December Gold Cup takes centre stage this weekend as Cheltenham hosts top two-day festive action
CHELTENHAM hosts the Christmas Meeting this weekend with two days of top action at the famous jumps course.
The December Gold Cup is the main race of the fixture but there's plenty more to enjoy either side of it.
It kicks off with seven races on Friday and four Class 2s to enjoy, starting with a Novices' Chase.
There's a race for the veterans too - including Sam Brown and Lord du Mesnil - before the Cross Country race later in the afternoon.
Minella Road and Fury Road line up in this one, as does Galvin who'll be looking to bounce back from last month's run here when a disappointing eighth.
Onto Saturday and it kicks off with a JCB Triumph Hurdle trial.
But it's the December Gold Cup that heads the bill at 1.50 with Fakir d'Oudairies the top-rated entry at the time of writing.
Thunder Rock, Monmiral and So Scottish are likely to be among the favourites once final declarations are confirmed later in the week.
And we can't not mention the quality field as part of The Favourite From The Sun Now Daily Handicap Steeple Chase at 2.35, with Protektorat and Threeunderthrufive among the big names at entry stage.
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