Four courses are set to host cards in Britain on Friday, but it is Cheltenham‘s December meeting which is the pick of the bunch by some margin.
GG tipster Joe Napier has picked out four best bets at Cheltenham throughout the afternoon, including in the veterans’ contest and the cross country handicap.
Cheltenham Racing Tips (Friday 12 December)
Day one of Cheltenham’s December meeting takes place on Friday 12 December, with competitive handicaps aplenty, including over the famous cross country course.
1.15 Cheltenham – Brentford Hope (1pt e/w – 16/1)
Two runs over fences this season have proven fruitless pursuits for Brentford Hope, but the return to hurdles is surely a huge positive for Harry Derham’s charge and he is very feasibly treated on his best form. His new rating of 136 is 4lb below his last winning mark from March 2024 and he followed that win with a second in a 24-runner Punchestown Festival handicap off 143. Last season did not go quite as well, but he was highly tried, finishing second to Constitution Hill in the Grade 2 Unibet Hurdle, while he was a respectable enough eighth, beaten ten lengths, back at Punchestown to conclude his campaign. He was ultimately disappointing last weekend at Exeter over fences, but that was a hot enough race for a beginners’ chase, while his fourth in the Grade 2 Arkle Trial to July Flower saw him run up to his level, which is above his current handicap mark for this contest.
1.50 Cheltenham – King Turgeon (1pt e/w – 11/2)
Top-weight L’Homme Presse is a glamorous entry in this event, but conceding over a stone all-round will be tricky enough for him after 300 days off the track, especially as last year’s winner King Turgeon is trending back to form. David Pipe’s charge won this authoritatively 12 months ago, jumping well and kicking clear by three lengths, though early-season exertions caught up with him by the conclusion of his campaign. However, on his seasonal return, he was a credible sixth in the Grand Sefton over the Grand National fences off a 12lb higher mark than what he had won that race off last year. Though officially 1lb out of the handicap here, he is 1lb lower than for that previous run and gets to carry only 10st 2lb compared to the 10st 4lb he carried to victory last season. Wind surgery over the summer may well have done the trick to return him to winning ways soon.
2.25 Cheltenham – Fugitif (1pt e/w – 5/1)
Fugitif looked like being a significant threat on his veterans’ series debut on the Old Course last month only to weaken quickly late on, but he may well have blown up on his seasonal debut behind Eldorado Allen. Facing that admirable grey again, he is now 7lb better off on the New Course, over which he won the December Gold Cup in dramatic fashion two years ago, and the switch to that track, coupled with this being his second run of the season could work wonders. Although his form has generally taken a downturn since, he was third in last year’s December Gold Cup off a 7lb higher mark, while he was won second time out for the season on two occasions in the past. All told, as long as any of his old spark remains, he is now handicapped to go well over a track and trip he relishes.
3.00 Cheltenham – Placenet (1pt e/w – 16/1)
Iceo Madrik has taken the large proportion of interest of the French runners in this cross country handicap having run over the track before, but he unseated that day and it may prove wiser to side with stablemate Placenet for David Cottin. French trainers have a superb record in races over Cheltenham’s banks course and the selection appears to be ridden by the more favoured jockey of Cottin in Johnny Charron, which may be a signal in itself. Placenet had no luck when briefly trained by David Pipe, but neither did Iceo Madrik, and since rejoining Cottin, has won a cross country handicap at Waregem in Belgium as well as competing for the Grade 1 Prix la Haye Jousselin over 3m3f. If anything though, his form is better on ground quicker than soft, which it should be on the cross country course, while he also carries a light enough weight off 10st 9lb. He would not be the first specialist cross country performer to win an event at Cheltenham for the continent and looks a belting each-way price.
GG Lucky 15 Tips – Friday 12 December
1.15 Cheltenham – Brentford Hope (1pt e/w – 16/1)
1.50 Cheltenham – King Turgeon (1pt e/w – 11/2)
2.25 Cheltenham – Fugitif (1pt e/w – 5/1)
3.00 Cheltenham – Placenet (1pt e/w – 16/1)
GG Lucky 15 Tips – Friday 12 December
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- Cheltenham – first race 12:05
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s GG Lucky 15 tips?
Joe Napier provides GG’s Lucky 15 tips on Friday 12 December and the selections all come from Cheltenham.
When were today’s Cheltenham tips published?
Our Lucky 15 tips for Friday were published at 11.35m on Thursday 11 December.
Which racecourses run on Friday 12 December 2025?
Cheltenham, Doncaster, Dundalk & Southwell.
Who is Joe Napier?
Joe Napier is the deputy editor of GG who gives tips and opinion throughout the week. He has been writing for GG for over four years and is hugely passionate about racing.
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