Christmas may be a time for family, but it is also a period packed with top quality racing. Both at Ascot‘s meeting prior to Christmas, and in the days following it, numerous familiar names will do battle to open or continue their seasons in style.
Among the feature races to enjoy are the King George VI Chase and Savills Chase, while over timber, the Christmas Hurdles at both Kempton and Leopardstown could herald a huge shift in Cheltenham Festival markets.
Below, we look at ten horses who could make an appearance over the Christmas period and shake up the betting for some of the big races at Cheltenham in 2026.
Saturday 20 December – Impose Toi (Long Walk Hurdle, 2.25 Ascot)
The rising star among British staying hurdlers, Impose Toi has stepped up from middle distance handicapper to lead a charge for Nicky Henderson. Irish trainers sent out the first six home in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season, but in winning an Aintree handicap with minimal fuss, then the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, he has developed into a genuine Festival contender. If he can progress again to win the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle, off level weights this time with Strong Leader, and against former winner Crambo plus Irish raider Honesty Policy, he may need to be taken very seriously for the Thursday showpiece.
Friday 26 December – Wendigo (Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, 1.20 Kempton)
There will doubtless be a strong team of Irish novice chasers for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase over 3m at the Cheltenham Festival, but in Wendigo, Jamie Snowden can boast a talent of his own for the home team. The six-year-old was beaten on chase debut in a late sprint finish by subsequent Listed winner Wade Out, but Snowden’s charge battled back gamely next time out to land the Grade 2 John Francome Novices’ Chase at Newbury over 2m4f. He outstayed runner-up No Questions Asked that day, promising to be even better suited by 3m and his trainer highlighted the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton as his likely next target.
Friday 26 December – Romeo Coolio (Racing Post Novice Chase, 2.20 Leopardstown)
With Kopek Des Bordes missing Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase on Boxing Day now looks a great opportunity for Romeo Coolio to lay down an Arkle marker for Gordon Elliott. Last season’s Supreme third is odds-on to beat Salvator Mundi despite losing to that rival at Aintree over hurdles, but has looked a different beast over fences, rampantly beating six rivals by 14 lengths and more on debut at Down Royal, then scooting clear on the bridle to win the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse. He will face a different calibre of rival at Leopardstown, but already looks a natural chaser.
Friday 26 December – The Jukebox Man (King George VI Chase, 2.30 Kempton)
Rumours abound about the participation of Fact To File, while Gaelic Warrior is almost certain to come across for the King George for the first time. However, both are known quantities at the top of their games, whereas we will learn more from the performance of The Jukebox Man as to whether Britain has a bona fide Gold Cup candidate. The seven-year-old is owned by Harry Redknapp, who must have been thrilled by his start over fences last term, when he won the John Francome at Newbury, then the Kauto Star at Kempton in grand style, while his return after nearly a year off at Haydock was just as promising. A bold-jumping, smooth-travelling type, he could possess the talent to muscle in on the Irish stranglehold of the staying chase division.
Saturday 27 December – Majborough (Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase, 1.12 Leopardstown)
With Champion Chaser Marine Nationale likely to need the run and the rest of the potential combatants of this Grade 1 largely exposed, Majborough is the horse for whom the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase matters most. There is no doubting his talent, as he scorched to success by nine lengths in the Irish Arkle over course and distance last term, as well as by 14 lengths in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown, but his jumping lets him down at bad times, as evidenced when beaten by Found A Fifty on return at Cork. Even a competent jumping display should see him go very close and make a Champion Chase statement.
Saturday 27 December – Davy Crockett (Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, 1.47 Leopardstown)
Any number of Willie Mullins-trained individuals could leap forward to be the number one 2m novice hurdler, but the standout on paper is Davy Crockett. Owned by JP McManus, the four-year-old is the son of Camelot and Annie Power, making him a half-brother to 2024 Supreme runner-up Mystical Power, so there is precedent for him to be useful. He won a bumper at Punchestown by nine lengths in June, but has only been campaigned over the summer so far, winning at Galway and Listowel. This Grade 1 represents a huge step up, but it would be little surprise if there was confidence behind him at some point before the Supreme in March.
Sunday 28 December – Final Demand (Guinness 00 Faugheen Novice Chase, 1.40 Limerick)
The Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase is the only top level contest at Limerick between Christmas and New Year and could well play host to Final Demand. At this stage, he is Galopin Des Champs’ heir elect for staying chases, only meeting with defeat in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle behind The New Lion and The Yellow Clay at Cheltenham. He will therefore have questions to answer regarding his Cheltenham compatibility, but since that defeat, he has won the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown by 16 lengths and his chase debut at Navan by 13. He already dominates the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase market and may strengthen even further with a commanding victory here.
Sunday 28 December – Ballyburn (Christmas Hurdle, 1.55 Leopardstown)
The winners of the last two Stayers’ Hurdles could compete for Leopardstown’s Christmas Hurdle, which is run over 3m compared to the 2m Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, but against Bob Olinger and Teahupoo, Ballyburn may well emerge as the clear favourite for this season’s event. That would not have been the championship race Willie Mullins had in mind for this talented individual, but a chequered novice chasing campaign ensures fences have been put on hold. He chased home Teahupoo when rallying late on for the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle last time out, and 3m may prove to suit even better if lining up again here.
Sunday 28 December – Galopin Des Champs (Savills Chase, 2.30 Leopardstown)
He is a two-time Gold Cup winner who effortlessly ended his Punchestown hoodoo last time out and yet Galopin Des Champs’ appearance in the Savills Chase could say more than anything. The nine-year-old has age creeping up on him and his invincible air at Cheltenham was blown away by Inothewayurthinkin in the 2025 Gold Cup. Even as he faces reaching double figures in years though, he remains the top dog and a significant scalp for his rivals to claim, while his Leopardstown record over fences reads 1111111, a perfect 7/7. If he extends that to 8/8, he is likely to go off as the Gold Cup favourite once again.
Monday 29 December – El Fabiolo (December Hurdle, 2.32 Leopardstown)
Lossiemouth can confirm herself a rightful Champion Hurdle favourite in the Grade 1 December Hurdle at Leopardstown, but a more intriguing entry is El Fabiolo, who may well run over hurdles having blotted his copybook so often over fences in recent starts. The eight-year-old last ran over timber in April 2022 when winning at Punchestown, and only ever ran three times over the smaller obstacles, but he possesses immense ability when putting everything together. The issue has been his jumping technique over fences, but if reproducing his best chase form back over hurdles, he could add another weapon to Willie Mullins’ Cheltenham arsenal.