Christmas Meeting Friday 11th December 2026 (Formerly The International Friday)

Race 1 - British EBF National Hunt Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race) - 12:05

Day one of the Christmas Meeting kicks off with the British Stallion Studs EBF National Hunt Novices Hurdle.

It’s run over two miles and one hundred and seventy-nine (2m, 179y) and is open to EBF eligible stallion studs aged between four and six, which have not run in a flat race and which have not won more than two hurdles

It features eight hurdles and is a Class 3 race with 8 hurdles to be jumped.  It is not always the biggest field, although 10 ran last time around.  The race should take around four minutes or so.

Race 2 - Novices' Chase (GBB Race) - 12:40

Sponsored by Santa - "The Visit" "Chasing Excellence", race number two on day number one of the Christmas Meeting is a chase for novices.

It’s open to horses aged four and over, with the Class 2 race taking place over two miles, four furlongs and one hundred and twenty-seven yards (2m, 4f, 127y).

There are seventeen fences that need to be negotiated by a field that’s usually quite small, just three running last year and five the year before, so expect low odds but occasional surprises.  The race was moved from the Saturday to the Friday in 2023.

Race 3 - Catesby Handicap Hurdle - 13:15

Taking place over two miles and one hundred and seventy-nine yards (2m, 179y), this is a handicap hurdle race in which the handicapper decides the weight that the horses will need to carry according to their ability.

It’s a Class 3 race for horses aged three years of age and older rated 0-140 and has eight hurdles that they need to negotiate.

The race usually features around 10-15 runners (11 last year), which means the field can open up if things work in your favour.  Expect a run time of pretty much four minutes.

Race 4 - Turners Handicap Chase (GBB Race) - 13:50

In 2024 this race was moved from the Saturday to the Friday having moved the other way in 2023.  They can't really decide what day this race belongs to but it is a treat either way and it means the Friday has a Premier Handicap race.

This race is the longest of the weekend and is for horses aged four years of age or older, though. Run over three miles, two furlongs and seventy yards (3m, 2f, 70y), it features the most jumps of the day at twenty-two.

Regularly boasting a big field of about fifteen horses (although last year only 9 went off), you’ll find some gems with particularly long odds on this Premier Handicap race.

One horse to win this race was Mon Mome in 2008 at odds of 11/2.  That was four months before he went on to famously win the Grand National in 2009 at odds of 100-1, the largest priced winner since Foinavon in 1967.  Maybe one to watch for a Grand National outsider then?

The race was was first run in 2003 and upgraded to Grade 3 in 2011 (which changed name to Premier Handicap in 2022).  Only one horse has won the race twice, Cogry who won back-to-back in 2018 and 2019.

Three jockeys have won the race twice, they are; Charlie Deutsch, Timmy Murphy and Tom Scudamore.  Only one jockey has won it three times, however, that is Sam Twiston-Davies, that included the two wins for Cogry.  Nigel Twiston-Davies and Venetia Williams have 3 wins apiece but it is David Pipe who tops the trainers charts with 4 victories in this one (his dad Martin has one too).

Race 5 - Middle Distance Veterans' Handicap Chase (Qualifier) - 14:25

This race was added to the Christmas Meeting in 2023 to replace the International Hurdle that moved to Festival Trials Day.  It is a highlight of the meeting and it is a gruelling race for older horses with a lot of Stamina.

This race is for 10 year old plus horses, hence Veterans', and goes over two and a half miles with 17 fences to be jumped, hence the title 'Middle Distance'.  The class 2 race allows runners with an official rating between 0-150 to enter.  In 2025 the combined age of all eight horses together added up to 83!

It is hardly going to be the fastest race of the week, although that is part of the point with the nature of the ground.  Still it should be fun to see some old names you many recognise from previous Grand Nationals, such as Eldorado Allen.  Being a veterans race expect it to take over 5 minutes but with plenty of action.

Race 6 - Crystal Cup Cross Country Chase (GBB Race) - 15:00

The culminating race of the Crystal Cup that we’ve mentioned already on this page, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase is the longest race of the day. It’s a handicap chase run on the cross country course at Cheltenham.

The race normally welcomes a field of around ten plus, 14 running last year, and is run over three miles, five furlongs and fifty-six yards (3m, 5f, 56y). That means it’s a real test for a horse’s endurance, especially when you add in the thirty-one fences that need to be negotiated before it’s over. For that reason the Class 2 race is only open to five-years-olds or over and is a fun one to place an outside bet on.

Due to the nature of this race it is another one where you will recognise some names form the Grand National.  The likes of Mister Coffey and Amrite running last time, for example.

The Cross-Country Chase was cancelled in 2022 owing to low temperatures leading to frost on the course.  While the shorter New Course had been covered the scale of the cross-country course meant that was not possible. It followed the cancellation of the Cross-Country Chase at the November meeting in 2022, this time owing to a lack of rainfall and firm ground.  Therefore, it is always worth checking the forecast before the meeting to see if this race will go ahead.

Race 7 - Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) - 15:35

Christmas Friday comes to a close with the Citipost Handicap Hurdle, a hurdle race in which the horses are given weights chosen by the handicapper before the event gets underway.

It’s run over two miles, seven furlongs and two hundred and thirteen yards (2m, 7f, 213y), with twelve hurdles for the participants to negotiate.

It often features one of the largest fields of the day around 10-105 horses, with the Class 2 race being open to horses of four years of age or older.