CHELTENHAM NH MEETING - NEW YEARS DAY 2018

Welcome to 2018, Happy New Year to you all.

We kick off the new year with the traditional January 1st meeting at Cheltenham, which will be the shown on ITV again so if it's cold out and you cannot get there, stay in the warm, finish off the last of the Xmas booze and chocolates and enjoy the jumpers in action. We have about ten weeks till the Cheltenham festival in March so each meeting should have it's own clues to the future, maybe not so much the big races but the handicaps will attract plenty of interest.

Today it's a 7 race card, the feature events are a pair of Grade 2 contests, the Dipper Novices Chase and the Relkeel Hurdle which are both run over 2m 4f.

Here are our selections for the New Year Day card;

12:15 -- 2m 4f 56y Novice Hurdle (Listed).

Happy New Year and we start the season at Cheltenham with a listed hurdle for novices, a field of 8 declared and headed by AINCHEA [2nd 4/1] trained by Colin Tizzard could be interesting having won on second start at Sandown. 

The Harry Fry stable are very strong and his ONEFORTHEROADTOM [5th 8/1] will also attract plenty of interest so we'll chance those two against the field and enjoy the start of the year.

12:50 -- 3m 2f 70y Handicap Chase.

Just the five declared for the handicap chase now, all could have a chance if they stand up but equally all come with some questions to answer. Top weight SOUTHFIELD THEATRE [Pulled Up 7/1] is useful but hasn't won for three years, this is probably his best chance to put that right. 

RUSSE BLANC [4th 10/3] should like these conditions and though unseated last time out if he can put in a clear round might give these most to think about.

13:25 -- 2m 4f 166y "The Dipper" Novices Chase (Grade 2).

Another small field for the first of our Grade 2 races, the novices go chasing and former Champion Hurdle favourite YANWORTH [WON 15/8F] will be of most interest to see if he'll take to this sphere. The dangers are all around and WILLOUGHBY COURT is unbeaten in his last five outings the last two being decent Novice Chases where he gave Yanworth a 3L beating at Newbury and deserves his chance in this grade.

14:00 -- 2m 4f 166y Handicap Chase (Grade 3).

Tricky chase follows next, of the nine declared not many you can discount although Top Gamble and Shantou Flyer will do well to carry their heavy weights in this ground and still challenge up the hill so preference is for QUITE BY CHANCE [5th 14/1] and THEINVAL [6th 11/1] against the field with both having a little break since being placed last time out the former only a couple of lengths down at Ascot.

14:35 -- 2m 7f 213y Handicap Hurdle.

ARTHUR'S GIFT [4th 7/2] / RED RISING [2nd 11/4] a pair against the field here though it's not a race to be too bothered with in personally is not that inspiring, keep your money for the next race.

15:10 -- 2m 4f 56y Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2).

Certainly nothing of the quality of Relkeel here but will be interesting enough with another good field lined up. Bryony Frost recently rode a Grade 1 over Christmas and gets on well with OLD GUARD [4th 9/2] and will also look towards COLIN'S SISTER [3rd 9/4] who is in receipt of all the weight concessions.

15:45 -- 1m 5f 209y Open NH Flat Race.

Concluding with a bumper, a decent one for it's level but hardly anything to go on so just reputation and yard I guess, ENA BAIE [4th 7/2] is of plenty of interest owned by JP McManus and trained by Harry Fry also in receipt of 7lb weight allowance. ACEY MILAN [WON 3/1] has some racecourse experience too and could put that to good use.

Results will be updated here later today, then we will be into the swing of things for 2018 with regular features from Kempton Park on Wednesday nights as well as all the cards at Pontefract, and the bigger festivals at Cheltenham, Aintree, Royal Ascot and Galway amongst others.