With the Cheltenham Festival just weeks away, Festival Trials on Saturday 25th January is the last chance to catch racing at Cheltenham before the magical four days in March.
With a now seven-race card, where every race is a trial for a race at the Cheltenham Festival, it doesn’t get much more exciting, unless it is the Festival itself. The excitement isn’t restricted to the track, with fantastic live performances from The Afterparty and The Cinelli Brothers post racing and the return of the Race. Ride. Cheltenham VR equiciser experience; it is a seamless prelude to the Cheltenham Festival. Last year, Sir Gino put in a massive performance winning the Grade 2 JCB Triumph Hurdle trial, for Nicky Henderson, James Bowen and Mrs J Donnelly. He showed a spine-tingling turn of foot winning by an impressive 10 lengths and is favourite for the Arkle after outclassing Ballyburn at Kempton over Christmas. For us, Festival Trials is one of the best days of the year at Cheltenham with top quality racing and off course entertainment. Click here for all tickets and further info
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The entries for the 2025 Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup have been announced and include just five horses from UK based yards.
Dual winner Galopin Des Champs is one of five Willie Mullins-trained horses entered into the race that takes place at Prestbury Park on Friday 15th March. The entered horses are: Ahoy Senor Banbridge Conflated Corbetts Cross Embassy Gardens Fact To File Galopin Des Champs Gentlemansgame Gerri Colombe Grangeclare West Grey Dawning Hewick Il Est Francais Jungle Boogie L’Homme Presse Minella Cocooner Monty’s Star Royale Pagaille The Real Whacker You can buy Cheltenham festival tickets here. Former Gloucester Rugby, Wales & British & Irish Lions back, James Hook. will return to Kingsholm at for this week's European Rugby Challenge Cup clash, under the lights against Welsh side, Scarlets.
The fan-favourite fly-half will be participating in an exclusive Q&A in the Captain's Lounge with his former teammate, Mark 'Aki' Atkinson, before the big fixture on Friday 10 January. Hook made 78 appearances for the Cherry & Whites between 2014 and 2017. He also represented Ospreys in Wales and Perpignan in France. A versatile player, he won 81 caps for Wales and toured South Africa with the British & Irish Lions in 2009. Book your place in the iconic Captain's Lounge now for a pre-match meal and complimentary bar until kick-off, in addition to hearing from the former Cherry & White. Places are limited, click here to book your spot now. Regardless of how you celebrated New Year’s Eve, there is no better way to jump into 2025 than racing on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham. Thrilling and high-quality racing action, that is sure to provide Cheltenham Festival insight, fresh air, and amazing free family entertainment.
There are seven highly-competitive races on the day with Graded and Listed contests, the racing action will blow away those New Year’s Eve cobwebs. Can you afford to miss out on racing at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day? There is lots of entertainment to enjoy throughout the day for all ages. There is an abundance of live music. Step into the heart of the action at The Guinness Village, to feel the infectious energy of The Mark Walby. As a fantastic day of racing draws to a close, their greatest hits post-racing set promises the perfect way to kick start the new year. If dancing along to feel-good favourites sounds like your cup of tea, head to Tattersalls Sales Arena to see Richard James in between races and for a roof raising post-racing set. Quevega's Bar will play host to Luke Gittins and Ash Smith throughout the afternoon and post racing, its the perfect place to catch up with friends and soak up the good times. For those looking to raise a glass to the start of a new year and a great day's racing, The Champagne Bar offers the perfect backdrop of smooth sax from Benjamin Martin throughout the day. Before racing, you can join Martin Kelly and Aly Vance at 11.35am in the winners’ enclosure for the highly anticipated Preview Show. They will be speaking to racing greats and special guests, previewing the afternoon’s racing, providing exclusive information; insight, entertainment and hopefully some winners! And if you have children to entertain, then the Junior Jumpers Family Fun Zone is just for you, and includes Phil The Elf one-man pantomime, Bluey and Bingo meet and greet at intervals throughout the day, arts and crafts, inflatables + lots more! Under 18s race for free when accompanied by a full-paying adult, please apply for your child's free ticket online. You can get your tickets HERE. Get your Christmas celebrations off to a perfect start at Cheltenham Racecourse for a weekend of top-quality racing on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 December. With the festive season about to enter the home straight, The Christmas Meeting brings joy and excitement for all, this two-day meeting is a highlight of the Christmas racing calendar and kick starts the festive sporting season.
The Friday boasts a fantastic festive atmosphere with lots of racegoers celebrating their work Christmas parties by enjoying the fantastic racing and superb entertainment. Last year saw Dysart Enos give local trainer Fergal O’Brien some extra Christmas cheer, when she thundered up the hill and hit the finish line in front and Ginny’s Destiny following up on his win at the November Meeting when beating Grey Dawning. Saturday is a Christmas Extravaganza themed family fun with a Santa's Grotto and superb racing action. Embrace and enjoy the Christmas buzz, with Grade 2 action on the track, providing those all-important Cheltenham Festival clues and an abundance of festive treats – it is the ultimate Christmas sporting day out. With Grade 2 and 3 racing action, including some highly competitive Cheltenham Festival trials, including the JCB Triumph Hurdle trial and the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle trial, it is a key race meeting for Cheltenham Festival clues. The December Gold Cup went the way of local trainer Richard Hobson and his charge Fugitif in a nail-biting finish under jockey Gavin Sheehan. Off the track, join Richard James as he returns to Quevega's for an afternoon of feel good favourites and Christmas classics; and experience the magic of the Got2Sing Choir and Hornbrokers brass trio around The Plaza's Christmas Tree. For the younger racegoers, you can make their day at Cheltenham extra special with a magical Christmas pony ride, a visit to Father Christmas in his Grotto and getting stuck into his fun elves' workshop activities! Under 18’s race free, apply for your free children's ticket online. Tickets and further info here - www.thejockeyclub.co.uk Gloucester Rugby host Edinburgh Rugby at Kingsholm in the first game of the Club's European Rugby Challenge cup campaign on Friday 6th December. After falling at the final hurdle last season, the Cherry & Whites are looking to go one better this year and win the Challenge Cup trophy, which would be third European title for the Club. Drawn in Pool 3 for the 2024/25 European Rugby Challenge Cup, alongside French sides, Vannes & Bayonne, United Rugby Championship teams, Scarlets & Edinburgh Rugby and Invitational club, Black Lion from Georgia. The top four sides will qualify for the knock-out stages of the competition, along with four teams who drop down from the Investec Champions Cup. The Cherry & Whites have named a strong matchday squad to take on the Scottish side under the lights. After a Player of the Match performance in last weekend's win over English champions, Northampton Saints, Santi Carreras retains his sport at full back, with Christian Wade on the right wing. On the opposite side of the field, Josh Hathaway comes into the squad for Ollie Thorley, who misses out with an injury sustained at Franklin's Gardens. Charis Harrias comes into the midfield alongside Max Llewellyn, with the Welshman switching from 13 to 12. The half-back pairing of Gareth Anscombe and Caolan Englefield remains unchanged. Up front, Seb Blake and Kirill Gotovtsev join Val Rapava-Ruskin in the front row, with Matias Alemanno coming into the second row alongside Arthur Clark. Alemanno's inclusion means Freddie Thomas shifts to the back row, where he combines with Ruan Ackermann and skipper, Lewis Ludlow. On the bench, there's a potential debut for new signing Will Butler, he covers the backs alongside Charlie Chapman and George Barton, with the latter making a return form injury. In reserve for the forwards are Jack Singleton, Ciaran Knight, Afo Fasogbon, Harry Taylor and Albert Tuisue. Starting XV 1. Val Rapava-Ruskin 2. Seb Blake 3. Kirill Gotovtsev 4. Arthur Clark 5. Matias Alemanno 6. Freddie Thomas 7. Lewis Ludlow (c) 8. Ruan Ackermann 9. Caolan Englefield 10. Gareth Anscombe 11. Josh Hathaway 12. Max Llewellyn 13. Chris Harris 14. Christian Wade 15. Santi Carreras Replacements 16. Jack Singleton 17. Ciaran Knight 18. Afo Fasogbon 19. Harry Taylor 20. Albert Tuisue 21. Charlie Chapman 22. Will Butler 23. George Barton Next weekend, a new challenge awaits as Gloucester head to northwest France to take on newly promoted side RC Vannes. The French side defeated Grenoble to take their place in the Top 14 for the first time ever. Gloucester’s trip to Stade de la Rabine will take place on Saturday 14 December, 6:30pm kick-off. For all tickets, hospitality and further info, visit www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk UPCOMING FIXTURES AT KINGSHOLM
The festive period is fast approaching and it's the time of year when family and friends get together to celebrate.
For many of us non Grinches and according to Andy Williams, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year and we thought we would give you a helping hand on where to enjoy the festivities in the Cotswolds. From awesome sport to cinema, here are our top 10 festive things that you can explore throughout December, Christmas and the New Year.
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