Aintree was a new addition to the Boxing Day rota 12 months ago and, typically, the Merseyside venue proved popular with racegoers.
Their main attraction is the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle, once known as the Tolworth and run at Sandown.
Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen have been in fine fettle of late and will be targeting the Liverpool race with the exciting with Junker D’Allier.
Elsewhere on a stunning December 26th offering, meetings come from Down Royal, Sedgefield, Wetherby, Fontwell, Leopardstown, Market Rasen, Limerick and on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton.
Christmas Racing: Welsh National marathon awaits
Another of the festive traditions is the gruelling Welsh Grand National at Chepstow, with three-and-three-quarter-miles in store for the runners at the Monmouthshire layout – often on very testing ground.
Mr Vango justified favouritism in the London National at Sandown earlier in December and Sara Bradstock’s charge is being touted for Welsh National success, with the likes of Broadway Boy, Monbeg Genius and Nassalam amongst the possible rivals at Chepstow.
Christmas Racing: Leopardstown boast the riches
There’s no want for top-class action in Ireland over Christmas and Leopardstown shines brightest with four days of high-quality racing starting on St Stephen’s Day – December 26th.
The Foxrock venue boasts a huge array of Grade 1s over the four days, including the Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase – a new event – the Christmas Hurdle, the Matheson Hurdle, the Future Champions Novice Hurdle and, of course, the Savills Chase.
The last-named could see John Durkan winner Fact To File once more going up against dual Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs, with Gerri Colombe adding extra spice in what could be the best race of the festive season.
Grade 1 action also comes at Limerick where star turn Ballyburn is set to contest the Faugheen Novices’ Chase.
Christmas Racing: Cheltenham rings in the New Year
The final British Grade 1 race of 2024 takes place at Newbury on Saturday December 28th, the Challow Novices’ Hurdle, where Paul Nicholls will be aiming to land the prize for the fifth year in a row.
After the bells ring, Cheltenham gets in on the action with their always eagerly anticipated New Year’s Day card that includes the Relkeel Hurdle.
The Cotswolds arena is one of seven British venues racing on New Year’s Day, with Fairyhouse and Tramore joining in from across the Irish Sea.
By Enda McElhinney
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