With the New Year fast approaching we are spoilt for choice with nine meetings due to take place in Britain unless bad weather puts a halt to any. In this blog we will wet your appetite and go through some of what the day has to offer. Whether that’s a day on the sofa or a day out at the races for you.
First to look at is Cheltenham where there’s a seven race card where the highlight is the Grade 2 Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle run over two and a half miles. Heading the 9 runner contest is Golden Ace trained by Jeremy Scott. This seven year old mare had an extremely impressive campaign last term winning four races on the bounce (two of them here). She picked up the Mares Novice Hurdle at the festival beating the very talented Brighterdaysahead of Gordon Elliotts.
Making her seasonal return in the Ascot Hurdle where she was 4th of 5 should’ve blown away some cobwebs and look to gain her revenge on an reopposing rival who we will now look at.
Lucky Place trained by the in form Nicky Henderson stable will be locking horns again with Golden Ace. This 6 year old gelding was two lengths ahead at Ascot so will be looking to back that up again. It was also a seasonal debut for this one but come New Years Day he will carry a 6lb penalty as well as conceding 4lb to Golden Ace being a gelding. No doubt connections will be confident with more rain forecast between now and race day.
Willie Mullins is due to travel with Gala Marceau. This 5 year old mare will be glad to not be chasing down stablemate Lossiemouth for once. She had a rather frustrating season last term getting beat at odds on twice in small runner fields both sides of the pond but if you go back to 2023 she won two Grade 1 races so you can’t question her ability. Getting 3lbs from Golden Ace if anyone can get a horse back to its best it would be Willie Mullins so don’t lose faith with this mare.
Current Betting for this event at the leading non UK casinos is Golden Ace 2/1, Lucky Place 10/3, Gala Mareau 10/3, Salver 11/2, Langer Dan 7/1 and 12/1 bar.
Other races on the card see Coral Gold Cup (previously called the Hennessy) runner up Broadway Boy running, as well as Paul Nicholls’s star in his eye Kalif Du Berlais but you’d have to be worried about the yard’s current form.
Time of the 1st race from Prestbury Park is 12.20pm.
Other meetings on the day are from:
Musselburgh 12.35 – 15.30pm 6 races
Southwell 11.54 – 15.24pm 7 races
Fakenham 11.45 – 15.10pm 7 races
Exeter 13.00 – 15.55pm 6 races
Catterick 12.45 – 15.39pm 6 races
Fairyhouse 12.10 – 15.35pm 7 races
Tramore 12.00 – 15.25pm 7 races
Newcastle AW 13.49 – 17.10pm 7 races
Wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
