Get ready for a host of festive treats in Britain and Ireland

Many are looking forward to a week's break for Christmas and new year but staff from stables and racecourses are preparing for one of the busiest periods of the year in racing

Monday

Christmas Eve and no racing in Britain or Ireland but a meeting in the south of France at Cagnes-sur-Mer, featuring a Listed chase.

Tuesday

Christmas Day and all's quiet on the racecourses of Britain and Ireland again but spare a thought for all the stable staff keeping their horses fed and bedded down.

Wednesday

Back to feverish action after the cold turkey. The morning interest will be centred around whether Altior will enliven Thursday's action in the Unibet Desert Orchid Chase as expected and who will take on Kalashnikov in the 32Red.com Wayward Lad Novices' Chase at Kempton on Thursday.

The champ: Buveur D'Air out on his own in last year's Christmas HurdleCredit: Charlie Crowhurst

That is before 11 meetings across Britain and Ireland with 32Red King George VI Chase favourite Might Bite and Unibet Christmas Hurdle banker Buveur D'Air looking for repeats in the two afternoon Grade 1 features at Kempton.

Wetherby hosts the racingtv.com Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase and there are other jump meetings at Fontwell, Huntingdon, Market Rasen, Sedgefield, Wincanton and Down Royal in Northern Ireland.

Leopardstown opens its four-day festival with the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase.

Not to be outdone, Limerick also has a four-day feast, including its first Grade 1 in the form of the Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Chase, which brings Ruby Walsh for a rare visit to ride Getabird among a good book for Willie Mullins.

The former Grade 2 novice chase achieved this upgraded status thanks to previous winners including Sir Des Champs, Gilgamboa, Outlander and Bellshill.

Wolverhampton keeps Flat racing going with an afternoon card.

Thursday

Ireland and Leopardstown take bragging rights with two Grade 1s on the card – the Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle and Paddy's Rewards Club Sugar Paddy Chase with Limerick continuing its festival.

The Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow is the big betting race of the day, although the Welsh track also hosts the Grade 1 Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle.

Kempton's second day of the 32Red Winter Festival is littered with Grade 2s courtesy of the 32Red.com Wayward Lad and Unibet Desert Orchid chases.

Wetherby, over jumps, and Wolverhampton, on the Flat, complete their two-day meetings.

Friday

Leopardstown shows no sign of dropping the pace on day three of its festival with another two Grade 1s in the shape of the Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle and Savills Chase, which could feature the return of the Gold Cup ante-post favourite Presenting Percy.

Davy Russell and Presenting Percy land the RSA Chase at last season's Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

Limerick likewise moves into day three but in Britain it is the turn of Catterick and Leicester over jumps and Lingfield on the Flat to entertain the holiday crowds.

Saturday

There is no let up at Leopardstown which hosts another two Grade 1s – the Neville Hotels Novice Chase and Ryanair Hurdle.

Limerick closes with the Grade 2 Sky Sports Racing Launching January 1st Novice Hurdle being broadcast by At The Races but with a timely reminder of the new year broadcasting switch around the corner.

Newbury ends its year with the traditional Grade 1 that is the Betway Challow Novices' Hurdle.

Doncaster and Kelso also race over jumps with Southwell providing the Flat action.

Sunday

Haydock headlines the action with The Last Fling Handicap Chase, commemorating the popular Trevor Hemmings-owned and Sue Smith-trained chaser who died in the 2002 Grand National and won four of his 15 victories at Haydock.

Lingfield holds the first of its two-day year-ending meeting on the Flat and Taunton has a Listed mares' novice hurdle.

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