Cheltenham is back and so are Racing Post Stable Tours - here's what you can't afford to miss this week

Want to know the big things happening in the 24/7 world of racing this week? We've got you covered, as we look at all you shouldn't miss over the next seven days . . .

Cheltenham returns

While the big talking point of the week is the possibility that the Cheltenham Festival will become a Wednesday to Saturday event after the course's chief executive, Guy Lavender, revealed to the Racing Post that consideration has been given to switching the days of the jumps season's biggest meeting, the big event on the track is the return of racing at Cheltenham with the two-day meeting.

It starts on Friday with a card that includes Grade 2 action in the Oddschecker-sponsored Sharp Novices' Hurdle (3.00), in which the Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies top prospect Un Sens A La Vie is among the potential runners.

On the same card, the same trainers' 160-rated Matata heads the weights for the squareintheair.com Handicap Chase (3.35).

The first Saturday of the season at Cheltenham includes a 3m1f novice chase and a handicap chase over the same distance worth £100,000.

Will the two days provide some early clues for the festival in March? Quite possibly.

Group 1 weekend

There is still plenty on offer for Flat fans, notably Britain's final Group 1 of the season, the Futurity Trophy (2.05) at Doncaster on Saturday.

Aidan O'Brien was out of luck in the Group 1s on Champions Day at Ascot and is well represented in the Futurity, with the 2026 Derby favourite Benvenuto Cellini among potential candidates. He could stamp his Classic credentials for next year.

Hawk Mountain is another high-profile potential runner for O'Brien after winning the Beresford Stakes in impressive style last month.

Aidan O'Brien: likely to be well represented in the Futurity on SaturdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Listed treat

There is a Pattern-race treat at the start of the week when Pontefract hosts the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Silver Tankard Stakes (3.03) on Monday.

Ralph Beckett won this with the subsequent Group 1 second Manuela De Vega in 2018 and Morven looks a bright prospect for the same stable.

Joseph O'Brien is represented by Green Carrera, winner of a maiden at Thurles 11 days ago.

Jumps stable tours are back

The Racing Post Stable Tours are a must for the jumps season and what better way to start the series than with a visit to Seven Barrows, home of Nicky Henderson's powerful string.

Racing Post+ Ultimate subscribers can find out the latest on Constitution Hill, Sir Gino and Jonbon on Monday evening and in Tuesday's Racing Post newspaper. Venetia Williams and rising training talents Olly Murphy and James Owen give exclusive insights to their stables later in the week. You don't want to miss them.

This week's meetings

Monday
Gowran Park (first race 1.49), Bath (1.55), Pontefract (2.03), Plumpton (2.10), Wolverhampton (4.55)

Tuesday
Perth (1.15), Exeter (1.40), Yarmouth (2.00), Curragh (2.07), Newcastle (4.50)

Wednesday
Newmarket (1.48), Worcester (2.00), Navan (2.12), Kempton (4.38)

Thursday
Ludlow (1.37), Nottingham (2.00), Fontwell (2.15), Clonmel (2.22), Chelmsford (4.45), Southwell (5.00)

Friday
Cheltenham* (1.15), Doncaster* (1.33), Newbury (1.41), Southwell (4.50), Dundalk, Sligo

Saturday
Cheltenham* (1.10), Newbury* (1.25), Doncaster* (1.30), Kelso (1.35), Wolverhampton (4.55), Galway

Sunday
Aintree (12.40), Wincanton (12.57), Galway, Wexford

*Being shown live on ITV Racing

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