General / Andrew Hughes / 30 November 2008 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

As the year moves into its final month, the advent of another racing week causes Andrew "Humbug" Hughes to get all scrooge-like on us. Fortunately, he brightens up in time to offer some essential tips on how to get all your Christmas shopping done in time to study the Sport of Kings.

The proliferation of obese gentlemen in red suits, the acrid smoke of charcoaled chestnuts and the wheezy strains of Slade's least popular contribution to our musical heritage can mean only one thing. Nature's unforgiving cycle has brought us once more to the brink of the festival of shopping and enforced bonhomie. As far as I am aware, no-one has yet attempted to calculate the number of yards covered by the average shopper at this time of year, but I suggest it would probably equate to a London marathon or two.

Time then to remember Hughes's first law of Christmas, a boon to the harassed gentleman at this time of year. The rule states simply that whilst shopping is an act to be enjoyed online, racing must be savoured in person. Instead of cramming in a few minutes desperate form study before a day spent tramping the chewing-gum strewn streets, re-order your priorities.

Get all your gift buying done in half-an-hour's relatively painless internet surfing on a weekday evening and then devote the weekend to the sport of kings. Being at the racecourse also ensures you against being recruited for those unpleasantly spontaneous last-minute shopping expeditions. The jumps season conforms perfectly to this rule by conveniently holding all of its significant meetings at weekends.

Sunday 30th November

Sunday's top racing action comes from Fairyhouse in County Meath, with the second day of their winter festival. This is one of the best cards you'll see this side of March, with four Graded contests, three of them at Grade One level. Top of the bill is the Hatton's Grace Hurdle, a high calibre race over two and a half miles, which once again features old favourites Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace as well as promising young pretender, Catch Me. There is also the Drinmore Novices Chase over the same distance, a very competitive contest for horses with real staying potential. You shouldn't miss the Royal Bond Novices' Hurdle, a race with a strong record of producing top class winners, with this year's collection of promising sorts including the undefeated duo of Cousin Vinny and Donnas Palm. And finally, not to be overlooked is the New York Juvenile Hurdle over two miles, featuring a small field of precocious hurdling types.

Friday 5th December

After a modest week of solid rather than spectacular jumping and sand-related fare, the top quality action returns with the Tingle Creek meeting from Sandown. Today's card is a very good one, featuring two races with proud traditions. The Winter Novices' Hurdle over two and a half miles has been claimed by the likes of Inglis Drever and Neptune Collognes in the past, whilst the appropriately named Future Stars Chase is a Listed chase over three miles that has in the past been won by such illustrious animals as Star de Mohaison, Impek and Gold Cup winner Looks Like Trouble.

Saturday 6th December

The Tingle Creek is one of the highlights of the jumps season. A two mile chase that has seen some epic battles over the years, not least the struggles between Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop that will live long in the memory. And as you would expect there are plenty of top quality races on the rest of the card. The Henry VIII Novices' Chase is run over the same distance as the Tingle Creek and has been won by some real stars in the past, including Racing Demon and Thisthatandtother and is well worth watching. There are also the challenges of the two mile Listed Handicap Hurdle, a typical competitive big field Saturday event to unravel and the London National Steeplechase, a real stamina sapper of a contest, particularly if the ground is soft, run over three miles and five furlongs. Non-stayers need not apply.