Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing Tips
12:55 Cheltenham – Libberty Hunter
13:10 Musselburgh – Benson
13:30 Cheltenham – Cloudy Glen
14:05 Cheltenham – Stage Star
14:20 Musselburgh – Half Shot
14:40 Cheltenham – The Newest One
15:15 Cheltenham – Bob Olinger
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
12:55 Cheltenham – Libberty Hunter
Happy New Year! Hope you have a great 2024 people. ITV New Year’s Day gets under way here with a small field for a limited handicap chase over an extended 2m. A weak race. Should be some pace on here which will suit LIBBERTY HUNTER who can travel well when on a going day. He’s hard to predict but was impressive at Wincanton and although up 10lb if in the same mood might take some stopping again for Adam Wedge and Evan Williams. Tricky event.
13:10 Musselburgh – Benson
ITV also got to Scotland Monday for this handicap hurdle over 2m4f. BENSON goes well at the track and stays this distance well so should go well for Ryan Mania and Sandy Thomson. He’s been beaten off 139 and 137 this term and is down to 136 which gives him every chance of getting in the mix.
13:30 Cheltenham – Cloudy Glen
This is a handicap chase over an extended 3m1f. Inch House is improving and steps up in trip promising more. I’m happy to stick with CLOUDY GLEN who returned this season with a fine second at this track to Malina Girl. He wasn’t quite as good in the former Hennessy last time but was still a fair fifth behind Datsalrightgino and a repeat will make him hard to stop for the in form Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch.
14:05 Cheltenham – Stage Star
The big race of the day with a tiny field but beautifully sponsored in the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase over an extended 2m4f. Hard to get away from STAGE STAR was a brilliant winner of the fantastic Paddy Power Gold Cup and while up 11lb has more potential than most of these. This will be much tougher for Richmond Lake, and Al Dancer and Torn and Frayed need to improve although the latter travelled for a long way pretty well first time out this season against Stage Star and is much better off at the weights. That all said, Stage Star should just be in too good a shape for Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls.
14:20 Musselburgh – Half Shot
A handicap chase over an extended 2m4f. Competitive stuff. HALF SHOT stays better than most of these and was back to form last time when scoring over nearly 3m at this track. He’s a consistent sort and might be hard to peg back under Sean Quinlan and Iain Jardine.
- NEW TO PADDY POWER? PLACE A £5 BET ON SPORTS GET £20 IN FREE BETS!
14:40 Cheltenham – The Newest One
A handicap hurdle over 3m. This is a cracker. THE NEWEST ONE is edging up the handicap but stays strongly and has James Turner taking off 7lb which makes him interesting. Turner was on top when the pair were second at this track to Buddy One in November and there selection has since scored at Chepstow in style. An eachway chance for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies-Davies and probably my main eachway bet of the day.
15:15 Cheltenham – Bob Olinger
Up in class for the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle over an extended 2m4f. A poor renewal. BOB OLINGER once looked a star here when taking the Ballymore but he’s been lightly raced since and mixed chasing with hurdling. He was back hurdling at Navan last time and scored in style so should take all the beating for Rachel Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead.
So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?
New Year’s Day Racing Tips
12:55 Cheltenham – Libberty Hunter
13:10 Musselburgh – Benson
13:30 Cheltenham – Cloudy Glen
14:05 Cheltenham – Stage Star
14:20 Musselburgh – Half Shot
14:40 Cheltenham – The Newest One
15:15 Cheltenham – Bob Olinger
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
FANCY SOME MORE?
- Mick Fitzgerald’s got 7 super selections forITV’s races
- A MEGA 25/1 shot tops Paul Jacobs’ value plays on Monday
- Timeform take you through the January 1 Cheltenham card with a punt for EVERY race
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
