Horse Racing tips: Our Pundits’ Glorious Cheat Sheet for ITV Racing on New Year’s Day

MILLERS BANK was poor when unseating rider at Newbury last time. That said, the Alex Hales-trained gelding would probably have won that day without the accident and he clearly has loads of ability. I’ll take the chance Harry Bannister gets a good tune.

I think a drop in trip here might suit OSCAR ELITE. He handles bad ground, as he won his first two hurdles starts on heavy ground.  While the Tizzard yard form is a huge concern, a double figure price will definitely tempt me in.

I wouldn’t oppose L’HOMME PRESSE. I actually think he’ll be a better horse going left handed as he jumped out to his left all the way at Ascot. I think going left at Cheltenham will suit him and I couldn’t oppose him.

My selection is MILLERS BANK but you may be watching from behind the sofa. I feel this lad should come with a health warning for punters. He is talented and he is proven on a soft surface.  I think he is the best of these but you are taking a gamble on his jumping.

L’HOMME PRESSE has made an excellent start over fences, maintaining his 100% record with plenty to spare at Ascot on his latest start in December. He gets the nod to continue the good work now tackling this higher grade.

KAVANAGHS CROSS has been dropped 1lb despite winning last time and now gets Angus Cheleda taking 5lb off so is technically 6lb better in. That said, I’m not absolutely sure he’s a strong stayer but it gives him a chance each-way at the very least. 

STONERS CHOICE has form on soft ground and I feel back at this trip he will be better suited. He ran very well at Kempton and is still handicapped to be bang there.

KAVANAGHS CROSS has a steadily progressive profile since moving to Iain Jardine and can add to last month’s Kelso maiden success despite being 2lb out of the weights here.

This might be the day for ZANZA to come through late. All he needs is for there to be a strong pace – if he gets that it’s hard to see him out of the frame.

SIMPLY THE BETTS is 2-2 on the new course in Cheltenham. I’d be surprised if Nicholls couldn’t get a decent handicap out of him off with the mark he’s on. 14/1 would look a cracking price to me.

Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch are having a great season and I think FUNAMBULE SIVOLA is better than 155. There’s a race in him off that mark.

Philip Hobbs has his team in very good form and they have stuck cheek pieces on ZANZA and I’m hoping that might just sharpen him up , along with the fact that we have softer ground. Coole Cody is a solid alternative but I am happy to stick with Zanza.

Venetia Williams’ upwardly-mobile FUNAMBULE SIVOLA looks the way to go given he resumed with a promising second in Huntingdon’s Peterborough Chase and is attractively weighted back in handicap company.

FIRST IMPRESSION was 5-4 off this mark at this track last time but jumped badly and unseated rider early. Obviously he will have to leap much better here and this is tougher but he gets plenty of weight from the other fancied runners and should go well.

TOMMY’S OSCAR is quite progressive. Trainer Ann Hamilton is very good despite only having a small string. She is operating at a 35% strike rate this season so that’s good enough for me.

John McConnell’s horses are in good form so it’s ANNA BUNINA for me. The run in the Scottish Champion Hurdle behind Milkwood was really good so we’re taking it on trust that she’s ready enough.

Tommy’s Oscar and CHRISTOPHER WOOD met at Kelso but on very different terms. Paul Nicholls charge is 2lbs better off. Chuck In the fact that Christopher Wood has run twice at the track and won both times so I’m siding with him.

TOMMY’S OSCAR continues to go from strength-to-strength for Ann Hamilton and is fancied to defy top weight and rattle off his hat-trick.

AL BOUM PHOTO is the forgotten horse of the Gold Cup field and my advice is back him for Cheltenham today before he hacks up here. At 16-1 he’s still a great each-way bet and if you have to take 14-1 take that.

AL BOUM PHOTO is going for his fourth win in this race and despite the fact that he probably isn’t quite as good as he was, he should prove too good for these here.

We’ve had a dry autumn so AL BOUM PHOTO hasn’t run as of yet he looks to be in really good form at home but he’s going to be that kind of price. I wouldn’t put anyone off backing him each-way for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. I’d prefer to back him for the Gold Cup before he runs at Tramore.

This race is firmly established as AL BOUM PHOTO’s Cheltenham Gold Cup aperitif, and he should have little trouble in winning it for the fourth consecutive season before attempting to regain his Gold Cup crown in March.

ASK DILLON is a stronger stayer than most and has been dropped 1lb after his third at the track last time. That might not be enough to allow him to score here, but he should still run well so I’ll go with him each-way.

BOTOX HAS proved he stays 3m when second to Kansas City Chief on his first start at 3m. He’s up 3lbs but unexposed at 3m and with the ground in his favour, he looks to have solid each way claims.

Now they know BOTOX HAS stays after fishing second over 3m last time out, they’ll be a bit more positive with him and not be thinking about the trip. I think he’s the most likely improver in the field.

Fergal O’Brien is fast approaching 100 winners for the season and ART APPROVAL went up 8lb for winning at the track last time. He was value for a lot more than the winning distance after a blunder at the last. He has form on heavy ground so that is not an issue.

SPIRITOFTHEGAMES’ strike rate will put a few off but from a handicapping perspective he has been given a massive chance back over hurdles so at the forecast odds, he is worth siding with.

I’m amazed we haven’t seen MCFABULOUS over fences yet as he’s a great big beast built like a chaser. I presume he’s schooled badly. What we do know is that he’s a pretty talented hurdler on a going day and he could well be hard to beat for the champion Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden.

BREWINUPASTORM’s return to hurdles last season proved fruitful, winning a Taunton handicap in a canter off 148 and then easily accounting for McFabulous in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell. No reason MacFabulous should reverse here.

STORMY IRELAND has a great chance here. The opposition’s style of running will suit as she likes to go along at the front. She never got going at Fairyhouse. I think with that run under her belt she’ll be able to dictate things here.

MCFABULOUS has had a wind op since disappointing at Aintree. He got in a real muddle that day and made two real howlers as he he was trapped on the inside. I am happy to take a punt on him turning the tables on Brewinupastorm with a trouble free round.

BREWIN’UPASTORM looked better than ever when winning on his Aintree reappearance and is fancied to confirm his National Spirit superiority over McFabulous, who took this race last season (at Kempton).