November Meeting vs Christmas Meeting: A Shift in Cheltenham Festival Clues
Cheltenham's winter meetings have long provided key indicators for Festival success, with the November Meeting historically seen as the leading guide.
However, recent seasons show the Christmas Meeting is now surpassing November as a reliable source of Festival winners.
Between 2009 and 2023, 54 Cheltenham Festival winners ran at the November Meeting earlier in the season, compared to 45 from the Christmas Meeting.
Races like the Shloer Chase and the Greatwood Hurdle established November's reputation, producing notable winners including Sprinter Sacre, Altior, and Put The Kettle On - the latter landing the 2020 Shloer before winning the 2021 Champion Chase.
Cheltenham Festival winners who raced at the course earlier in the season (2009-2024)
| November Meeting | 54 |
| Christmas Meeting | 45 |
| Trials Day Meeting | 35 |
| New Year's Day Meeting | 19 |
| Showcase Meeting | 16 |
The November Meeting also produced 13 horses who won both in November and again at the Festival across 15 years.
However, its influence has declined sharply.
No 2025 Festival winners appeared at the 2024 November Meeting - the first blank since 2012 - while only one Festival winner, Unexpected Party, emerged from it in 2024.
Changing training strategies, unseasonably dry ground in November, and alternative options later in the season have all contributed to this shift in approach.
Conversely, the Christmas Meeting has grown in significance for those looking for Festival-focused horse racing tips.
Trainers now use December as a key step toward March, often benefiting from softer ground and more suitable race spacing.
For those looking to make the most of Cheltenham betting offers, analysing how horses performed at the December Meeting can be a game-changer.
In 2025 alone, several Festival winners had run at Cheltenham in December, including:
- Haiti Couleurs, winner of a 3m6f novice handicap chase in December before landing the National Hunt Chase.
- Jango Baie, who scored at the December Meeting and went on to win the Arkle.
- Wodhooh, who took a December handicap before landing the Martin Pipe.
- Stumptown, winner of the December cross-country chase, then Festival glory in the Glenfarclas.
These results reflect a broader trend - top prospects now gain vital experience in December or early January.
The Christmas Meeting's blend of graded and handicap races across both courses offers punters strong clues, especially as horses often arrive fitter and more forward.
In conclusion, while November remains an important fixture, the Christmas Meeting has emerged as a key indicator of Cheltenham Festival success.
Whether you're researching runners or eyeing up the latest betting sites for Festival markets and free bets, don't overlook what December form has to offer.
Recent trends show the path to Prestbury Park glory may now run through Christmas rather than autumn - and punters would do well to take note.
