The Cheltenham December Meeting 2023 takes centre stage this week with the two-day festival running over Friday and Saturday. There is plenty to look forward to, so to help plan we’ve listed the full schedule, times and which races are being shown LIVE on ITV below.
Cheltenham December Meeting 2023: Racing Returns To Prestbury Park
The home of UK jumps racing – Cheltenham – race this week with their popular December (Christmas) Meeting kicks-off on Friday and runs over Saturday too.
Over the two days of Prestbury Park action there is a lot to look forward to as horse racing fans search for some more Cheltenham Festival clues for next March.
On Friday there is a seven-race card to get stuck into, with four of these contests being shown LIVE on ITV4 (see below).
These include the second running of the Veterans’ Chase that can only be contested by horses aged 9+ – a race many feel could have a place at the Festival (but that’s another debate).
There is also the Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase, where we could see last season’s X-Country Festival runner-up Galvin in action.
Onto Saturday and another seven races to take in, with five of these on the main ITV channel.
The LIVE races are headlined by the Virgin Bet December Gold Cup (1:50pm), which is a prize trainer Paul Nicholls has won five times over the years. He’ll be trying to make it six with several entered at this stage.
Cheltenham December Meeting 2023 Date
- Friday 15th December 2023
- Saturday 16th December 2023
Cheltenham December Meeting 2023 Race Times and Schedule
See below the full race times and running order for the 2023 Cheltenham December Meeting. You can also keep up-to-date with the latest Cheltenham going and weather here.
Friday 15th December 2023
- 12:05: British EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race) Cl3 (4-6yo) 2m1f RTV
- 12:40: Cheltenham & South-West Racing Club Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m4½f RTV
- 1:15: Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle Cl3 (3yo+ 0-140) 2m1f ITV4
- 1:50: Cheltenham Racecourse Food Bank Collection Mares’ Handicap Chase (Challenger Series Qualifier) Cl3 (4yo+ 0-125) 2m4½f ITV4
- 2:25: Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase Cl2 (9yo+ 0-150) 2m4½f ITV4
- 3:00: Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (5yo+) 3m5½f ITV4
- 3:35: Citipost Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 3m ITV4
Saturday 16th December 2023
- 12:05 – Jcb Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (Gbb Race) Cl2 (3yo) 2m1f RTV
- 12:40 – John Wyke Memorial Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Gbb Race) Cl3 (4yo+) 3m1½f RTV
- 1:15 – Quintessentially Handicap Chase (Gbb Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m½f ITV
- 1:50 – Virgin Bet December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m4½f ITV
- 2:25 – Favourite From The Sun Now Daily Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m2f ITV
- 3:00 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Registered As The Bristol Novices’ Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m ITV
- 3:35 – Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Gbb Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m4½f ITV
Cheltenham December Meeting 2023 ITV Coverage
Over the two-day Cheltenham Christmas Meeting, nine of the 14 races will be shown LIVE on ITV4.
Friday 15th December 2023
- 1:50: Cheltenham Racecourse Food Bank Collection Mares’ Handicap Chase (Challenger Series Qualifier) Cl3 (4yo+ 0-125) 2m4½f ITV4
- 2:25: Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase Cl2 (9yo+ 0-150) 2m4½f ITV4
- 3:00: Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (5yo+) 3m5½f ITV4
- 3:35: Citipost Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 3m ITV4
Saturday 16th December 2023
- 1:15 – Quintessentially Handicap Chase (Gbb Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m½f ITV4
- 1:50 – Virgin Bet December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m4½f ITV4
- 2:25 – Favourite From The Sun Now Daily Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m2f ITV4
- 3:00 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Registered As The Bristol Novices’ Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m ITV4
- 3:35 – Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Gbb Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m4½f ITV4
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