Festive Four programme added to Britain's winter racing calendar

National Hunt racing in England will take place over a four-day programme this Christmas. The Festive Four, running from Boxing Day to 29 December, brings together the major meetings at Kempton, Chepstow and Newbury under one umbrella. Each day will have its own feature race, and all four meetings can be watched live on ITV.

The Ladbrokes Christmas Festival at Kempton will run on 26 and 27 December. On 26 December the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase will be run as the feature race, while the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase has been moved to 27 December. The Coral Welsh Grand National will be run at Chepstow on 28 December, one day after its traditional date. Newbury will close the programme on 29 December, with the day ending with the Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle.

The change is said to give the feature races more prominence and reduce clashes between meetings. The Kauto Star Novices' Chase was previously run on Boxing Day, and the Welsh Grand National was run on a date closer to the Kempton programme. The main races are now spread over consecutive days. Prizes will also be awarded to the top trainer and jockey over the four days.

The initiative involves Entain, The Jockey Club, Arena Racing Company, Newbury Racecourse, Racecourse Media Group, the British Horseracing Authority, ITV Racing and Great British Racing. The Festive Four Pass, which gives access to all four meetings, went on sale for £64. This limited number of passes went on sale on 5 November and will be valid until 15 December. Members of Kempton, Chepstow and Newbury will get free entry to all four racing days.