A stunning seven-race card will light up at Cheltenham on Friday 12 December for day one of the Cheltenham December meeting. The action kicks off at 12.05pm and goes right through until 3.35pm and it’s set to be an action-packed day at Prestbury Park.
Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers has delved through the form guides and picked out his best bets for the day at the Gloucestershire racecourse.
Cheltenham Racing Tips (Friday 12 December 2025)
Four hurdles races and three chase contests make up the seven races taking place at Cheltenham on Friday afternoon. Check out our best bets for the day here.
12.40 Cheltenham – Califet En Vol (1pt win – 6/4)
Nicky Henderson and Nico De Boinville won this race 12 months ago with Jango Baie, who spectacularly went on to land Arkle glory at the Cheltenham Festival, and the Seven Barrows duo have an excellent chance of tasting glory again in the 12.40pm. They will unleash the exciting novice chaser Califet En Vol, who was a fine winner of the Sidney Banks over hurdles last season, and was last seen finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree. This will be his chase debut and he faces Sixmilebridge, who has winning form over fences, but Califet En Vol could turn into an extremely smart chaser this season and should have far too much class for his three rivals here.
1.50 Cheltenham – L’Homme Presse (1pt win – 9/2)
With three wins out of four at Cheltenham, L’Homme Presse has a sensational record around the undulations of Prestbury Park, and that sole defeat at the track came in the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup, where he was fourth to Galopin Des Champs. A former winner of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and Cotswold Chase, the 10-year-old makes his first start of the new season and will have to carry a monster weight in the 1.50pm contest. Giving over a stone to all his rivals here, the proven class act for Venetia Williams will need to be near his best, but he’s undoubtedly the real class act in the contest, and he can get the better of The Doyen Chief and King Turgeon, who certainly don’t have the quality form L’Homme Presse has on his CV.
2.25 Cheltenham – Fugitif (1pt win – 5/1)
Eldorado Allen stormed to victory in the veterans event at Cheltenham last month, but he’s been given a notable 5lbs hike by the handicapper for that win, so he could prove vulnerable in the 2.25pm event. Richard Hobson’s Fugitif was well beaten back in fifth that day, but he’s been dropped 2lbs for that run, so he’s much better off at the weights with Eldorado Allen this time around. A former winner of the December Gold Cup, Fugitif is sure to come on for that first run of the season and around a course he’s excelled at before he could well return to winning ways and land this trappy betting heat.
3.35 Cheltenham – Long Draw (1pt win – 4/1)
Olly Murphy’s Long Draw bounded to victory in this race 12 months ago and he will be looking to make it three wins from three starts on the new course in the final race card at 3.35pm. He’s a whopping 17lbs higher in the handicap this time around, so he will need to produce a career best to land the money, but he’s shown he can deliver the goods at the track, so is a leading player. He was disappointing at Cheltenham last time out, but that run came on the old course, so a switch of tracks could be the real key to find his best form, and off top weight he can claim victory with Sean Bowen in the saddle.
Cheltenham December Meeting Day 1 Tips – Friday 12 December
12.40 Cheltenham – Califet En Vol (1pt win – 6/4)
1.50 Cheltenham – L’Homme Presse (1pt win – 9/2)
2.25 Cheltenham – Fugitif (1pt win – 5/1)
3.35 Cheltenham – Long Draw (1pt win – 4/1)
Cheltenham December Meeting Day 1 Tips – Friday 12 December
Cheltenham Meeting Start Time
- Cheltenham – first race 12:05
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are Friday’s Cheltenham December Meeting Day 1 tips?
Steve Chambers provides four bets for day 1 of Cheltenham’s December Meeting on Friday 12 December.
What is on the Cheltenham December Meeting Day 1 racecard?
Here’s the full Cheltenham schedule for Cheltenham December Meeting Day 1:
- 12:05 – British EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle
- 12:40 – Santa – ‘The Visit’ ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase
- 13:15 – Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle
- 13:50 – Turners Handicap Chase
- 14:25 – Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Series Handicap Chase
- 15:00 – Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase
- 15:35 – Citipost Handicap Hurdle
Who is Steve Chambers? Steve Chambers is the editor and regular tipster and writer for GG. He has over 10 years experience in the industry and has a wealth of knowledge on all things racing.
When were the Cheltenham December Meeting Day 1 tips published?
The Cheltenham December Meeting Day 1 tips were published at 11.15am on Thursday 11 December.
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