We have the two-day Cheltenham December meeting just around the corner with the highlight coming on the Saturday with the December Gold Cup Handicap Chase which is run over 2m 4f. There is also the racing sales after racing on the Friday at the course where money will be changing hands with the hope of purchasing a Cheltenham Festival winner in the future. We will give you a run down on what the meeting has to offer now.
The first day of the two day meeting is a seven race card with the highlight being the Cross Country race run over 3m 5f. This is always a great spectacle for fans to watch the horses jump over various sorts of obstacles. Last year’s race was won by Stumptown who was returned 4/1 favourite. Also on the card we have a 2m 4f Novice “Chasing Excellence” Chase which was won by Jango Baie for Nicky Henderson, the gelding then went on to win the Arkle in March. Will we see a similar scenario this season?
Another two competitive races on the first day will be the Southam Handicap Chase run over 3m 2f and also the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans Chase run over 2m 4f which was won last year by Heather Main’s Numitor at 10/1. The day’s action starts at 12.05pm and the last race is 15.35pm.
The second day of the meeting features the December Gold Cup which is a £70k prize to winning connections. Last year it was won by the Venita Williams stable with Gemirande winning at 11/2. This year it looks likely that JP McManus’s Jagwar will line up favourite, the now 6yo gelding won at the Cheltenham Festival in March last year where he won the TrustATrader Plate over the same distance. His main challengers for honours look likely to be Vincenzo and Hoe Joly Smoke who came 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at this course at the November meeting.
Also on the days racing we have the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trail over 2m 1f and also the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle Trail over 3m. Both of these races give some great indications for the March main events. On the same card last year we saw Haiti Couleurs who went on to win the Challenge Cup Handicap Chase in March.
The seven race meeting kicks off at 12.10pm and draws to a close at 15.35pm in what promises to be a great two days of National Hunt action.