Only four courses go racing on Thursday as the sport gradually winds down towards the brief Christmas break, with our GG Lucky 15 tips for the day coming across three of them at Exeter, Southwell & Ffos Las.
The first and last-named host National Hunt cards, where conditions could get quite testing, while Southwell’s nine-race card comes on their all-weather surface.
Our four tips are combine for a Lucky 15 combination on the day and are available at attractive prices at the time of writing.
Exeter Racing Tips (Thursday 18 December)
Exeter hosts a seven-race card on Thursday, with the highlight the “Christmas Cup” handicap chase at 2pm, in which one of our two selections at the track races .
1.00 Exeter – Bluey (1pt win – 2/1)
Although she is the only member of the field carrying a penalty, Bluey may be able to win for the second time over fences for Emma Lavelle. The six-year-old was a runner-up on soft ground over hurdles, so should cope with any give in the surface, and won well at Kempton on her return over 2m2f. However, she ran well dropped back to 2m at Newbury, finishing fourth to the progressive Mambonumberifve in a race from which the runner-up has come out and won since, so her form is strong from both chase starts. Grade 2 novice hurdle winner Hollygrove Cha Cha is her big danger here, but this 2m1½f trip may be on the short side for her given her best form has come at 2m4f, including on return.
2.00 Exeter – Gyenyame (1pt win – 6/1)
Winning has proven tricky for Gyenyame of late, but the Joe Tizzard-trained gelding retains a competitive mark and may well have conditions to suit here. Exeter was the track at which he recorded his only chase victory in November 2024 and he twice travelled well before making key jumping errors in defeats later on last season at Taunton. He is up 2lb for a second-placed effort over course and distance last time, but that form has been franked by the winner finishing second in a highly competitive 15-runner handicap at Cheltenham, with the selection nicely clear of the third and well clear of the fourth. That suggests he may be about to put it all together and land a belated third win over obstacles.
Southwell Racing Tips (Thursday 18 December)
Southwell’s card is the busiest on Thursday as nine races are held on the all-weather surface at the track. Our selection runs in the nursery handicap at 2.22.
2.22 Southwell – Eternal Solace (1pt win – 9/4)
The top three in the handicap here squared off over course and distance three weeks ago, with only half-a-length separating Ten Carat Harry, Eternal Solace and One And Gone. The first-named is now chasing a four-timer and has a willing attitude, but the selection travelled best and made what looked like a winning run only for his effort to empty in the very closing stages, meaning he was beaten a neck. However, Ollie Sangster’s juvenile now has form figures of 12 on all-weather surfaces and may well profit if able to challenge a fraction later this time, while he is likely to be right in the thick of the action, rather than wide of it, from stall 2 this time.
Ffos Las Racing Tips (Thursday 18 December)
The ground is set to be heavy on Thursday at Ffos Las, making their six-race card extra testing for participants. Our selection comes from the novices’ handicap at 3.10.
3.10 Ffos Las – Gris Majeur (1pt win – )
Question marks around the ground and form for his five younger rivals makes Gris Majeur stand out as the likeliest winner of this novice handicap. The eight-year-old’s first chase success came on good-to-firm at Ludlow in October, but the grey has also run over course and distance on heavy and ran a mighty race to finish a neck second to Alcedo back in February, with that rival now rated 9lb higher. The selection himself was then second at Hereford before a close third at Taunton off this mark of 113 and there is a chance that none of his rivals will be as well-suited by conditions here as he is, while he remains plausibly handicapped too.
GG Lucky 15 Tips – Thursday 18 December
1.00 Exeter – Bluey (1pt win – 2/1)
2.00 Exeter – Gyenyame (1pt win – 6/1)
2.22 Southwell – Eternal Solace (1pt win – 9/4)
3.10 Ffos Las – Gris Majeur (1pt win – )
GG Lucky 15 Tips – Thursday 18 December
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- Exeter – first race 12:30
- Ffos Las – first race 13:10
- Southwell – first race 13:22
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s GG Lucky 15 tips?
Joe Napier provides GG’s Lucky 15 tips on Thursday 18 December from Exeter, Southwell & Ffos Las.
When were today’s Exeter, Southwell & Ffos Las tips published?
Our Lucky 15 tips for Thursday were published at 3.15pm on Wednesday 17 December.
Which racecourses run on Thursday 18 December 2025?
Exeter, Southwell & Ffos Las.
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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