Christmas Sporting Highlights

Will Jose still be top come 2015?

Plenty of sport to keep us all busy over the festive period. Alex Johnson rounds up the best of it.

Festive cheer, glad tidings and a season of goodwill to all men.

Christmas is upon us and with it comes an abundance of food, drink and horrible jumpers. Luckily, the Christmas season also provides us with a stocking- full of top-class sport.

From Alexandra Palace to Kempton Park, the stars are coming to entertain us. We preview some of the highlights over the coming days.

The Premier League is going into festive overdrive with three rounds of fixtures taking place in seven days. Man City have whittled Chelsea's advantage down in recent weeks and it is going to be interesting to see if the champions can overhaul the long-time leaders.

Chelsea get the party started on Boxing Day when they welcome fourth placed West Ham to Stamford Bridge. Can Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho shoot down Mourinho's men in what should be a cracking London derby?

We should know a lot more about Chelsea's title credentials after they come through a testing week. After West Ham they face away days at Southampton and Spurs.

The Saints got back on track with a convincing weekend win over Everton while Tottenham head into Christmas with back-to-back league wins and a Capital One Cup semi final secured. Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping for more consistency heading into 2015.

City travel to West Brom on Boxing Day while neighbours United square off with Newcastle at Old Trafford.

In the evening game, QPR head to Arsenal looking to translate their winning form at Loftus Road across London. Rangers have lost their last seven games on the road but have climbed out of the relegation zone thanks largely to Charlie Austin's goals.

Given the Gunners creaky defence perhaps Harry Redknapp's side will fancy their chances of an upset if the in-form striker can add to his tally of 11 league goals.

After Boxing Day, we have just 48 hours to wait for another bumper day of football. Sunday brings an afternoon of delights for the armchair fan starting at midday with Spurs versus Man Utd at White Hart Lane.

Harry Kane has been the man for Spurs in recent weeks while Louis van Gaal's side were unable to secure a seventh straight win at Villa Park.

Talk of a title challenge coming from the Old Trafford side was surely premature and the United boss is likely to be much more concerned with maintaining a place in the top four.

Brendan Rodgers was full of praise for the manner in which Liverpool battled back to hold Arsenal and the Reds could be upwardly mobile over Christmas with games against Burnley, Swansea and Leicester.

After the bells have rung in a New Year we can look forward to that clash of Spurs and Chelsea to bring the curtain down on another action packed day.

Arsenal's trip to Southampton and Man City versus Sunderland are other highlights on the New Year's Day programme.

Like tinsel, wrapping paper and jumbo boxes of Roses, the World Darts Championship has become a part of Christmas.

Alexandra Palace will be jammed to the rafters each night from the 27th right up until the final on Sunday January 4th as Michael van Gerwen attempts to defend his crown.

The brilliant Dutchman should have multiple world titles in him but no one will be to dominate the sport in the manner Phil Taylor has during his glittering career.

The Power has been back to his best in recent months - winning at the Grand Slam last month - but everyone knows Taylor's insatiable desire is for a 17th world title.

Taylor and van Gerwen are the favourites but the Alexandra Palace extravaganza is by no means a two-horse race.

Gary Anderson has shown glimpses of his best form but the Flying Scotsman must prove he has nerve to hit the all important doubles when the pressure is on.

After missing out on the Premier League James Wade has got a point to prove and the left-hander is capable of knocking out anyone on his day.

Stephen Bunting made the move from the BDO and if the outgoing Lakeside champion can negotiate his first round match he will set up arguably the tie of the second against Wade on Monday 29th.

A potential third round match between two former world champions Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld could bring the house down on Tuesday 30th before the tournament resumes at the quarter final stage on January 1st.

Can anyone stop Taylor and van Gerwen or will the tops seeds clash in a dream finale?

There is of course no shortage of top class racing with the main focus on the big meetings at Kempton and Leopardstown on either side of the Irish Sea.

Some of the leading fancies for the Cheltenham Festival will be putting their credentials on the line.

On Boxing Day it will be a case of strapping in for a rollercoaster 45 minutes as Faugheen, Silviniaco Conti, Champagne Fever and Vautour go to post in their various festive outings.

Willie Mullins is sending his Champion Hurdle favourite Faugheen to Kempton for the Christmas Hurdle while leading Arkle prospect Vautour remains at home.

The New One will not be availing of this opportunity to meet the unbeaten Faugheen for the first time but the presence of Paul Nicholls' Fighting Fifth winner Irving is going to ensure the Irish raider is given a genuine challenge.

The on-going rivalry between Hurricane Fly and Jezki will have its latest dust-up in Leopardstown's Ryanair Hurdle on December 29th.

Hurricane Fly unexpectedly turned the tables on his younger rival last month but surely it is a Christmas fairytale too far that he can grab a 21st Grade One victory against the reigning Champion Hurdler?

Back at Kempton on Boxing Day and Silviniaco Conti gets his opportunity to retain the King George.

His trainer hinted this week he does not want to see the ground drying out too much, Team Ditcheat will be waiting hard on the gift of rain as the rest of us look out for Santa Claus.

Colin Tizzard again gives Cue Card the chance to prove he has the stamina to land a Grade One prize over three-miles.

Having travelled like the winner for a long way in the race a year ago, will he and his new partner Daryl Jacob be able to see it out to the line this time around or could Ireland's champion trainer take the prize with Champagne Fever?

While Mullins tries to export the prize money from Kempton to the Emerald Isle, Nicky Henderson will be looking to secure the euros in the Lexus Chase, the jewel in Leopardstown's four-day crown.

Bobs Worth was at his brilliant best when taking the prize a year ago but faces new challengers in Boston Bob and Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere. Sam Winner, twice victorious already this winter, is also Lexus-bound.

A thrilling week coming up on all fronts - like the promise of cold turkey sandwiches in the coming days we are guaranteed some top notch sport over the festive season.