By Tony Calvin - 8 December 2025
We have one early-closer on Saturday and that is the December Gold Cup Handicap Chase at 1.50pm at Cheltenham.
The race initially looked unsponsored (it may well have been – I suspect the course has struggled to find a backer) but thanks to Stuart Akister on X for pointing out the race will now be run as the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup this weekend.
The fund aims to raise for charities that help and inspire young women.
So, well done, all.
Anyway, there were just 22 in it on Monday morning, for a maximum field of 20 on the day (four were out of the handicap).
There were only 12 confirmations at midday, and Jagwar, Vincenzo and Hoe Joly Smoke are the favourites (ranging from 9/2 to 5s best prices) depending where you are allowed to shop (three different favs with certain books).
That is grim reading (every aspect of it, and I haven’t even checked the percentages being bet to yet – though one firm are 7/2, 7/2 and 4s…).
As is the weather today/tomorrow.
Monday night/Tuesday is going be very wet at Cheltenham (we are on the New Course this weekend), and not far off it at Donny.
There is a yellow rain warning in place from 6pm Monday to 2pm Tuesday at Cheltenham.
It is currently good to firm (good in places) on the Cross Country course, so that will welcome the rain…
The ITV racing schedule is just in, so I’ll do the double-entries now.
A recurring observation.
Can the sport afford not to address field sizes/the fixture list, with this limited horse population, until 2027 at the earliest?
Perilous stuff this, with declining betting numbers already factored in.
It looks like the 1.15pm at Cheltenham has just been added to ITV’s Saturday schedule, so I’ll sort that shortly (btw, Friday’s ITV show now sees five races from Cheltenham, and two from Bangor – so I have added course details for the latter now. Check out those going stick readings….).
It makes sense to wait until we see how much of Tuesday’s forecast rain lands before having a bet, though it is pretty dry at both tracks, from lunchtime onwards, for the rest of the week.
Updated rainfall from both tracks, as of Tuesday morning, is now below.
I’m feeling rather rough – this is a 100+ day cough, and it is beginning to annoy me (and everyone else) – so I may take Tuesday off and return on Wednesday, with the opening parts of Friday’s ITV column.
I’ve updated the double entries to reflect Thursday’s runners (Molto Bene and Crazierthandaisy didn’t take up their Thursday options), and I’ll have a look at Irish weekend entries later if I haven’t coughed up a vital organ or two in the meantime.
Half a furlong of standing water after the paddock bend. With river levels dropping and a dry couple of days ahead, there is a realistic chance of improvement. Fences 4 and 8 have been removed from the track.
Latest yr.no forecast: light showers, if anything, for rest of week
Soft
(New Course)
Going Stick 5.6 on Tuesday 9:30am
Cross Country: Good, good to firm in places (Going Stick 6.2 on Tuesday 10:30am)
Hurdle: Soft (GSt 5.6 on Tue 9.3am)
Chase: Soft (GSt 5.6 on Tue 9:30am)
Wednesday morning course update: 34.5mm rainfall Friday – Tuesday. Dry forecast for Wednesday and Thursday with light showers possible on Friday morning (1-2mm).
Weather (yr.no latest): light showers now
GOING: Soft
***PLEASE NOTE WE ARE USING THE NEW EASYFIX HURDLES THIS SEASON***
Rails: Hotel bend – Shared but fresh ground which is 3yds off the inside line. Split bends everywhere else. Hurdles – fresh ground, 3yds off innermost line. Additional distances TBC
GOING STICK: 4.9, Wednesday 7.30am
Wednesday morning course update: 5.6mm over the weekend. 7.4mm Tuesday. Wednesday – small chance of showers in morning but dry and bright thereafter. Thursday – mainly dry and bright. Friday – small chance of showers morning but dry and bright thereafter. Temps remaining mild 10-12C with no frosts currently forecast – southerly winds.
Weather (yr.no latest): showers now
1.15pm Cheltenham (20 entries for a maximum field of 20): Overabottleofred, Sunday Soldier, That’s Nice
NB: Theonewedreamof is in Welsh National on December 27 (she is only rated 117, though)
1.50pm Cheltenham (12 entries for a maximum field of 20): Glengouly
NB: Ga Law is in an early-closer on Dec 20. Will The Wise and Kim Roque are in an early-closer on Dec 27.
2.05pm Doncaster (13 entries for a maximum field of 20) : Courtland, Gowel Road, Herakles Westwood, Holokea, Lord Baddesley, Prince Zaltar
NB: Joyeux Machin and Kelce are in an 100k early-closer on Dec 20
2.25pm Cheltenham (15 entries for a maximum field of 20): Glengouly, St Faz (due to run at Punchestown on Thursday), Torneo
2.40pm Doncaster (10 entries for a maximum field of 20) : Audacious Annie, Betty’s Tiara, Hay Meadow, Heather Honey, Sunset Hill
3pm Cheltenham (10 entries for a maximum field of 18) : Big Cadillac, Intosomethinggood, Real Quartz
3.17pm Doncaster (15 entries for a maximum field of 20) : Amancio, Bowmore, Cormier, French Emperor, Lanesborough, Malystic, Melon, Welsh Charger
3.35pm Cheltenham (16 entries for a maximum field of 20): Audacious Annie, Authodidacte (won easily at Uttoxeter on Tuesday), Game Colours, Hard Dealt (finished second at Uttoxeter on Tuesday)
NB: Jubilee Alpha is an 125k early-closer on Dec 20
1.15pm Ascot – 11/2 Catchintsavo set to lead again All change here. Sixteen became six…
TUESDAY race-by-race copy for Saturday 1.15pm Ascot – First three in the betting are due…
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