Festive racing 2013 on Channel 4

Channel 4 is set to present action from three major race meetings over the festive period, including the King George VI Chase, Welsh Grand National and Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day meeting.

For the last seven years, the William Hill King George VI Chase, racing’s Christmas crown jewel, has been dominated by two horses – Kauto Star and Long Run.

The Boxing Day highlight is a seasonal target for many outstanding chasers and Long Run will be aiming to end the year on a high by winning a third King George.

But the eight-year-old will face a strong challenge from Cue Card, recent winner of the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park in which Long Run finished fourth.

Dynaste, second in the Betfair last month, is vying with Cue Card for favourite status ahead of the three-mile race on Boxing Day, though Captain Chris, second by a neck last year, misses out with a leg injury.

Two days later, Channel 4 makes its main-site debut at Chepstow for the 2013 running of the Coral Welsh National, one of the most important races in the jumping calendar.

The race attracts some of the best chasers in training and numerous previous winners have gone on to victory in the Aintree Grand National or the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Last year’s race, which was re-staged in January following poor weather, was won by the Mike Tindall-owned Monbeg Dude and provided young Michael Scudamore with a career highlight.

The winning combination is looking to repeat the performance on Saturday afternoon in Channel 4’s final live race meeting of 2013.

It’s Happy New Year from the Channel 4 Racing team on January 1 as the team will be at Cheltenham to welcome 2014 in style with top class racing on offer at Prestbury Park and from Musselburgh in Scotland.

Enjoy all the finest racing action on offer this Christmas and New Year, weather permitting, with Channel 4 Racing’s extensive coverage from seven different racecourses.

Clare Balding and Nick Luck lead Channel 4’s live coverage of four races from Kempton Park and Wetherby on Boxing Day, featuring the King George VI Chase at 3.10pm, with other races starting at 1.25, 2.00 and 2.35 at Kempton, plus the 1.40 at Wetherby.

Commentary and analysis comes from Simon Holt, Jim McGrath, Mick Fitzgerald and Tanya Stevenson, with on-course reports by Rishi Persad.

On Welsh National day at Chepstow, Nick Luck presents the action featuring the main event at 3.00, along with three further races from the course at 1.15, 1.50 and 2.25, two from Newbury at 1.30 and 2.05, plus a bonus from Leopardstown in Ireland – the Lexus Chase – at 2.55.

Richard Hoiles leads the commentary team alongside experts Graham Cunningham, Mick Fitzgerald and Tanya Stevenson, with Alice Plunkett providing on-course reports.

Finally, on New Year’s Day, Nick Luck is back to host all the action from Cheltenham’s New Year meeting, featuring four live races at 1.20, 1.55, 2.30 and 3.05, plus two live races from Musselburgh at 1.35 and 2.10.

In addition to the live action on New Year’s Day, the Channel 4 team will also look forward to the racing year ahead with extensive previews of the all the major meetings in 2014.

Commentary and analysis comes from Richard Hoiles, Jim McGrath, Graham Cunningham and Tanya Stevenson, with reports from Alice Plunkett and Emma Spencer.

Also over the festive period, Channel 4 will screen two editions of The Morning Line, including a special programme on the morning of King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Channel 4’s online offering via channel4.com/racing will complement viewers’ enjoyment of the action over the festive period with full online and social media support also available via Twitter and Facebook.

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Thursday 26th December

Saturday 28th December