The Ascot Christmas races in 2025 have even more to offer on the second day of the meeting, Saturday, 20 December. That is because of Grade 1 action in Berkshire courtesy of the Long Walk Hurdle and a fine supporting card that includes a couple of Premier Handicaps.
Over fences, staying chasers compete for the Silver Cup. Closing out the card and the meeting is the Festive Handicap Hurdle, best known as the Ladbroke and run in recent years as the Betfair Exchange Trophy. Before all that, there’s a graduation chase that only attracts a small field, novices’ handicap hurdle and the Howden Handicap Chase.
Six decent contests from the Ascot Christmas races of 2025 on day 2 give plenty for traders on horse racing betting sites to think about. Which runners have odds favourable to punters, though? An age old question, and we’re honour-bound to provide answers. Before tucking in to the glut of festive meetings coming up next weekend from Boxing Day onwards, our horse racing experts had a good look at this card.
They’ve studied the form and past performances before coming up with their Saturday selections. There’s a pick in every race in Berkshire with the eternal battle of searching for value from the bookies just enjoying its later chapter. Check out all of our experts’ thoughts on the action below…
Ascot Christmas Races 2025 Day 2 Preview for Saturday, 20 December
12:40 – 2m 5f 13y Class 2 Graduation Chase
Firefox captures the G2 Kildress Plumbing Chase for @gelliott_racing 🏆 pic.twitter.com/RidR4wPFyp
— Down Royal Racecourse (@Downroyal) November 1, 2025
A disappointing turnout for the opener. If it weren’t for two Irish raiders coming over, this would be a walkover. That’s never good, but only so many horses meet the eligibility criteria of this race anyway. Iroko got no further than the first fence in this 12 months ago for JP McManus. James Du Berlais has always been a tricky horse to catch right, meanwhile.
Willie Mullins’ charge ran third in this very race last year. Both could give better accounts of themselves, but the only last time out winner in the line-up is Fairyhouse Gold Cup second and Skymas Chase scorer FIREFOX for Gordon Elliott. He appeals most to follow-up on Down Royal success with his best chasing form racing right-handed.
Firefox represents Bective Stud, big supporters of Cullentra House maestro Elliott. These small-field conditions races seem to suit him best. The trip is also better for Firefox than Iroko, who finished fourth in the Grand National in the spring. That will again be the aim for Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero with one of their stable stars.
1:15 – 2m 7f 123y Class 4 Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (0-120)
The pick of Mount Gay Run’s form, which includes a Listed third at Sandown behind Honky Tonk Highway and Haydock Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle runner-up Hartington, is the best on offer here. Even his Cheltenham maiden run when fourth has been advertised by the front two scoring over fences this season and the third landing his next start.
Mount Gay Run benefits from Nicky Henderson’s Fresh Kicks framing the handicap here after winning at long odds-on around Plumpton. As a seven-year-old, albeit a lightly-raced one, the selection is vulnerable to younger horses in the line-up. One to note is Mark Walford raider Buzz Iceclear, who seeks a hat-trick. He really has improved no end since stepping up to three miles.
A 10lb hike for following-up on Ayr success at Wetherby means Buzz Iceclear is now more than a stone better for such tests of stamina. Bottom weight Doctor Midas drops back a furlong in trip for Henrietta Knight following a fine second here over an extended three miles last time. He’s nudged up 2lb, but could go well again. The others don’t make much appeal.
1:50 – 2m 2f 181y Class 2 Howden Handicap Chase (0-150)
Wasn’t going down without a fight!
Alien Storm had plenty of work to do heading down to the last but reels in Here Comes Georgie in the closing stages to make it two on the bounce in dramatic fashion…@DoncasterRaces | @CharlieLongsdon pic.twitter.com/4su2NJGmIE
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 28, 2025
Recent winners of this event had ratings in the 130s. Of those, Issam is open to the most progress in the field after just three chase starts. He’s won two of those for Tom Symonds, but also has a career high mark of 136 contend with at the Ascot Christmas races of 2025 on day 2. Callum Pritchard can only 3lb off Issam’s back now, instead of 5lb, which effectively puts him off a 7lb higher mark than on reappearance.
The class horse in the line-up is Ben Pauling inmate Bad, who ran a blinder when fifth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month. A track like Cheltenham doesn’t play to his strengths with all his winning chase form around Kempton, so returning to a clockwise course. With the assessor being amazingly kind and dropping him 1lb since that latest outing, he could well cash in on an ease in grade.
It’s a course winner from the other end of the weights who looks the best value here, however, in HERE COMES GEORGIE. Dylan Cunha’s charge didn’t jump well, but beat Ryan’s Rocket at this meeting 12 months ago when in the care of Patrick Neville. Although 4lb higher now, Here Comes Georgie went close at Doncaster when last in action.
As Ryan’s Rocket defeated some of these in the Jim Joel Trophy at Newbury in November, the collateral form gives Here Come Georgie claims of going one better than his recent second. December has also been the right time of year to catch him in the last two seasons. First-time blinkers go on 2024 runner-up Scarface, meanwhile, as Joe Tizzard tries something different with this frustrating to follow horse.
2:25 – 3m 102y Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle
🏆 IMPOSE TOI backs up his win on seasonal reappearance to land the Coral Long Distance Hurdle (G2) over 3m @NewburyRacing. pic.twitter.com/Vp4JRlcmma
— Nicky Henderson (@sevenbarrows) November 28, 2025
The trouble with him is he seemingly needs delivering late as demonstrated in the Long Distance Hurdle. Impose Toi is also 6lb worse off with Strong Leader, who flopped in this 12 months ago for Olly Murphy. Crambo seeks a hat-trick for Fergal O’Brien after landing this in 2023 and 2024, but his disappointing Ascot Hurdle run needs to have brought him on significantly.
Last year’s third Beauport is back for more too. One of two in the line for the Twiston-Davies team, who also run Potters Charm, both need to find improvement. In an open-looking race, there’s some each-way value at online bookmakers in JET BLUE coming over from France. Harry Cobden picks up a spare ride on last season’s Bristol Novices’ Hurdle winner.
Jet Blue keeps bumping into Lossange Bleu on his side of the Channel, so Davide Cottin takes aim at this. Honesty Policy isn’t the only Irish horse coming over either. Despite being twice that one’s age, Colonel Mustard has hit form by landing the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan from The Yellow Clay. Lorna Fowler plots another upset here and could reinvent the veteran as a staying hurdler.
3:00 – 2m 7f 185y Silver Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
The Jumps season roared back at Ascot with a thriller! 🏇
HENRY’S FRIEND dug deep to fend off THE CHANGING MAN and claim the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup 🏆 pic.twitter.com/D2VB47hVO3— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) November 4, 2025
It makes sense to focus on the course and distance winners for the feature steeplechase on the Ascot Christmas Festival 2025 day 2 card. Victtorino has won this in each of the last two seasons for Venetia Williams and has a superb record of four from five here. He just prevailed in the Swinley Chase here off his current mark of 146 from Threeunderthrufive in February.
Paul Nicholls’ charge is 3lb better off with Victtorino from that run. With just a nose separating them in a photo finish, Threeunderthrufive has every chance of turning the tables now. HENRY’S FRIEND is a perfect 2-2 here, however, and won going away from The Changing Man and re-opposing third Blow Your Wad in the Sodexo Gold Cup last month.
Pauling also runs Coral Gold Cup gamble Pic Roc, but he hasn’t found fences straightforward. Henry’s Friend went to Cheltenham just eight days, but doesn’t seem to act the track. Ascot brings out the best him, however, and he may be able to defy a 3lb rise despite the quick turnout. Of the others, Deep Cave has won his last two, but now faces a career high mark and a much stiffer track than either Aintree or Bangor.
Henderson brings Hyland down in trip, meanwhile. Good ground is important to him, so forecast rain will need to be on the light side. He does have 2lb of slack cut by the handicapper, however, for finishing seventh in the Coral Gold Cup behind Pic Roc. McManus has the frustrating to follow Johnnywho in the line-up, while Ascot regular Two For Gold must be close to retirement rising 13.
3:35 – 1m 7f 157y Festive Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
Celtic Dino wins the ‘Welsh Champion’ Hurdle for @SammyTRacing and @D_Johnston01!
The top-weight travelled nicely into contention and found plenty for pressure to hold off Alexei on the run for home at @Chepstow_Racing… pic.twitter.com/sAUNKUgjt2
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 12, 2025
It looks as though connections have laid Wilful out for a tilt at this, then. While Alexei has won over course and distance, then followed-up by thrashing re-opposing second, third, fourth and fifth Helnwein, Faivoir, Welsh Charger and Fiercely Proud in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham, the O’Neill runner has been sat in his stable.
Wilful, who didn’t seem to get the longer trip when fourth in the Holloway’s Hurdle here in January, could now deal a hammer blow to Brocade Racing’s goals with Alexei. O’Neill also has Wreckless Eric making his reappearance, but he will surely he need the run. Similar comments apply to Skelton runner Live Conti.
At the other end of the handicap, joint-bottom weight Mondo Man for Gary & Josh Moore is a hurdling maiden but could be dangerously well-treated. He makes his debut in this type of race. As a four-year-old, however, it’s tough to know he’ll fair against his elders and some battle-hardened handicappers. Sticktotheplan and Joyeuse are both on the comeback trail.
