It’s another high-quality week for racing, with the weekend action including The Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase, the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase and the Becher Chase run over Aintree’s Grand National fences.
There is also the Foxrock Handicap Chase meeting at Navan, the ‘Hilly Way’ meeting at Cork, the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon and the Borders National at Kelso.
Here are the main details on Ireland’s and Britain’s horse racing between Thursday and Sunday, starting in Ireland.
Racing in Ireland between Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th December
Thursday 6 December
Clonmel (12:05pm), a card that features the €18,000 Jim Strang & Sons Kilsheelan (Peugeot) Hurdle (3 miles)
Friday 7 December
Dundalk (6pm – earlier if a race divides), a flat meeting on the all-weather surface; the main races on a card that again carries over €100,000 in prize-money are as follows:
- The €25,000 www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap (one mile)
- The €25,000 Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap (two miles)
Saturday 8 December
Navan (12pm), the feature races being:
- The €37,500 Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Klairon Davis Novice ‘Chase (2m1f)
- The €50,000 Foxrock Handicap ‘Chase (Grade B, 2M4F)
Sunday 9 December
Cork (12:05pm), the feature races being:
- The €35,000Grade 3 Kerry Group Stayers Novice Hurdle (3 miles)
- The €60,000 Grade 2 Kerry Group Hilly Way ‘Chase (2 miles)
- The €40,000 Grade 3 Kerry Group Irish EBF Mares Novice ‘Chase (2 miles)
Punchestown (12:20pm), a card that features the…
- €85,000 Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown ‘Chase (2m4f)
Racing in Britain between Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th December
Thursday 6 December
Leicester (12pm), a jumping meeting
Market Rasen (12:15pm), a jumping meeting
Wincanton (12:25pm), a jumping meeting, a card that features the £26,400 Weatherbys Racing Bank Silver Buck Handicap Chase (4yo+ rated 0-125, 3m1f30y) and the £21,400 Hookey Ham Patrick Handicap Hurdle (3yo+ rated 0-130, 1m7f65y)
Chelmsford (6pm), a flat meeting on the all-weather surface, a card that features a £20,000 seven-furlong handicap (3yo+)
Friday 7 December
Sedgefield (12:10pm), a jumping meeting
Exeter (12:25pm), a jumping meeting, a card that includes the following races:
- £26,400 If Carlsberg Did Race Days Handicap Chase (2m3f48y, 4yo+)
- £25,000 Heavitree Brewery PLC Novices’ Chase (4yo+, 2m3f48y)
- £26,400 Tribute “Quality Speaks For Itself” Handicap Chase (4yo+ rated 0-125, 3m6f153y)
Sandown (12:50pm), a jumping meeting, a card that includes the following races:
- £20,000 Simon Jennings Memorial Introductory Juvenile Hurdle (3yo, 2 miles)
- £30,000 Grade 2 Ballymore Winter Novices’ Hurdle (4yo+, 2m3f173y)
Kempton (5:45pm), a flat meeting on the all-weather surface
Saturday 8 December
Aintree (11:55am), a jumping meeting, one that includes the following races:
- £30,000 Merseyrail Handicap Hurdle (4yo+, 2m4f)
- £150,000 Grade 3 Randox Health Becher Handicap Chase (6yo+, 3m1f188y)
- £60,000 Grade 2 Rewards4Racing Many Clouds Chase (4yo+, 3m2f10y)
- £25,000 Racing UK Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle (Listed Race, 3yo fillies, 2m209y)
- £80,000 Aintree Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (6yo+, 2m5f19y)
Wetherby (12:05pm), a jumping meeting
Sandown (12:15pm), a jumping meeting, one that includes the following races:
- £20,000 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifer) (4yo+, 2m7f98y)
- £55,000 Grade 1 randoxhealth .com Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (4yo+, 1m7f119y)
- £70,000 Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts December Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race, 4yo+, 1m7f216y)
- £150,000 Grade 1 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase (4yo+, 1m7f119y)
- £50,000 London National Handicap Chase (5yo+ rated 0-150, 3m4f166y)
Chepstow (12:20pm), a jumping meeting, a card that features the £20,000 Welsh Grand National Trial (4yo+ rated 0-150, 2m7f131y)
Wolverhampton (5:45pm), a flat meeting on the all-weather surface, a card that features a £14,000 Conditions Stakes race that carries the Plus 10 Bonus; it is also an All-Weather Championship Fast-Track Qualifier (2yo, 6f20y) and a £19,000 1m4f51y handicap
Sunday 9 December
Kelso (12pm), a jumping meeting, a card that includes the:
- £15,000 Mrs Ivan Straker Paris Pike Novices’ Chase (4yo+, 2m7f96y)
- £50,000 Persimmon Homes Scottish Borders National Handicap Chase (5yo+, 4m90y)
- £30,000 Scotty Brand Veterans’ Handicap Chase (last qualifying leg of the 2018 Veterans’ Chase series) (10yo+, 2m6f70y)
7mms rain overnight @KelsoRacecourse Entry Going Good to Soft for the #ScottishBorders National Meeting. Met Office currently 4casting a couple of cold dry days, unsettled with some rain to weekend, then dry & bright for racing! https://t.co/VUrNijSn1j
— Anthea Morshead (@AntheaMorshead) December 3, 2018
Huntingdon (12:15pm), a jumping meeting, a card that includes the:
- £16,800 Highflyer Bloodstock Novices’ Chase (4yo+, 2m7f129y)
- £21,118 Goffs Handicap Hurdle (3yo, 1m7f171y)
- £65,000 Grade 2 Tattersalls Ireland Edredon Bleu Chase (reg. as the Peterborough Chase, 4yo+, 2m3f189y)
- £20,000 Tattersalls Ireland Henrietta Knight Mares’ Bumper (a Listed Race) (4-6yo fillies and mares, 1m7f171y)