New Years Day Horse Racing Tips for Cheltenham and Musselburgh

12:55 Cheltenham

The first of five live races from Cheltenham is the 12:55, a handicap chase restricted to the novices over an extended 2 miles.

I like PETIT TONNERE (11/4) here. His two market rivals, both winners last time out have taken a 9lb and 10lb rise respectively so further improvement is required. The selection has run well in his first two Chase starts finishing second here on debut before a solid 4th at Grade 1 level last time out in the Henry VIII. This is a significant drop in class and he ought to be going close off a mark of 138. He was the best hurdler out of this lot and that included a 6 length defeat in the County Hurdle back in March 2023.

 

1:10 Musselburgh

The first of two live races from Musselburgh is the 1:10, a handicap hurdle over 2m4f.

It’s AFADIL (9/2) I like in this contest. He’s effectively running off 7lb than his last time out third at Taunton with Freddie Gingell taken 5lb off to go with the 2lb drop in the handicap. That was a step back in the right direction and he returns to Musselburgh where he’s won before. The favourite In This World was a serious eye-catcher last time out but you can’t be sure he’ll be ridden to win here so has to be avoided.

 

1:30 Cheltenham

The 1:30 from Cheltenham is a handicap chase over the extended 3m1f trip.

It’s INCH HOUSE (7/4) I like in this. He’s a chaser on a serious upward curve and I think he can go in again off 7lb higher than last time. He’s won his last two starts at Newbury but he’s won them both quite decisively. His market rival Cloudy Glen is now 11 and can’t be improving and Stumptown has lost his way. Inch House comes here in the best form and is the horse open to most improvement. That combination will do for me.

 

2:05 Cheltenham 

Next up is another handicap chase, this time over the extended 2m4f.

It’s STAGE STAR (Evens) for me here. He has to give plenty of weight away here but he’s a Grade 1 level performer at his ideal course and distance. He won the Paddy Power Gold Cup here when last seen and an 11lb rise in the weights was justified. If he can get into a nice jumping rhythm again from the front, he’ll be a tough nut to crack despite the burden of 12 stone.

 

2:20 Musselburgh

We head back to Musselburgh for the 2:20, a handicap chase over the extended 2m4f.

It’s HALF SHOT (5/1) NB for me here. He was a good second on seasonal return at Kelso and he looked to be travelling as well as anything before coming down at the canal turn in the Grand Sefton. He put that right with a decisive 7 length victory here at Musselburgh last time out. That was over further but there’s plenty of pace on here and with the ground soft, this could be a decent test at the trip. That’ll certainly suit Half Shot.

 

2:40 Cheltenham

The 2:40 is a handicap hurdle over the 3 mile trip.

It’s IKARAK (12/1) EW for me here. This will be a decent test over 3 miles on deep ground and the selection hasn’t been stopping when winning his last two starts over 2m7f at Worcester and 2m6f at Newcastle. That last effort was impressive, he made all on heavy ground and didn’t look to be stopping. He carries a feather weight here with Bradley Harris claiming 5lb to run off 10’1. He’ll sit prominently which more often that not, is the place to be here at Cheltenham.

 

3:15 Cheltenham

The feature race is the final race live on ITV. Only four are set to run in it, the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle over an extended 2m4f.

It’s hard to get away from MARIE’S ROCK (11/8) NAP in my opinion. She won this well on her seasonal return last season and similar conditions await. I’d be hopeful she’d come on for her comeback run at Newbury over 3 miles last time out and with the duo of James Bowen and Nicky Henderson in fine fettle, they can have another ITV winner to start the year.

 

£40 in Free Bets for Cheltenham on New Years Day

1 Join CopyBet via this special offer link

2 Bet £10 on a race

3 Get a £10 free bet for EACH of the next 4 races

e.g. join and bet £10 on the 12.55pm

• You get a £10 free bet for the 1.30pm
• £10 free bet for the 2.05pm
• £10 free bet for the 2.40pm
• £10 free bet for the 3.15pm

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