Christmas racing guide 2024: day-by-day overview - plus ITV Racing schedule
What is the Racing Post Festive Feast?
Racing fans will enjoy a feast of top-class action in Britain and Ireland over the Christmas period, including 12 Grade 1s and major handicaps such as the Coral Welsh Grand National – and the Racing Post will be your ultimate companion every step of the way.
The fun kicks off on Boxing Day with a blockbuster card at Kempton, headlined by the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase. This historic Grade 1, won by heroes of the sport such as Desert Orchid and Kauto Star, is one of the major highlights of the jumps campaign, while on the same card the Christmas Hurdle also looks set to be one of the races of the season. Leopardstown and Limerick's big four-day Christmas meetings get under way on the same afternoon.
The big races keep on coming in Britain too, with the Welsh National at Chepstow followed by Challow Hurdle day at Newbury, going right through to Cheltenham’s traditional New Year's Day showstopper.
Christmas goodies to look forward to
The Racing Post will provide unmissable news, features, reports, analysis and top tipping from the likes of Tom Segal, Keith Melrose, David Jennings and Johnny Dineen. Ensure you don't miss a thing by picking up the newspaper every day, or take advantage of our fantastic Members’ Club Ultimate offer and get your first three months of online membership for half price, taking you through to the Cheltenham Festival at the discounted rate of £24.99 per month (with code MEMBERS24 at completion of your purchase).
Stay tuned on our YouTube channel for further expert insight from Jennings and Dineen in two special editions of Upping The Ante, our popular Cheltenham Festival ante-post show, on Monday, December 23 and Tuesday, December 31. Our top tipsters will also bring you their best Christmas bets in a bumper In The Know show on December 23, live on our YouTube channel from 6pm, while the Racing Postcast will be available from 7pm on Tuesday.
The Racing Post Festive Feast is the name we've created to give a coherent theme to the seven days of brilliant racing action from December 26 to New Year's Day.
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Day-by-day Christmas racing schedule
Thursday, December 26
A spectacular week of action kicks off with Kempton's Boxing Day card headlined, as always, by the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (2.30). Ireland is well represented this year, with Spillane's Tower having been supplemented and Corbetts Cross, Envoi Allen and Banbridge in line to make the trip across the Irish Sea. The Dan Skelton-trained Grey Dawning leads the defence for Britain, while big French hope Il Est Francais adds an extra dimension to the contest.
This year's Christmas Hurdle looks set to be one of the races of the season with Constitution Hill and/or Sir Gino potentially locking horns with Lossiemouth, while the Kauto Star Novices' Chase (1.20) completes a trio of Grade 1s at Kempton.
Aintree was an addition to the Boxing Day line-up last year and the Grade 1 William Hill Formby Novices' Hurdle – formerly the Tolworth and moved from Sandown – is the highlight of a seven-race card. Wetherby's William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase also features on ITV's broadcast.
In Ireland, Leopardstown's Christmas festival kicks off with the Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase (2.20) with a stellar cast headed by the Willie Mullins-trained Impaire Et Passe. In all, 11 race meetings will take place on Boxing Day.
How to watch
ITV Racing will broadcast the big-race action from Kempton, Aintree and Wetherby on ITV1 with coverage beginning at 12.25pm and running until 3pm. RTE2 will also broadcast the big races from Leopardstown and Limerick as part of its coverage including five televised races, the show starting at 1pm and running until 3.20pm. The day's action can be enjoyed in full on Racing TV or Sky Sports Racing.
ITV Racing schedule
Kempton
- 12.45: Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, 2m4½f
- 1.20: Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase (Grade 1), 3m
- 1.55: Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m
- 2.30: Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1), 3m
Aintree
Wetherby
RTE2 racing schedule
Leopardstown
- 1.10: O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2), 2m
- 1.45: Dornan Careers Novice Handicap Hurdle, 2m
- 2.20: Racing Post Long Distance Novice Chase (Grade 1), 3m½f
- 2.55: Racing Post Handicap Chase, 2m1f
Limerick
Friday, December 27
The Coral Welsh Grand National (2.50), one of the biggest betting races of the year, takes place at Chepstow. The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Broadway Boy is among the market leaders for the marathon, while there will be Triumph Hurdle clues on offer in the Grade 2 Finale Juvenile Hurdle (1.40).
Kempton's £100,000 Desert Orchid Chase (2.30) is now a limited handicap with a lowest weight of 10st 6lb. The Wayward Lad Novices' Chase (1.55), the other Grade 2 on Kempton's six-race card, has been won by Arkle heroes such as Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Shishkin this century.
Last season's brilliant Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior could make his seasonal reappearance in the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase (1.10), the first of two Grade 1s at Leopardstown. Hurricane Fly, Jezki and Sizing John are just some of the stars to have won the Future Champions Novice Hurdle (1.45), while the Paddy Power Chase (3.00) is one of the most prestigious handicap chases of the season.
How to watch
ITV Racing will broadcast action from Kempton and Chepstow on ITV1 with coverage beginning at 12.45pm and running until 3.30pm. RTE2 will show four races from Leopardstown and two from Limerick, and the show starts at 1pm and runs until 3.25pm.
ITV Racing schedule
Kempton
- 1.20: Ladbrokes Play '1-2-Free' on Football Mares' Handicap Hurdle, 3m½f
- 1.55: Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices' Chase (Grade 2), 2m
- 2.30: Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Handicap Chase (Grade 2), 2m
- 3.08: Ladbrokes Get Rewarded With Ladbucks Chase, 3m
Chepstow
- 1.05: Coral Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase, 2m3½f
- 1.40: Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2), 2m
- 2.10: Coral Racing Club Join For Free Handicap Hurdle, 2m7½f
- 2.50: Coral Welsh Grand National Handicap Chase, 3m6½f
RTE2 racing schedule
Leopardstown
- 1.10: Paddy's Rewards Club Chase (Grade 1), 2m1f
- 1.45: Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m
- 2.20: Spinal Injuries Ireland Handicap Hurdle, 2m
- 3.00: Paddy Power Chase (Listed handicap), 3m½f
Limerick
- 1.27: McMahons Builders Providers Irish EBF Dawn Run Mares' Novice Chase (Grade 2), 2m6½f
Saturday, December 28
Dual Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs and stablemate Fact To File could lock horns again in a scintillating Savills Chase (2.35) at Leopardstown after their terrific battle in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown last month. Fact To File kept on strongly last time but will he have what it takes to see off Galopin Des Champs over this 3m½f trip? It's no two-horse race as multiple Grade 1 winner Gerri Colombe and Grand National winner I Am Maximus are also in the mix, while the staying hurdlers go to battle in the Savills Hurdle (2.00).
The Faugheen Novice Chase (1.40) at Limerick looks set to be a cracker, with the exciting Ballyburn heading the market with stablemate Ile Atlantique among his potential opponents. Gordon Elliott's Martin Pipe winner Better Days Ahead was impressive on his chasing debut and could also take his chance along with Croke Park.
We could be set for one of the best novice hurdles we've seen for some time in Britain as budding stars Potters Charm, The New Lion and Regent's Stroll could clash in the Challow Novices' Hurdle (2.55) at Newbury. That race is preceded by the Mandarin Chase (2.20).
How to watch
ITV Racing will broadcast action from Newbury, Leicester and Leopardstown on ITV4 with coverage beginning at 1.10pm and running until 4pm.
RTE2 will show Grade 1s at Leopardstown and Limerick. The day's cards can be enjoyed in full on Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing.
ITV Racing schedule
Newbury
- 1.45: Coral Racing Club Join For Free Handicap Hurdle, 2m4½f
- 2.20: Coral Mandarin Handicap Chase, 3m2f
- 2.55: Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m4½f
- 3.35: Coral 'Pipped-at-the Post' and Win Novices Limited Handicap Chase, 2m6½f
Leicester
- 1:25: Leicestershire Silver Fox Handicap Chase, 2m4f
- 3.10: Leicestershire Bronze Fox Handicap Hurdle, 2m
Leopardstown
RTE2 racing schedule
Leopardstown
- 1.20: Ballymaloe Relish Rising Stars Beginners' Chase, 2m5½f
- 2.00: Savills Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m7½f
- 2.35: Savills Chase (Grade 1), 3m½f
- 3.05: Pertemps Handicap Hurdle, 2m7½f
Limerick
- 1.40: Guinness 00 Faugheen Novice Chase (Grade 1), 2m3½f
- 2.15: Campion Insurance Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase (Listed), 2m3½f
Sunday, December 29
Willie Mullins has won the Neville Hotels Hurdle (2.30) for the last six years and is looking to land a hat-trick with State Man at Leopardstown. His winning streak was ended by Brighterdaysahead in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown last time and the pair look set to clash again.
A Listed 2m handicap hurdle is the main attraction at Limerick, while Doncaster hosts the Yorkshire Silver Vase Mares' Chase (1.38), worth £75,000, in the same grade.
How to watch
RTE2 will show five races from Leopardstown and Limerick. There is no ITV Racing coverage in Britain but the day's cards can be enjoyed in full on Racing TV and Sky Sports Racing.
RTE2 racing schedule
Leopardstown
- 1.20: BeattheBank.ie Irish EBF Mares' Hurdle (Grade 3), 2m4f
- 1.55: Adare Manor Handicap Chase, 3m½f
- 2.30: Neville Hotels Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m
- 3.05: Neville Hotels Premier Handicap Hurdle, 2m4f
Limerick
- 1.07: QuinnBet Handicap Hurdle (Listed), 2m
Wednesday, January 1
The Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle (2.40) headlines a superb seven-race card in front of what will be a bumper Cheltenham crowd on New Year's Day.
The 2m4½f feature was won by Bob Olinger 12 months ago and often attracts a competitive field. The £100,000 Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase was won by subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Shakem Up'Arry last season and is another race to look forward to.
The ITV Racing cameras will also be at Musselburgh on New Year's Day, with the £40,000 'Auld Reekie' Handicap Chase over 2m4½f the feature contest on the Scottish venue's six-race card.
The Grade 3 New Year's Day Chase (2.15) at Tramore has been won by subsequent Gold Cup winners Al Boum Photo and Minella Indo in recent years and is always an informative contest.
How to watch
ITV Racing will broadcast action from Cheltenham and Musselburgh on ITV1 with coverage beginning at 1pm and running until 3.35pm.
ITV Racing schedule
Cheltenham
- 1.30: Betfair Handicap Steeple Chase, 3m1½f
- 2.05: Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap), 2m4½f
- 2.40: Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle, 3m
- 3.15: Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2), 2m4½f
Musselburgh
- 2.20: Virgin Bet 'Auld Reekie' Handicap Chase, 2m4½f
Other key races
Tramore
- 2.15: New Year's Day Chase (Grade 3), 2m6f
The Racing Post's Festive Feast treats
Here are some of the special features you can look forward to in the Racing Post over Christmas, available for Members' Club Ultimate subscribers online from 6pm the night before unless stated.
- Monday, December 23: Tackle our much-loved annual Christmas Quiz compiled by historian and statistician John Randall, while Lee Mottershead runs down the most influential figures in racing and our tipsters offer their best ante-post bets for 2025.
- Tuesday, December 24: Matters closer to hand are next in our tipsters' sights as they give their top tips for Christmas in our '12 Plays of Christmas' feature, while we also have an interview with dual King George-winning rider Noel Fehily. Plus get all the cards and form for Boxing Day.
- Thursday, December 26: It's King George day and Pricewise leads an unbeatable package of previews, analysis and tipping for the best of the action at Kempton, Aintree, Leopardstown and Wetherby. Pro punter Mark Holder is also on hand with his pearls of betting wisdom, available exclusively for Members' Club Ultimate subscribers from 2pm on Tuesday.
- Friday, December 27: The Coral Welsh Grand National is the highlight at Chepstow and coverage is accompanied by our unrivalled reports on the King George and all the Boxing Day action.
- Saturday, December 28: The clash between Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs and stablemate Fact To File takes centre stage in Leopardstown's Savills Chase while Britain's top novice hurdlers will attempt to push their Cheltenham credentials in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.
- Sunday, December 29: The fourth and final day of the Leopardstown Christmas festival is the highlight on the track, while our usual fantastic weekend features package includes Julian Muscat telling the remarkable story of Sir Michael Stoute's early days in the sport and our monthly look ahead to what's happening on the track in the next month in Go Racing.
- Monday, December 30: Peter Thomas is in unmissable form in his review of the year.
- Tuesday, December 31: It's our annual look at the best special bets for 2025 across the sporting world.
- Wednesday, January 1: Expert analysis and insight for Cheltenham's traditional New Year's Day fixture.
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Read these next:
'Hugely talented' French chaser set to be supplemented for King George
Il Est Francais given green light for Kempton as King George jigsaw starts to fall into place
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