AUTHOR: Star Sports Content
STAR RACING PREVIEW: New Year’s Day 2026
Happy New Year to one and all reading, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.
The racing year starts with a bang as a big crowd will head to the Cotswolds for Cheltenham’s traditional New Year card, whilst there’s a strong meeting at Windsor, which is new to the calendar and plenty of interesting action at Tramore to boot also.
Some races from Cheltenham are previewed below, although they don’t include the Reelkeel Hurdle (2.35), where Kabral Du Mathan is a short price to beat Nicky Henderson’s chasers returning to hurdling in the shape of Jingko Blue and Lucky Place, with The Real Whacker and Gowel Road further behind in the betting. Kabral Du Mathan has a huge amount of promise going forward but he’s priced accordingly and we should learn more about him this afternoon here in a race to watch.
In the 2m4f Premier Handicap Chase (2.00) a case can be made for the whole field here. If Sean Bowen can get Glengouly into the same rythmn he did here in December, then 3lbs is a lenient raise for that, but one would expect more pace pressure early on. The best handicapped horse on his form here may be Il Ridoto with Freddie Keighley on his back taking off 7lbs but he was below form in the December Gold Cup and Twinjets probably is a better chance for the yard in a race that might just be best left. Just Over Land, 2-2 at Fontwell and Chepstow, is arguably the most progressive contender here, although he’s out of the handicap.
The staying handicap hurdle is also a good contest where it was impossible to separate Ace of Spades and Ma Shantou (3.10), so selections come in the other races along with two from Tramore.
Harry Skelton enjoyed a tremendous 2025 and he’s got a strong book of rides to start this year, as the title chasing Skelton team have runners at three courses. Click below for his thoughts on their runners!
Last but never least, if you want to watch the Irish action from Fairyhouse and Tramore, just click below – Racing TV have kindly provided a free stream!
⭐ STAR SPORTS RACING MARKETS ⭐
12:05 Tramore – David Flynn Construction Maiden Hurdle (5yo+) 2m1f
Gordon Elliott ended 2025 in truly stunning form and he could kickstart 2026 with another victory over Willie Mullins with Stede Bonnet in the opener at Tramore. Bar one failure at Galway in August, he’s never been out of the first two and it’s possible he bumped into a top class prospect when second to Upon Tweed at Ayr a month ago. He has a puncher’s chance against favourite Arslan for the Mullins/Townend combination and makes more appeal of the top pairing.
12:50 Cheltenham – (New) Ellenborough Park Hotel ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) 2m4½f (2m4f127y)
A small but select field for a useful novice chase where the vote goes to Califet En Vol to upset Regent’s Stroll. Regent’s Stroll looked more tractable at Wincanton after going wild on his chase debut at Newbury but he faces a more useful rival here in the shape of Califet En Vol, who travelled with zest on his chasing debut over course and distance here in November before fitness told after he made a race-ending mistake at the second last. There ought to be more to come from him today and he shaped with tremendous promise over hurdles, when second to The New Lion before taking the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon, and not seeing out 3m at Aintree when he got injured mid race. At the prices he’s worth giving a chance today.
Eagle Fang defied poor market vibes at Thurles on his chase debut having been a useful hurdler and he’s respected coming here. Miami Magic hasn’t shaped well in the jumping department so far and Knight of Allen has a big task on ratings despite a solid success at Newbury.
1:25 Cheltenham – Betfair Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+ 0-150) 3m1½f (3m1f56y)
Since a wide margin win in the Old Racing Post Chase at Kempton, Katate Dori hasn’t hit those heights again but he surely wasn’t right in the Ultima and his reappearance run over hurdles was just a tune-up for the Coral Gold Cup, where he ran with credit to finish sixth. He’s dropped a couple of pounds for that effort and arguably takes a drop in class here, so a repeat of that form or better will give him a fighting chance off 135, a mark that should be within his range base on last season’s form.
The booking of Sean Bowen on Shannon Royale is interesting on his first start since leaving Gordon Elliott, and market support for Inch House would be interesting given his best figures second-place finish off 8lb higher in this race two years ago. Herakles Westwood has been on the premise of landing a contest like this and is the main threat although Jasmin De Grugy was sent off a short price for the Rehearsal last time and might still have more to offer.
2:25 Tramore – Betfair Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+ 0-150) 2m7f (2m6f170y)
An interesting renewal of the New Year’s Day Chase, with only 8lbs separating the field on ratings and plenty having something to prove, although a case can be made for nearly all the field here. Heart Wood didn’t look to run to his best in the John Durkan when he had a run under his belt but beforehand he’d won on his seasonal reappearance and finished second in the Ryanair at Cheltenham. Getting 6lbs from Champ Kiely, who clipped heels in the Savills, he’s been given a fine chance at the weights here and the better form of the Henry de Bromhead team now compared to late November is encouraging.
2:50 Windsor – Fitzdares New Year’s Day Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) 2m4f (2m6f170y)
A chance is taken on Wellington Arch being ready to rock and roll but if that’s the case, then few will have better claims. He led from start to finish in a hotly contested Premier Handicap at the Grand National meeting and may have bettered that form when a very creditable third at the Punchestown Festival to boot. Going up just 3lbs for that is fair, this track should suit, the ground will be no problem and there’s still everything to like for a lightly raced contender with arguably the best form, albeit in an uber competitive race.
RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Stede Bonnet to win the 12.05 Tramore 1 pt at 6/4 (⭐
CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Califet En Vol to win the 12.50 Cheltenham 1 pt at 11/4 (⭐
CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Katate Dori to win the 1.25 Cheltenham 1 pt at 9/2 (⭐
CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Heart Wood to win the 2.25 Tramore 1 pt at 7/4 (⭐
CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Wellington Arch to win the 2.50 Windsor 1 pt at 4/1 (⭐
CLICK TO BET NOW)
PROFIT/LOSS (JAN 2026): 0.00 points
STAR PROMOTIONS
Most Read
SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Ascot Friday
There was plenty of room to rattle...
SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Fontwell Sunday
It’s been a while since I’ve...
SIMON NOTT BETTING BLOG: Ascot Saturday
Back at Ascot today, the crowd was...
