A Very Happy New Year to all viewers of the is page. I hope you’ve all will celebrate wisely and responsibly today with a few winners to pocket the first round of drinks of the year. Today we’re back at Cheltenham for some more competitive action, weather permitting. Let’s make it a winning start to 2025
Power Through The Year
1:30 – Betfair Handicap Chase – Our Power @ 100/30 (BetVictor)
Our Power ran a fantastic race at this venue last time out when placing 3L second to the hat-trick achieving King Turgeon in December. He still looks to be on a competitive mark with the talented conditional Dylan Johnston taking a further three pounds off. With rain expected to cover the country, including Prestbury Park, over New Year’s Night the conditions may pave to be beneficial for Sam Thomas’ ten-year-old.
Major Return
2:05 – Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier H’cap) – Colonel Harry @ 7/2 (General)
Colonel Harry couldn’t replicate what Datsalrightgino could do in the Coral Gold Cup previously. But, stepped back to a more comfortable two-and-a-half miles may bring out the better in him. He falls sharply in the handicap and this looks to be more at this level. The last time he raced at Cheltenham was in a Grade One contest, but it’s clear that he was aiming too high. This is a perfect opportunity.
Dan Skelton has won this race twice in the past ten years. And on a big raceday like this, a winner from his stable would not go amiss. Midnight River won here on this card two years ago. He’s now three pounds higher than that mark and without many of the regulars in a Cheltenham two-and-a-half mile contest, he can run into the places. 10/1 (General).
New Year Fireworks
2:40 – Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle – One Big Bang @ 3/1 (Unibet)
The combination of Harry Cobden and James Owen is one that cannot be ignored. When the best jockey rides one of his talented hurdlers, it usually comes out on top. One Big Bang enjoys soft ground and performed admirably at Haydock previously in a race that cut up and finished well ahead of the rest. More soft ground is expected and he can go one better.
From that same race Catch Him Derry ran too quickly off the sharp bend at Haydock. Ignore that run and look back at previous form when winning on soft ground at Ayr back in April. He’s due a big performance and we didn’t see the best of him on the cut up ground that Haydock produces, and on a galloping track it might be better suited. 5/1 (General).
Salivating
3:15 – Relkeel Hurdle (Grade Two) – Salver @ 5/2 (Boylesports)
Last year’s Festival saw Salver place behind two Grade One winners in Majborough and Kargese on soft ground in the Triumph Hurdle. His best performance came at around this time last year in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow on deep ground too. Handicap company didn’t help him first time out, even though he was admirable in fourth, and graded company will bring the best out of him.
The Very Best of Luck!
