Welcome to Noel Michaels’ Weekend Winners, the place to go for weekend best bets and spot plays from veteran handicapper and tournament-play pioneer Noel Michaels. Check back every week for a couple of highlighted selections designed to help you cash a few bets and make some money.
Cheltenham Top Rated Friday 12th December
Cheltenham Top Rated Friday 12th December
Cheltenham 12.05
5 OLD PARK STAR 147.7
9 KINGSTON QUEEN 120.5
2 LISBANE PARK 80.
3 MINELLA MARATHON 69.2
Cheltenham 12.40
1 SIXMILEBRIDGE 375.2
4 TINTINTIN 113.2
2 CALIFET EN VOL 104.0
3 ROYAL INFANTRY 104.2
Cheltenham 13.15
4 FORTUNE DE MER 148.8
1 IBERICO LORD 98.7
7 LELOOPA 63.8
8 FRENCH EMPEROR 55.8
Cheltenham 13.50
1 L’HOMME PRESSE 127.0
5 THE DOYEN CHIEF 85.0
6 KING TURGEON 64.8
8 THE SHORT GO 53.2
Cheltenham 14.25
1 ELDORADO ALLEN 157.3
7 WHISTLEINTHEDARK 144.7
2 FUGITIF 96.5
5 COURTLAND 86.0
Cheltenham 15.00
3 MISTER COFFEY 119.7
4 LATENIGHTPASS 72.5
8 ICEO MADRIK 69.3
6 BUSSELTON 60.0
Cheltenham 15.35
6 LUCKY MANIFEST 103.2
1 LONG DRAW 99.3
3 KYNTARA 86.2
7 TRANQUIL SEA 60.8
Where to Watch/Listen: Horse Racing Coverage Dec. 11-14
The upcoming weekend in horse racing is highlighted by an influential prep race for the 2026 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve in California and the opening of one of horse racing’s most popular tracks, Oaklawn Park.
Rookie Rankings for Dec. 9: Leading 2026 Kentucky Derby Contenders
In recent years, the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct has produced Kentucky Derby top-three finishers Sierra Leone (second in 2024) and Zandon (third in 2022), a pair of Grade 1 winners trained by Chad Brown.
