Cheltenham will open its gates on Friday, December 12, ready to bathe the racecourse in festive cheer as seven jump races unfold from 12:05pm to 3:35pm. The Christmas Meeting isn’t just a raceday — it’s a celebration, where the excitement of top-class racing blends seamlessly with the warmth of the season. Families, friends, and racing fans will gather in The Centaur and across the course, soaking in carols, laughter, and the buzz of festive entertainment. With the crisp winter air and the promise of high-stakes action, Cheltenham is preparing for a day where every jump, turn, and gallop could define a moment of drama and delight.
The Turners Handicap Chase stands as the jewel of the afternoon, capturing the anticipation of spectators as nine runners prepare to line up at 1:50pm for Race 4 — the Turners Handicap Chase (GBB Race), a Premier Handicap (Class 1) over 3m2f70y featuring 22 fences and a winner’s purse of £56,950.
This is a contest where boldness meets strategy, where tactical riding will be paramount, and where one standout performer is destined to rise above the rest. L’HOMME PRESSE, THE DOYEN CHIEF, KING TURGEON, HERAKLES WESTWOOD, THE SHORT GO, HENRY’S FRIEND, GOWEL ROAD, BLAZE THE WAY, and CRUZ CONTROL will face a gruelling test of stamina, precision, and courage. Against the roar of Cheltenham’s festive crowd, the unfolding drama promises to be unforgettable.
Three feature races, each carrying a winner’s share of £21,784, add intensity to the middle of the card. At 12:40pm, Race 2 — Santa – “The Visit” “Chasing Excellence” Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) — brings four runners into action over 2m4f127y and 17 fences, offering an early afternoon showcase of emerging talent and technical skill.
The momentum continues at 2:25pm with Race 5 — the Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Series Handicap Chase (Qualifier), a class 2 contest for seasoned runners aged 10 and older, with nine competitors tackling 2m4f127y and 17 fences in a demonstration of experience, rhythm, and perseverance. Then at 3:00pm, the Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase (GBB Race) delivers the day’s penultimate spectacle, sending 14 runners across 3m5f56y and 31 fences in a cross-country test that demands boldness, timing, and relentless stamina across Cheltenham’s iconic banks and ditches.
The rhythm of Christmas racing begins at 12:05pm with the British EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race), where 10 runners contest 2m179y over 8 hurdles, igniting the afternoon with youthful energy and emerging talent, and offering a winner’s purse of £10,892.
By 1:15pm, the tempo rises with Race 3 — the Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle — featuring 11 runners over the same 2m179y and 8 hurdles, a compact but fiercely competitive clash carrying a winner’s purse of £13,203. The meeting concludes at 3:35pm with Race 7 — the Citipost Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race), a Class 2 contest over 2m7f213y with 12 hurdles and 10 runners, providing a final surge of strategy and stamina as the winter light settles over the course. The victor will claim £19,061 to close the afternoon.
Throughout the racecourse, Cheltenham’s Christmas Friday will offer more than racing; it will create memories infused with festive joy. From the high-stakes theatre of the Turners Handicap Chase to the grit of the Cross Country spectacle, and from carols drifting across the parade ring to cheerful moments captured in photo booths, the day is set to deliver energy, excitement, and Christmas spirit. Every leap, gallop, and cheer will contribute to an atmosphere that embodies the magic of the season at the Home of Jump Racing.
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