Cheltenham Racing Tips For ITV Racing On New Year’s Day 2024

See the SportsLens New Year’s Day ITV Racing Tips as the 2024 kicks off in style with FIVE races coming live from Cheltenham, so read on to see Kyle Curran’s 1-2-3 best bets for all of the action. 

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Cheltenham Schedule For ITV Racing On New Year’s Day

• 12:55 Cheltenham – 2m½f (2m62y) (New) Close Brothers Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3) – Matata @ 2/1
• 1:30 Cheltenham – 3m1½f (3m1f56y) (New) Paddy Power Handicap Chase (Class 2) – Angels Breath @ 9/2
• 2:05 Cheltenham – 2m4½f (2m4f127y) (New) Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase (Class 1)  – Stage Star @ EVS
• 2:40 Cheltenham – 3m (2m7f213y) (New) Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – Springwell Bay @ 7/2
• 3:15 Cheltenham – 2m4½f (2m4f56y) (New) Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Class 1) – Bob Olinger @ 11/8

Cheltenham ITV Racing Tips On New Year’s Day

12:55 Cheltenham – 2m½f (2m62y) (New) Close Brothers Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3) 

SportsLens (Kyle Curran) 1-2-3 Tips: MATATA was mightily impressive when winning on chase debut back in October at Ffos Las, storming to a 10 length success and connections look to have been patient with him and he should go well here.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge won’t mind a bit of dig in the ground too and he looks to be clear of the rest here despite a 10lb raise for his solid victory last time out.

Liberty Hunter could go close too with a low weight but he may just find the betting favourite too much to handle. Petit Tonnerre in the JP McManus colours is also respected down significantly in class having ran in Class 1s in his last three outings.

• MATATA @ 2/1
• Liberty Hunter
• Petit Tonnerre

1:30 Cheltenham – 3m1½f (3m1f56y) (New) Paddy Power Handicap Chase (Class 2)

SportsLens (Kyle Curran) 1-2-3 Tips: ANGELS BREATH goes up in trip to over 3m for the first time under rules but Sam Thomas’ horse is one who should not be fazed by potentially testing ground. He is a versatile 10-year-old who looks to be doing his best work as a chaser, and remains fairly lightly raced. 

He’s also down in class after finishing 7th behind Stage Star in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham last time out and enters calculations with 3m ptp form on heavy going.

Inch House is seeking a hat-trick and is in good form so should be involved nudged up just 3lb, and Irish raider Stumptown can be considered with Gavin Cromwell’s steady record when sending his horses over to Prestbury Park.

• ANGELS BREATH @ 9/2
• Inch House
• Stumptown

2:05 Cheltenham – 2m4½f (2m4f127y) (New) Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase (Class 1) 

SportsLens (Kyle Curran) 1-2-3 Tips: STAGE STAR looks to be improving with every race of fences and should have enough in the bag to make it four consecutive wins at Cheltenham. 

The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old won very well in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last time out by 4 lengths despite almost falling at the final fence, and he can still improve. He’s amongst the market leaders for the Ryanair Chase in March and a win here defying another big weight should set him up perfectly for the contest.

Frero Banbou has put in three solid efforts in defeat so far this season and will be sure to give the favourite a good battle. Meanwhile Torn And Frayed could be a decent each-way shout if all six go to post at a big price returning here again having been unlucky the last twice.

• STAGE STAR @ EVS
• Frero Banbou
• Torn And Frayed

2:40 Cheltenham – 3m (2m7f213y) (New) Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)

SportsLens (Kyle Curran) 1-2-3 Tips: SPRINGWELL BAY made a good start to the season when reappearing here back in November and is proving to be a progressive type for the Jonjo O’Neill yard. 

He carries a tough weight up in distance but it looks a wide open contest and we fancy the chances of the seven-year-old.

Olly Murphy’s Butch only finished out of the top two twice in his career and is in search of a hat-trick, so he should make the frame here once again after winning over 3m at the course last time out. Ikarak looks like an exciting young prospect and can run another big race for Anthony Charlton having won on stable debut when seen last.

• SPRINGWELL BAY @ 4/1
• Butch
• Ikarak

3:15 Cheltenham – 2m4½f (2m4f56y) (New) Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Class 1) 

SportsLens (Kyle Curran) 1-2-3 Tips: BOB OLINGER is unbeaten at Cheltenham and returns to the track on the back of a good win at Navan when seen last. It was a fantastic ride from Rachael Blackmore and he should come on from that reappearance run and can take this one at a track he clearly loves. 

Blackmore is also riding well, operating at a 24% strike rate and comes over for just two rides. Bob Olinger looked back at his best at Navan so if he is in that sort of form once again then he could prove tough to beat.

Maries Rock is the current favourite and commands respect back down in trip. Meanwhile, Gavin Sheehan taking over from Sean Bowen on Strong Leader may pay for the Olly Murphy team, who run two in this four-runner field.

• BOB OLINGER 11/8
• Maries Rock
• Strong Leader