Hi all,
Happy New Year!
I haven’t wanted a year to end as much as the last one. A true annus horribilis. That’s behind us now and I’m ready to get stuck into 2026.
The Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle (2.35) tops a seven-race card at Cheltenham. Expect the track’s biggest crowd outside the Festival. It may be the classiest race of the day, but the most valuable contest is the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (2.00), worth £56,950 to the winner.
ITV Racing will show four races live from Cheltenham. They also cover two from Musselburgh, where the Class 2 Auld Reekie Handicap Chase (2.15) is the feature, and they’ve added a race from Windsor to the programme.
Across the Irish Sea, the Grade 3 New Year’s Day Chase (2.15) headlines Irish racing's New Year's Day action.
Dual Grade 1 winner Champ Kiely slipped up in the Savills Chase 4 days ago. I really fancied him there and although he must give weight to most of his rivals including 6lb to the useful Heart Wood who was fourth in the Grade 1 John Durkan last time. I’ll take Champ Kiely to give weight away and win this.
Dry weather means Cheltenham will race on good ground. That’s a sharp contrast to 12 months ago when conditions were soft. However, a cold snap is on the way. It looks set to arrive this weekend and could linger well into next week.
Saturday brings the Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final at Sandown. The race has been lost to the weather in each of the last two years. Will it be third time lucky?
So, make the most of the New Year’s Day action on turf. Opportunities may be limited over the coming week. It might be time to dust off the all-weather form books.
Cheltenham
1.25 – Excello and Does He Know are the two I’m most interested in. Both will enjoy the drying ground. Excello’s trainer has won this race three times in the last ten years, but I do have stamina concerns at 3m1f. That swings me towards the veteran Does He Know. He’s a four-time Cheltenham winner and stays further.
2.00 – I’m sticking with last year’s winner and runner-up, Moon d’Orange and Grandeur d’Ame.
2.35 – Kabral Du Mathan wins for me. If he does, the general 10/1 about the Stayers’ Hurdle won’t last long. A comfortable success here and I can see him being close to 5/2 for the Cheltenham race.
3.10 – The booking of Sean Bowen for Double Powerful, back over hurdles, takes the eye. Ace Of Spades has a favourite’s chance. However, I’ll take a chance with recent winner Love Of Neymore. If she gets an uncontested lead, she looks overpriced for a small but in form yard.
Musselburgh
1.40 – Wise Eagle goes so well here and the step up to 2m4f over hurdles can suit this classy stayer on the Flat. Chanonry Point comes from a yard that has won this race twice in the last four years and she’s another who can improve for today’s extra distance.
2.15 – The Kalooki Kid was a good winner over C&D in February and is a fair favourite. I’d be more interested at 3/1+, but 9/4 feels short enough. Insurrection goes well right-handed and is the pick at the prices, ahead of handicap chase debutant Jet To Vegas, who should also be suited by going this direction.
Windsor
2.50 – Guard Duty went straight into the tracker after his return at Newbury. Gavin Sheehan will likely drop him in and, while I’d prefer a bit more juice in the ground, he should get the strong gallop he needs. I do like the booking of Toby McCain-Mitchell for Act Of Authority and he’s tempting, but he’ll also be held up. I’ll side with Guard Duty.
I’m not sure I’ll be doing a Friday column. If not, I’ll be back on Saturday to look at the Sandown and Wincanton action on ITV, assuming they survive the frost.
All the best,
John