What's on this week: Galopin Des Champs set to star on the track once again

Monday

It's a quiet start to proceedings with just three meetings in Britain, but Gaius could be an interesting recruit to jumps in Musselburgh's feature 1m7½f introductory juvenile hurdle (1.10) for Olly Murphy, having won on his last start on the Flat at Windsor.

Lingfield's seven-race card also features a clash between two former classy stars in Achille and West Approach in the 2m4f veterans' handicap chase for conditional jockeys' (2.25), while the action is completed with a nine-race all-weather card from Wolverhampton.

Tuesday

Last season's Lanzarote Hurdle winner and Martin Pipe runner-up Cobblers Dream had been touted as a dark horse for fences this season, and he bids to get his first chase win in the 2m4f novice handicap (2.55) on Uttoxeter's eight-race card.

Cobblers Dream: Lanzarote winner is going over fences this seasonCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The other British jumps meeting comes from Fontwell, where Gary Moore will bid for a hat-trick of wins in the opening 2m1½f juvenile hurdle (12.35).

The day's action is completed with an all-weather fixture at Southwell, while Tramore also stages a seven-race fixture in Ireland.

Wednesday

Alan King, Tom Cannon and owners Robert Abrey and Ian Thurtle enjoyed Grade 1 success with Edwardstone in the Tingle Creek on Saturday, and they could be celebrating again with Nothingtochance in the 2m mares' novice hurdle (1.05) at Hexham.

There is also a jumps action from Leicester, while there are three all-weather cards from Lingfield, Dundalk and Kempton, which stages the London Stayers' Series Final (8.00).

Thursday

Ronald Pump finished runner-up to Honeysuckle in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle this time last year, but has lost his way since. He'll be attempting to get back on track for new trainer Ciaran Murphy in the 3m hurdle (1.45) on Clonmel's card.

Ronald Pump: smart horse is now with Ciaran MurphyCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The feature race on Warwick's seven-race card is the Listed 2m4f mares' chase (3.00) in which the exciting Bangor winner Galia Des Liteaux could bid to continue her progression and the Skeltons' fine run of form.

There are also jumps fixtures from Newcastle and Taunton, while the all-weather racing comes from Chelmsford in the evening.

Friday

Cheltenham's two-day December meeting gets under way in front of the ITV4 cameras, and the unique twists and turns of the cross-country course could be seen in action for the first time this season (3.00).

Among the entries for the 3m6f contest is Delta Work, who dramatically denied Tiger Roll a fairytale farewell at the Cheltenham Festival, while last year's wide-margin winner Commodore could be back for more in the 3m2f handicap chase (2.25).

Doncaster's two-day meeting also gets under way as well as jumps action at Bangor, while there are all-weather cards at Southwell and Dundalk.

Saturday

All eyes will be on Cheltenham once again with a high-class card, headlined by the Unibet International Hurdle (2.25) in which I Like To Move It could bid to back up his Greatwood Hurdle heroics at the track last time.

I Like To Move It: set for the International HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

The five-year-old defied top weight that day and bids to give trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies a record-equalling sixth win in the Grade 2.

The card also features the highly competitive December Gold Cup (1.50) and the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (3.00).

Doncaster also stages a Grade 2 in the December Novices' Chase (12.55) and the Listed Summit Juvenile Hurdle (1.30), while Hereford and Navan complete the jumps action.

There is a 2m½f fast-track qualifier (2.54) on the all-weather at Newcastle, while the evening fixture comes from Wolverhampton.

Sunday

The pick of the action comes from Ireland, which could see the return of some stars of the game at Punchestown and Cork.

The feature is the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (2.00) in which the brilliant Galopin Des Champs is set to make his comeback, where he could face the likes of Chacun Pour Soi, Blue Lord and Fakir D'Oudairies.

At Cork, the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase takes centre stage, which was won last year by Energumene, and the outstanding Champion Chase winner could make his comeback in the race once again.

The jumps action in Britain comes with two fixtures from Carlisle and Southwell.

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