Will Reilly takes a look at the upcoming horse racing meetings
Ahead of the Christmas Festivals in Ireland at Leopardstown and Limerick and the King George VI Chase and Welsh National meetings in Britain, there is a lot of good racing to look forward to in the build-up to Christmas, including the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock and a £50,000 handicap at Chelmsford.
Here are the details on Ireland’s and Britain’s horse racing between Thursday and Sunday, December 20th to 23rd, starting in Ireland.
Racing in Ireland from Wednesday 19th to Sunday 23rd December
Wednesday 19th December
Dundalk (5pm)
Thursday 20th December
No racing in Ireland
Friday 21st December
Dundalk (5pm), a card that includes a €20,000 maiden and a €25,000 seven-furlong handicap for three-year-olds and upwards
Saturday 22nd December
Thurles (12:15pm), a card that features the €32,500 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed Race)
Sunday 23rd December to Tuesday 25th December
No racing in Ireland
The Leopardstown and Limerick Christmas Festivals run from December 26-29.
They will also race in Ireland on December 26th at Down Royal
Racing in Britain from Wednesday 19th to Sunday 23rd December
Wednesday 19th December
Lingfield (11:40am), a flat card on the all-weather surface
Ludlow (12:20pm), a National Hunt card that includes the following races:
- £26,000 Tanners Wine Handicap Chase
- £17,500 Alfa Aggregate Products Beginners’ Chase
- £25,000 Tanners Champagne Handicap Chase
Newbury (12:30pm), a jumping card that features the £27,500 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Mares’ Chase (Listed Race)
Newcastle (3:20pm), a flat card on the all-weather surface
Thursday 20th December
Southwell (12:20pm), a flat card on the all-weather surface
Hexham (12:30pm), a National Hunt card that features a £12,800 novices’ chase
Exeter (12:40pm), a National Hunt card that includes the following races:
- £26,400 Steve Hoskin Construction Handicap Chase (4yo+, 2m3f48y)
- a £15,400 handicap hurdle (2m2.5f)
- a £17,400 mares’ novices’ chase (2m1.5f)
Chelmsford (5:30pm), an all-weather flat card that features the £50,000 Weatherbys General Stud Book Handicap
Friday 21st December
Southwell (11:50am), a flat card on the all-weather surface, one that features a £20,000 five-furlong handicap
Uttoxeter (12:05pm), a jumping card
Ascot (12:45pm), a card that includes the following races:
- £35,000 Grade 2 Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices’ Hurdle
- £35,000 Grade 2 Noel Novices’ Chase
- £30,000 St Andrews Holdings Championship Bumper (Listed Race)
Wolverhampton (5:45pm), a flat card on the all-weather surface, one that features a £19,000 five-furlong, 21y handicap
Saturday 22nd December
Newcastle (11:40am), a card that includes a £12,700 handicap chase and a £12,435 novices’ limited handicap chase
Haydock (11:50am), a card carrying over £150,000 in prize-money, one that includes the following races:
- £50,000 Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase
- £20,000 mares’ novices’ hurdle
- £20,000 2m2f191y handicap hurdle
Lingfield (12pm), a flat card on the all-weather surface, one that includes the following races:
- £37,000 Quebec Stakes (Listed Race)
- £19,000 12-furlong handicap
Ascot (12:40pm), a jumping card that includes the following races:
- £50,000 Ascot Graduation Chase
- £35,000 My Pension Expert Handicap Chase
- £100,000 Grade 1 JLT (Long Walk) Hurdle
- £100,000 Garrard Silver Cup Handicap Chase (Listed Race)
- £150,000 Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle (2 miles)
Sunday 23rd December to Tuesday 25th December
No racing in Britain
Wednesday 26th December
Britain will stage eight meetings, including the Grade 1 King George VI Chase fixture at Kempton Park
Thursday 27th December
Britain will stage four meetings, including the Welsh National fixture from Chepstow