Best bets for the horseracing New Years Day 2024

HAPPY 2024!

2024 gets underway in the horse racing world with seven fixtures across Britain and Ireland, Southwell abandoned, including a Grade Two at Cheltenham. The tips for New Year's day are up nice and early allowing for the inevitable hangover in the morning! 

Best bets for the horseracing at Cheltenham

The first race I am involved with at Cheltenham is the 2.05 the Paddy Power New Year's Day Handicap Chase. Stage Star won over 2m4f here in November, tipped on here, and is the selection again for this. Hopefully he won't make a similar juddering mistake as he did at the last this time around; heart in the mouth stuff. The Ryanair at the Festival is the ultimate aim and the eight-year-old loves Cheltenham and loves going left-handed. Hills are the only ones odds-against and I have 11-10 with them. 

At 3.15 we have the Grade Two Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle. I tipped Maries Rock in the G.2 Long Distance Hurdle in December when she was fourth. That will have blown away the cobwebs and I think she can get back to winning ways here. I have 11-8. Bob Oilinger is the obvious danger. 

Best bet for the horseracing at Newcastle

The race of interest up in Geordieland is the 3.45 the mile BetMGM: It's Showtime Handicap. Ex Godolphin owned Symbol Of Light looked unlucky in running last time at Kempton over a mile and looks to have a good opportunity here. Relatively lightly raced still I wouldn't be surprised if the gelding leave his current mark of 97 behind over the coming months. I have the carpet 3-1. Tempus has a bog weight to shoulder but could get in the mix. 

Be lucky