The Ascot Christmas races of 2025 begin on Friday, 19 December with a winter warm-up for the busy festive fixture list. Among six contests on the card in Berkshire on this day is the Grade 2 Noel Novices’ Chase and a Listed bumper. While there’s little form under Rules to go on for the National …

For some National Hunt horses, Grade 2 contests are their level and two such runners catch the eye in the Peterborough Chase of 2025 at Huntingdon in a field of five on Sunday, 7 December. We’re talking about last year’s winner Djelo and Irish raider Saint Sam, who meet Bombawn, the veteran Edwardstone and Hitman …

Saturday, 6 December sees the Grand National fences in use at Aintree races in the Becher Chase. Although a mile shorter than the big one in the spring, this Premier Handicap over three-and-a-quarter miles comes with extra incentive this year. Any horse that can land the Becher and the National receives a £500,000 bonus. Some …

The Newbury Winter Carnival 2025 day 2 card isn’t just about a cracking renewal of the Coral Gold Cup. Despite a big Irish contingent coming to Berkshire on Saturday, 29 November for the big Premier Handicap chase, the supporting races look interesting and informative. A Listed novice hurdle for mares, plus a number of other …

The Newbury Winter Carnival 2025 day 1 card from the Berkshire track on Friday, 28 November always proves informative. That’s because not one, but two Grade 2 contests take place on the opening day of the meeting with some smart supporting races. Sharing top of the bill as this fixture gets underway are the John …

The Betfair Chase card at Haydock races on Saturday, 22 November has the first Grade 1 action in Britain of the core National Hunt season. Last term’s first and second for another battle on Merseyside, but face new challengers as well. It’s a day with plenty of handicaps making up the supporting races. Chief among …

A field of eight runners contest the $1,000,000 Group 2 Bahrain International Trophy over a mile-and-a-quarter in the Kingdom on the Persian Gulf on Friday, 14 November. Chief among those entries dominated by British raiders are York winners in the grade Pride Of Arras and Royal Champion. While it’s fair to say the big prize …

The big Wincanton races of the season and Badger Beers card are a West Country highlight of the National Hunt code. Saturday, 8 November sees a Premier Handicap chase and two Grade 2 contest take place at the track. Those are the Elite Hurdle and Rising Stars Novices’ Chase. Fields are on the small side, …

In a race as international as the Melbourne Cup of 2025, no single form line can automatically provide answers, but bookmakers both Down Under and closer to home feel the winner could well emerge from October’s Caulfield Cup. That mile-and-a-half Group 1 handicap is one of the ballot exempt contests for the Race That Stops …

National Hunt action returns to Ascot races on Saturday, 1 November with competitive jumps handicaps forming the bulk of the card. Headlining this fixture in Berkshire is the Sodexo Gold Cup over almost three miles and the course’s steeplechase fences. It has Premier Handicap status, alongside an extended two-mile chase, which similarly attracts some regulars …