Challow Hurdle taking shape, with discounted tickets still available

The Christmas period is always a busy time for Newbury Racecourse, and this year is no exception.

Coral Challow Hurdle Day takes place on December 28th, with a packed seven-race card in store for punters.

The action kicks off with a Mares' Handicap Hurdle at 12:02 and ends with a Class 3 Novices Limited Handicap Steeple Chase at 15:35.

The main event, the Challow Novices' Hurdle, is set for 14:55.

Discounted tickets are still available from newburyracecourse.co.uk, with grandstand tickets available from £29 and under-18s going free.

The last month has seen a number of contenders declare their interest in the Grade 1 race.

In early November, local trainer Jamie Snowden suggested that he may enter Wendigo for the race.

This came after he impressively won a 2m 5f hurdle at Ludlow, ridden by Gavin Sheehan.

"He wants soft ground and stays well… we might have half a look at the Challow,” he told the Racing Post.

Nigel Twiston-Davies' Potters Charm is also expected to be a top contender on the day.

The five-year-old has three wins to his name, with assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies telling Sporting Life last month how, “Everything is very good with him… we’ll probably go to the Challow.”

Favourite status may yet go to Ben Pauling’s It's Hard To Know, who is unbeaten and expected to enter the race, while Paul Nicholls’ Regent’s Stroll and Dan Skelton’s The New Lion have also been rumoured.