How to watch Boxing Day Horse Racing 2025 for *FREE*

Fact To File, near, with Mark Walsh up, races alongside eventual first place Gaelic Warrior, behind, with Paul Townend up, on their way to finishing second in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Steeplechase during day two of the Punchestown Premiere Weekend at Punchestown Racecourse in Kildare.

Fact To File will be aiming to overcome Gaelic Warrior this time (Image credit: Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

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Watch on ITVX
Race Schedule

Boxing Day Racing ITVX: 12:30-3pm GMT
Watch all the action free and live on ITVX (UK restricted)
Travelling outside the UK? Use NordVPN to unlock your ITVX account

One of the biggest events of the National Hunt season is here, as Boxing Day horse racing takes place all over the country.

The big race of the day is the King George VI Chase (2:30pm GMT) at Kempton Park. Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File headline the main event as they rematch following the former’s narrow win at Punchestown in November. Don’t discount Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie either, who is expected to be strong in the market.

Elsewhere, one of the major talking points comes in the Christmas Hurdle (1:55pm GMT), as Sir Gino makes his eagerly anticipated return. The five-year-old hasn’t featured since defeating Ballyburn at Kempton last Christmas and will be aiming to overcome a relatively weak field this Friday.

The Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (1:20pm GMT), headed by Coral Cup winner Jimmy Du Seuil, and the Formby Novices’ Hurdle (1:05pm GMT) are two other big races to keep an eye on.

Here's our guide on how to watch Boxing Day horse racing on ITVX from anywhere in the world.

How to watch Boxing Day horse racing for free on ITVX

ITV's online streaming service, ITVX, will showcase six races on Boxing Day from Kempton Park, Ascot and Wetherby.

Coverage will be on the ITV1 channel on Friday, with coverage continuing on Saturday from Kempton and Chepstow respectively.

The best thing about ITVX's coverage is that you don't even need an ITVX subscription to watch live racing, you just need your email and a valid TV license and you're all set.

First time using ITVX? You can register for a free account or download the app to your mobile device.

Outside the UK for any racing? You can use NordVPN to reliably unlock your ITVX stream of this weekend's racing action from anywhere in the world.

How to watch ITVX's racing coverage from anywhere

ITVX will only be broadcasting live racing this Christmas to residents of the UK.

For you racing fans that are outside the UK you will need a VPN to access ITVX's broadcast.

There's a multitude of great VPN's on the market, but NordVPN is the one you can rely on to unlock ITVX's coverage of Boxing Day Horse Racing.

It's really simple to use a VPN to unblock your stream of ITVX's coverage this weekend.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're visiting Canada and want to watch your free ITVX stream, you'd select 'UK'.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to ITVX, sign in, and watch all the big races on Boxing Day.

Boxing Day Horse Racing ITVX Schedule

Danny Mullins riding Jimmy Du Seuil races ahead to win the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle during Day Two of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 12, 2025 in Cheltenham, England. Spectators are encouraged to dress up in their finery on Style Wednesday — Jimmy Du Seuil is aiming for a Grade One win at Kempton (Image credit: Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Boxing Day Horse Racing (All times in GMT):
All these races will be broadcast on ITVX. Races not shown are available on Racing TV.

Friday, 26 December
12:45pm - 2m 4 1/2f Ladbrokes Handicap Chase (KEMPTON)
1:05pm 2m William Hill Formby Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (AINTREE)
1:20pm 3m Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (KEMPTON)
1:35pm 3m William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (WETHERBY)
1:55pm 2m Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) (KEMPTON)
2:30pm 3m Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1) (KEMPTON)

What devices is ITVX available on?

You can use ITVX on all of the following devices and platforms:

Amazon Fire (Tablets, Cube, Stick, TVs)
Android TV (please note: some models aren’t supported)
Android (Mobile & Tablet) - Android 7.0 and above
Apple TV (tvOS 14 or later)
Google TV (Chromecast with Google TV and NVIDIA Shield)
Freely
Freesat (please note: some models aren’t supported)
Freeview Play (TVs and set-top boxes) (please note: some models aren’t supported)
iOS (iPhone & iPad) - iOS 14 and above
LG Smart TVs (2016-2024)
NOW Smart Sticks and Boxes (minimum firmware v11.5.0)
PlayStation (PS4 and PS5)
Roku (Stick & Roku-OS powered TVs, minimum firmware v11.5.0)
Samsung Smart TVs (2017 and above - 2016 models only offer on demand TV)
Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream puck
Virgin Media (360, Stream, TiVo)
YouView (BT, Humax, Sony, TalkTalk)
Xbox (One, Series X, Series S)

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Jacob is a journalist and editor based in the UK. He studied Specialist Sports Journalism at the University of Derby, graduating with First-Class Honours. He has contributed articles to Football League World and previously worked at Yeovil Town Football Club. Jacob’s expertise spans streaming services and sports, with a particular passion for football, cricket, and rugby union.

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