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Cheltenham excitement builds with big-race entries and ante-post advice

The Lanzarote Hurdle takes centre stage at Kempton on Saturday
The Lanzarote Hurdle takes centre stage at Kempton on SaturdayCredit: Edward whitaker

We witnessed plenty of top-class action in Britain and Ireland over the weekend and that's set to continue this week as we build towards another intriguing Saturday.

Monday

Chepstow and Musselburgh host the two jumps meetings to start the week, while entries for the weekend, including those at Kempton and Warwick, will be revealed.

For Flat fans, Wolverhampton hosts an all-weather card in the evening.

Tuesday

Tom Segal tackles the Champion Hurdle question in Tuesday's Pricewise – whether you're team Buveur D'Air, team Laurina or neither, it is worth a read!

Bangor and Ayr both host six-race cards over jumps, while Newcastle obliges with an evening all-weather card.

Wednesday

The Cheltenham Festival countdown is officially on as entries for the Gold Cup will be released and fans will be eagerly anticipating which horses will make the line-up.

For those who cannot wait until March, entries for the Betfair Hurdle, won last season by Kalashnikov, will also be published.

Gold Cup aces Native River and Richard Johnson will have the big Cheltenham test as their ultimate aim again in 2019
Native River: an excellent winner of last season's Gold CupCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

In terms of action, Doncaster and Taunton host jumps cards, while Lingfield and Kempton provide all-weather fare in the afternoon and into the evening.

Thursday

Entries for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Ryanair will be announced. With last season's sensational winner Altior expected to be among the entries for the former – one wonders how many will dare to take him on in March?

Meanwhile, the Listed Charnwood Mares' Chase (1.45) takes centre stage at Leicester, while Catterick and Clonmel also host jumps meetings. Southwell is the sole all-weather meeting of the afternoon but Chelmsford takes over in the evening with an eight-race card.

Friday

Huntingdon's Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle (2.30) usually attracts a decent field of promising young hurdlers and has been won in the past by the likes of Grade 1-winning chaser Sceau Royal and Fred Winter second Divin Bere.

Sedgefield provides the other jumps meeting of the afternoon, while Lingfield and Wolverhampton host all-weather fixtures in the afternoon and evening respectively.

Saturday

Kempton hosts its first jumps meeting of the new year, with the Listed 32Red Chase, won last year by subsequent Ascot Chase winner Waiting Patiently, and the Unibet Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle take centre stage.

Willoughby Court: won at Warwick before going on to victory at Cheltenham
Willoughby Court: won at Warwick before going on to victory at CheltenhamCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Warwick also puts on a classy card with the Grade 2 Ballymore Leamington Novices' Hurdle and Grade 3 Classic Chase heading the line-up.

The former contest has been won in recent seasons by the likes of The New One and Willoughby Court, who both went on to Cheltenham victory that season. The 3m Listed Hampton Novices' Chase has also thrown up festival clues.

Elsewhere, Wetherby has a seven-race card for punters to solve, while Fairyhouse stages the BetVictor Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase .

Lingfield and Newcastle provide the all-weather fare for the afternoon and evening.

Sunday

Punchestown headlines Sunday's action with the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Hurdle and Grade 3 Killiney Novice Chase. The former contest has a particularly striking roll of honour with Vautour, Douvan and Min striking for Willie Mullins in recent years.

Vautour: winner of the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle in 2014 for Willie Mullins
Vautour: winner of the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle in 2014Credit: Caroline Norris

Kelso is the sole jumps meet of the day in Britain, while Southwell hosts an all-weather card.


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Kitty TriceBloodstock journalist

Published on 7 January 2019inNews

Last updated 12:28, 7 January 2019

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