Go racing this January: the best racedays to visit - including the all-new Berkshire Winter Million, Festival Trials day at Cheltenham and ladies' day at Uttoxeter

After the Christmas and new year celebrations, January can be a quieter time for many, but there is plenty of high-class racing to help you beat the winter blues.

The Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot is the standout highlight alongside two fixtures at Cheltenham and numerous key races in Ireland, including a top-level contest at Naas.

January is the month you're most likely to find special ticket offers, many of which are detailed below, for a busy period on the horse racing calendar in Britain and Ireland.

January racing highlights in Britain and Ireland

England

North

PETER MARSH CHASE, HAYDOCK: A race not for the faint-hearted often run on deep winter ground, the Peter Marsh Chase is joined by three other Grade 2 contests, all of which provide clues for the big spring festivals. Saturday, January 18 (Tickets)

GREAT YORKSHIRE CHASE, DONCASTER: Two days on Town Moor climaxes with the historic Great Yorkshire Chase, previously run as the Sky Bet Chase, contested by the top staying handicappers in a key winter highlight. Saturday, January 25 (Tickets)

Midlands

CLASSIC CHASE, WARWICK: A must-visit day with potential Grand National contenders testing their credentials in the Classic Chase and top talent in the fixture's other Grade 2 - the Hampton Novices' Chase. Saturday, January 11 (Tickets)

Cheltenham: home of the festival hosts two meetings in JanuaryCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

South

NEW YEAR'S DAY, CHELTENHAM: Start the new year with a bang with a high-quality card at the home of jump racing, headlined by the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle. Wednesday, January 1 (Tickets)

VETERANS' CHASE FINAL, SANDOWN: Let a field of old favourites warm the heart on a cold day as the Esher track stages the Veterans' Chase Series Final. Saturday, January 4 (Tickets)

SUSSEX NATIONAL, PLUMPTON: One the course's principal races and the joint-longest of the season, the Sussex National provides a thorough test of jumping and stamina. Sunday, January 5 (Tickets)

LANZAROTE HURDLE, KEMPTON: A proper jumps card to excite fans of the winter game with the enticing betting heat of the Lanzarote Hurdle and star names in the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase. Saturday, January 11 (Tickets)

BERKSHIRE WINTER MILLION, WINDSOR & ASCOT: Three compelling days in a new £1.2 million initiative, with the jumps returning to Windsor on the Friday with the Sovereign Hurdle and the Fleur De Lys Chase taking place on the Sunday. The jewel in the royal crown takes place on Saturday as Ascot stages the Clarence House Chase, a Grade 1 won by Un De Sceaux, Altior and Shishkin in recent years. January 17-19 (Tickets)

WINTER OAKS, LINGFIELD: Flat fans are in for a winter treat as the Surrey venue stages the Listed Winter Oaks. Saturday, January 18 (Tickets)

FESTIVAL TRIALS DAY, CHELTENHAM: The final meeting at the course before the Cheltenham Festival offers the chance for runners to book their spot for March on a thrilling seven-race featuring five Grade 2s, headed by the Cotswold Chase and International Hurdle. Saturday, January 25 (Tickets)

Punchestown: the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle, won last year by Mystical Power, stars in JanuaryCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Ireland

NEW YEAR'S DAY, FAIRYHOUSE: Start an action-packed month in Ireland at one of its premier courses with a quality card containing a Grade 3 mares' chase. Wednesday, January 1 (Tickets)

NEW YEAR'S DAY, TRAMORE: Nothing beats a trip to the seaside to recover from the New Year's Eve excesses as the track stages its showcase fixture of the winter, featuring a Grade 3 chase. Wednesday, January 1 (Tickets)

SLANEY HURDLE, NAAS: The track's biggest meeting of the year as it stages its flagship race, run as the Grade 1 Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle, as well the new Grade 2 Racing Post Novice Chase. There's a best dressed competition too. Sunday, January 5 (Tickets)

DAN MOORE CHASE, FAIRYHOUSE: Topping the bill is the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase, a Grade 3 which always throws up plenty of intrigue with classy types often switching to handicap company. Saturday, January 11 (Tickets)

MOSCOW FLYER HURDLE, PUNCHESTOWN: The Grade 2 novice hurdle named after the legendary chaser is the main attraction, ably supported by a Grade 3 novice chase. Sunday, January 12 (Tickets)

HORSE & JOCKEY HOTEL CHASE, THURLES: The red carpet is rolled out for the course's most high-profile race, run as the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase. Always a race to savour, it features triple winners Native Upmanship and Allaho on its roll of honour. Sunday, January 19 (Tickets)

THYESTES CHASE, GOWRAN PARK: A bumper crowd is always attracted to the venue as it plays host to its flagship meeting, featuring the historic Thyestes Chase and Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle. Thursday, January 23 (Tickets)

SOLERINA HURDLE, FAIRYHOUSE: The third key meeting of the month at Fairyhouse is headlined by the Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle, which is contested by high-class mares of the future. Saturday, January 25 (Tickets)

LIMESTONE LAD HURDLE, NAAS: A big month at a course known as the nursery of champions culminates with a stellar card featuring a pair of Grade 3s, the Limestone Lad Hurdle and Naas Novice Chase. Sunday, January 26 (Tickets)

Scotland

NEW YEAR'S DAY, MUSSELBURGH: The perfect place to ring in the new year with the Hogmaneigh Hurdle and Auld Reekie Chase part of a card worth more than £100,000. Wednesday, January 1 (Tickets)

Ascot: the place to be for value-seekers in JanuaryCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Bargain hunt: this month's best offers for racing tickets

• Ascot is the place to be for value-seekers this month as the track has two special offers. It has teamed up with Windsor for the new Berkshire Winter Million over three days on January 17-19 (Windsor stages day one and three, with Ascot's Clarence House Chase card on day two). Saturday-Sunday passes are priced at £35 with full three-day passes available at £40. Also on offer for the first time is a special Ascot three-day jumps pass, incorporating the Clarence House (January 18), Ascot Chase (February 15) and spring family raceday (March 30). For an overall cost of £50, you gain access to the Queen Anne enclosure for three quality racedays, which equates to a saving of £40.

• Punchestown has a midweek advance special with a €5 discount per ticket, taking the cost down to €10 for the meetings on January 13 and 27.

• Warwick stages a fixture on what has become known as Blue Monday on January 20 and is going the extra yard to brighten the mood with a £10 ticket offer.

• Taunton has pushed the boat out for its fixture on January 8 with a 2-for-1 ticket offer for that meeting only.

January racing fixtures in Britain and Ireland

Out of the ordinary: five eyecatching events

PARTY TIME: Those not willing to give up party mode can continue the celebrations to the day after New Year's Day with a fun-filled raceday at Ayr.

There is live entertainment after racing as well as other attractions, including the chance to win a holiday to Rome. Bellissimo! Ayr, January 2 (Tickets)

FARMING COMMUNITY: Wincanton has chosen to strengthen its links to its surrounding rural community by hosting a raceday to support local farmers.

A great chance for everyone to network and music will be staged throughout the afternoon. On a day of reduced prices, tickets start from £9 with a special £10 ticket package (entry ticket, racecard and a pint). Wincanton, January 4 (Tickets)

MEDIEVAL DAY: A raceday with a difference as Wetherby welcomes a troop of knights to take you back in time.

Medieval re-enactments will be staged with the knights setting up camp in the paddock enclosure for an interactive afternoon for the whole family to enjoy. This popular day is a real hit with the kids. Wetherby, January 11 (Tickets)

The Grand Military Gold Cup headlines Sandown's card on January 24Credit: Edward Whitaker

ARMED FORCES: A historic day on Sandown's calendar, with an afternoon of racing steeped in military heritage.

The armed forces will be celebrated by the running of the Grand Military Gold Cup, a race exclusive to military amateur riders, and the supporting races. There will be other events on the day, including military activations. Sandown, January 24 (Tickets)

LADIES' DAY: It doesn't have to be summer for a ladies' day and Uttoxeter stages what is likely to be the first raceday of its type in 2025.

There will be a party mood throughout the day with a best dressed competition offering a variety of prizes and a live Dolly Parton tribute act taking to the stage after racing. It certainly beats your regular 9 to 5. Uttoxeter, January 25 (Tickets)

Catterick: January is the busiest month of the year at the dual-purpose North Yorkshire trackCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images)

Making a day of it: Catterick

With four fixtures at Catterick this month, there are plenty of opportunities to pay a visit to North Yorkshire and you can even take in a Grand National, writes Andrew Dietz.

This is the busiest month of the year at the dual-purpose track, which races every month in 2025 and stages the first of its 26 fixtures on New Year's Day, with further meetings on January 9, 22 and 31.

Try to head there for the North Yorkshire Grand National, Catterick's longest and most prestigious jumps race, on Thursday, January 9 for a proper grand day out.

The 3m6f contest is always a spectacle and you won't go far wrong backing anything Sue Smith and Joel Parkinson sends out as the stable won it four times in a row between 2016 and 2019.

Catterick's facilities have undergone a major transformation in recent years, with the £3.5 million development completed just five years ago.

One of the many positives is the ease in which you can get there. The track is just off the A1 at junction 52, approximately five miles south of Scotch Corner, on the outskirts of Catterick village.

The most convenient train station is Darlington, which is located approximately 15 minutes away, from where there is a regular bus service to nearby Richmond.

Spending time in Richmond, the constituency of former prime minister Rishi Sunak, is a must as it's one of the most beautiful market towns in the country.

As you'd expect, there are loads of great places to eat with the Kings Head Hotel and Black Bull Inn, which both have rooms, among the most popular. Take a short stroll out of town for a tasty brunch in the cafe at the Station, where there is also a cinema, gallery and place to shop.

There is so much to do in these parts and those planning a longer stay are in the perfect place to brave the elements at this time of year as the area is the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales.

Advance tickets for Catterick racecourse start from £16 for the grandstand and paddock enclosure (£8 course enclosure) and can be purchased here. You can take advantage of a special offer, too, because if you book in advance for any Catterick fixture in January or February (apart from New Year's Day) you will receive a free ticket for the evening meeting on June 10.

Pack the passport: going racing in Dubai

Dubai mixes grandeur and opulence with the highest quality of racing like no other place in the world.

Every fan of the sport should experience the sheer scale of the gargantuan Meydan, where the half-mile long grandstand accommodates around 60,000 spectators.

Now is the perfect time for a trip with the countdown on to the Dubai World Cup on April 5.

The pinnacle of the Dubai racing season might clash with the Grand National this year, but you won't be able to combine spectacular racing with beach parties and desert excursions in Merseyside.

The Dubai Carnival is already under way with all roads leading to the $30.5 million climax, a card featuring the $12m Dubai World Cup, $6m Sheema Classic and $5m Dubai Turf.

Meydan: it's the perfect time of year to pay a visitCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Last year, the prestigious international fixture showed that fairytales do happen as Irish jockey Tadhg O'Shea won the Dubai World Cup on the locally trained Laurel River on a night when the Charlie Appleby-trained Rebel's Romance landed the Sheema Classic and Tower Of London lifted the Dubai Gold Cup for Aidan O'Brien.

There are other feature race meetings at Meydan before April, with Fashion Friday on January 24 and Super Saturday on March 1. What's more the Dubai Racing Club runs breakfast stable tours every Wednesday throughout the season.

Accommodation options are varied, with the lavish Meydan Hotel ideally located and affording expansive views of the racecourse.

Jumeirah is a popular spot to stay for tourists wanting a beach, ditto Dubai Marina for nightlife, while you'll get more for your dirhams in the Business Bay area, which is ten minutes from Meydan.

Aside from luxury shopping, there are plenty of things to do away from the racing. Desert safaris are recommended for all ages and there is even an indoor ski slope from those needing a break from the heat.

The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building at 830 metres, dominates the skyscraper-filled skyline but is definitely worth a closer inspection. The insider tip here is having a couple of drinks at the Atmosphere lounge on the 122nd floor might work out cheaper than paying to go up to the viewing deck.

A direct flight to Dubai from London Heathrow in April in economy costs around £550 return with British Airways. Shop around, though, as Emirates and Virgin Atlantic also fly from various locations in Britain and Ireland.

The Racing Post Annual 2025 is out now! This exciting review of the racing year has 208 colour pages packed with the best stories and is beautifully illustrated with stunning images. The perfect gift at £19.99. To order, click here or call 01933 304858.