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All roads lead to Sandown and Aintree for a thrilling weekend

Sire De Grugy (nearside) starts up the Tingle Creek run-in upsides Un De Sceaux
Un De Sceaux and Sire De Grugy battle it out in the Tingle Creek, which will be the highlight of this week's actionCredit: Getty Images

Monday

Kalashnikov, general second favourite for the Racing Post Arkle, bids to make it a second win from as many starts over fences at Plumpton, which hosts an interesting seven-race card.

Musselburgh is the other meeting of the day to host jumps action, while Wolverhampton is on duty for evening racing on the all-weather.

Tattersalls: the December Mares Sale takes place this week
Tattersalls: the December Mares Sale takes place this weekCredit: Edward Whitaker

Tattersalls hosts the first day of its December Mares Sale, where Pearling, the dam of Irish Champion Stakes winner Decorated Knight, will be one of the eyecatching lots on show.

Tuesday

Fakenham and Southwell provide the afternoon's entertainment with a six and seven-race card respectively.

Lingfield on the all-weather hosts an eight-race card for Flat fans, the opening race starts at 11.50.

Wednesday

Ludlow and Haydock headline the afternoon action in Britain, with some potentially interesting runners looking to take part.

There are three all-weather fixtures over the course of the day with Lingfield taking centre stage in the afternoon and Kempton and Newcastle holding evening meetings.

Thursday

WINCANTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19:  A general view as runners clear a fence at Wincanton Racecourse on October 19, 2018 in Wincanton, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX***
Wincanton: hosts a meeting on ThursdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Market Rasen, Wincanton and Leicester are the three British meetings for the afternoon, while Clonmel takes centre stage over in Ireland.

Chelmsford is the sole evening fixture, with the opening race starting at 6.00.

Friday

The action steps up a gear, with Aintree Grade 1 winner Black Op looking set to make his chasing debut at Exeter, while the Grade 2 Ballymore Winter Novices' Hurdle, won by the smart On The Blind Side last term, headlines a classy card at Sandown.

Sedgefield is the other jumps meeting in the afternoon, while Kempton hosts its all-weather card for the evening.

Saturday

The Tingle Creek is shaping up to be a cracking race with Altior, Saint Calvados and Sceau Royal all likely to line up in a clash of the titans.

The Henrv VIII Novices' Chase, won in the past by Altior and Al Ferof, is the second Grade 1 of the day on a cracking card, while Aintree hosts the Becher Chase, which is always an exciting spectacle over the Grand National fences.

The Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase, named after the much-missed Grand National hero, is the other Pattern race on Aintree's seven-race card.

Wetherby and Chepstow are the other two jumps fixtures of the afternoon, while Wolverhampton hosts the sole evening meeting on the all-weather.

Sunday

The Grade 2 Peterborough Chase, held this year in the name of four-time winner Edredon Bleu, takes centre stage in Britain. Last year's winner, Top Notch, looks set to try and repeat his victory, while Aintree Grade 1 hero Tea For Two could also start his season there.

Over in Ireland, Punchestown hosts the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase, while superstar Un De Sceaux could make his seasonal debut at Cork in the Hilly Way Chase.


Read The Briefing from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news


Kitty TriceBloodstock journalist

Published on 3 December 2018inNews

Last updated 16:06, 2 December 2018

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