While everyone else immerses themselves in the festivities; race-goers must feign delight with their new X-Box, make the right noises about the giant Turkey and act as if they’re enjoying the gallons of alcohol that’s thrown in their direction.

The ordinary person on the street might pinpoint the 25th of December as one of the highlights of the year, but for a punter it’s an awful, monotonous and frustrating day before one of the greatest feasts of the sport of kings.

Santa Claus may have already come and gone, but still there’ll be plenty of enthusiasts going to bed that night thinking -“Just one more sleep”.

Christmas simply wouldn’t be Christmas without popping out to one of the four top-class days of racing in Leopardstown with great intentions of winning back the present money or paying for the next night out.

And what would St Stephen’s Day be without nursing a hangover, a vague recollection of a mass family row and seeing Kauto Star strut his stuff around Kempton Racecourse?

But just like a kid reminding himself of his Christmas list before the big day; it’s difficult to know what to be most excited about.

On the home front Big Zeb is sure to prove popular in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase, and the planned seasonal appearance of Champion Hurdle victor Hurricane Fly in the Christmas Hurdle has been the subject of much interest in the past few days. Despite the retirement of antepost favourite Denman, the Lexus looks to be a strong and comeptitive renewal featuring numerous Grade One winners as Quito de la Roque seeks a sixth-straight win en route to the Gold Cup.

Meanwhile across the sea Kempton hosts two of the most fascinating novice chases to be run this season in the form of the Feltham and the Wayward Lad Chase. In the former the talented Grand Crus takes on last year’s Cheltenham Festival winner Bobs Worth, while the latter showcase the mouth watering clash of last term’s top-level hurdlers Peddlers Cross, Menorah and Sprinter Sacre.

But arguably the festive highlight, the toy at the top of the wish-list; is the King George VI Chase. Kempton’s showpiece is a race steeped in history and has been won by some of the most celebrated and loved chasers of all-time.

Kauto Star’s attempt to win the race for an unprecedented fifth time in-a-row was ill-fated when the race was rescheduled to last January and won by the exciting Long Run. But his trainer Paul Nicholls maintains that the 11-year-old is in better form this time around, and after getting the better of that rival in emotional scenes at Haydock Kauto will not be short of supporters as he bids to regain his crown.

If the amount of action of offer seems dizzying don’t worry, Mark your Card will appear every day during the festivals to point you in the way of a winner or two. We need to pay back the credit card bill some way after all.

Follow Mark on Twitter at @josehobbs