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The Sandown Park races on Saturday, 3 January see a lot of old favourites take to the Greater London track. That’s because it is the scene of the Veterans’ Final for staying chasers. Supporting that is Listed hurdle for mares and the usual array of handicaps punters know and love from weekend fixtures. Over at …

The return of Windsor races on New Year’s Day 2026 for the first card on 1 January in almost three decades is something to celebrate. Fellow Berkshire tracks Ascot and Newbury have had their turns to host festive fixtures, but it now comes to the course by the River Thames. Headlining this meeting is the …

Some 12 top-flight teams will play again before 2025 finishes, as Premier League week 19 straddles both sides of the New Year celebrations. There’ll be no place for sore heads in the camps of the other eight clubs, however, as they face fixtures on 1 January itself. Games in and around New Year is something …

The Challow Hurdle card at Newbury races takes place on Monday, 29 December this year with competitive fare in Berkshire. It comes at the end of a busy few days immediately after Christmas. No Drama This End is the big name running in the Grade 1 feature contest for novice hurdlers. Supporting that is the …

There’s more from Kempton Park races on 27 December as the two-day Christmas Festival draws to a close. Two Grade 2s share top billing on this Saturday card with the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase and the Desert Orchid Chase. The latter is a limited handicap these days, but still attracts some notable horses to Greater …

The Welsh Grand National of 2025 at Chepstow is again a target for last year’s runner-up Jubilee Express. Horses trained within the Principality, particularly by Lisvane handler Sam Thomas, have done well in recent editions of the Premier Handicap chase over three-and-three-quarter miles run annually on 27 December.  Jubilee Express kept on into second place …

As ever, the Kempton races on Boxing Day in 2025 provide punters with some of the most competitive horse racing over the festive period. There are three Grade 1s on the card from the Greater London venue, starting with the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, then the Christmas Hurdle and culminating in the King George VI …

Boxing Day is light on top-flight football action this year, though the one match scheduled from Premier League week 18 for 26 December should pack a considerable punch as Manchester United entertain Newcastle at Old Trafford. A day later, there are seven more fixtures to consume, starting with the early kick-off between Nottingham Forest and …

Premier League week 17 opens with a bumper fixture slate on Saturday that features eight matches, starting with Newcastle hosting Chelsea at St James’ Park. Elsewhere, Manchester City can climb to the table’s summit with a win over struggling West Ham in one of the four 3pm kick-offs. Arsenal will have a chance to leapfrog …

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 …