Andy Newton’s ITV Racing Tips On New Year’s Day: Cheltenham and Musselburgh Best Bets

More ITV Racing tips and bet bests from SportsCasting’s Andy Newton as the ‘free-to-air’ channel is covering SIX races on Thursday (New Year’s Day) from Cheltenham and Musselburgh to welcome in 2026. 

Andy Newton’s ITV Racing Tips From Cheltenham and Musselburgh on New Year’s Day

The ITV Racing schedule on New Year’s Day will see SIX races across Cheltenham and Musselburgh, on what will be the first racing day of 2026.

At Cheltenham there are four live ITV races to look out for, that include the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle (2:35pm), where all eyes will be on the hot favourite Kabral Du Mathan.

Then the ITV Racing cameras are also heading north of the border to Scotland to take in two races at Musselburgh, including the Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle (1:40pm).

Where last year’s winner Bold Light is back for more.

So, to hopefully see New Year in with some winners, don’t miss Andy Newton’s ITV Racing horse racing tips as he gives his 1-2-3 best bets and also some key trends for the best of the action.

Plus also see Andy’s daily horse racing tips and cheat sheet – including his NAP, NB, Lay Of The Day and hot trainers list.

Cheltenham Horse Racing Tips On Thursday 1st January 2026

1:25 Cheltenham – Betfair Handicap Chase (Gbb Race) Cl2 (5yo+ 0-150) 3m1½f ITV

Nicky Henderson likes this race with three wins in the last seven runnings, so his Excello is of interest based on that alone.

He did run well to be third in the Grand Sefton at Aintree two runs back, but despite being sent off 5/1 for the Becher Chase next time, was a poor 10th.

Certainly, a bit of an in-and-out character, but on his Sefton run (same mark) could easily bounce back.

The 11yo Does He Know is the only recent winner in the field, but with ALL of the last ten winners NOT winning last time out, this is a stat against him.

As is his age, with 70% of the last 10 aged nine our younger.

Katate Dori is still dining out on his easy Ladbrokes Trophy Chase win at Kempton last season but has struggled since and is still rated 10lbs higher.

Sean Bowen catches the eye riding for Irish trainer Ian Patrick Donoghue, while the consistent Herakles Westwood has run two fair races in defeat here at Cheltenham this season and is sure to be in the mix.

But a chance is taken on the 2024 runner-up in this race – INCH HOUSE, who represents the in-form Paul Nicholls yard.

He was a fair 6th here at the October Meeting to Three Card Brag, but is 3lbs lower this time.

Yes, he’s been pulled up in three of his last four, including in the Hennessy last time – so does come with risks.

But is rated 8lbs lower than when taking silver in this two years ago.

And with the Nicholls camp in fine fettle, he could be the value call in a race were 50% of the last 10 winners have also been aged nine.

🥇INCH HOUSE
🥈HERAKLES WESTWOOD  
🥉EXCELLO 

KEY STATS 📈

2:00 Cheltenham – Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m4½f ITV

December Gold Cup winner Glengouly will be popular again as Sean Bowen is sure to make another bold bid from the front.

He’s only 3lbs higher and still gets in here with just 10st 3lbs – you can watch his December Gold Cup win below.

Just Over Land will be on many shortlists too after a good win at Chepstow but is up a big-looking 16lbs for that win and this looks harder.

On a plus though the Sam Thomas yard are in good form and Ben Macey take off 7lbs, so is another with a featherweight of just 10-2 (less Ben’s 7lbs).

Il Ridoto 2lbs Lower Than Paddy Power Win 

Il Ridoto will be known to many, being the 2024 Paddy Power Gold Cup winner, but actually hasn’t won a race since and comes here just 1-17.

The positive though is that he’s slipped to 139, which is 2lbs below that win (plus Freddie Keighley’s 7lb claim) and the Paul Nicholls yard are in super nick.

Moon d’Orange won on Trials Day here last season but is 4lbs higher this time and needs to bounce back from a poor run in the Hennessy.

So, the two I like here are TWINJETS – another for Nicholls – and RISKINTHEGROUND. 

The former is in top form after winning his last two, including an easy 10 length success at Newbury last time, with a 7lb rise for that looking fair.

While the form of his win before that at Fontwell has since been franked with the runner-up Etalon winning since.

Riskintheground beat Blueking d’Oroux at Newton Abbot in October and probably found the longer Hennessy trip against him last time – but still ran a fair 9th.

Back in trip here will help and certainly won’t mind the drying ground.

He’s a CD winner too, when going in at the April Meeting last season and Harry Skelton is back in the saddle, who has won seven times on this 9yo.

🥇 RISKINTHEGROUND
🥈 TWINJETS
🥉 GLENGOULY

KEY STATS 📈

2:35 Cheltenham – Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m4½f ITV

We’ve got the first and second from last year back for more (watch below) – as the winner Lucky Place looks to get his career back in track after not really taking to fences.

While last year’s runner-up Gowel Road does seem to save his best for Cheltenham but is only 1-14 in recent runs and not getting any younger at 10.

As well as the other 10yo in the race, The Real Whacker – these two will also have the age stat against them that’s seen 20/21 winners aged eight or younger.

Nicky Henderson also runs Jingko Blue, but with Nico de Boinville preferring last year’s winner Lucky Place, then this could be a pointer.

Lucky Place does, however, need to bounce back from two poor runs over fences – and also scoped dirty post after his race two starts ago at Ascot.

But it won’t be easy having to give 6lbs away to the improving KABRAL DU MATHAN, who was super-impressive when winning last time at Haydock.

That was his first run for his new yard (Dan Skelton), having come from the Paul Nicholls stable, and also his first upped in trip (2m 3f).

He’s only had seven career runs and is yet to finish out of the top two, so there should be more to come and is already getting quotes of around 14/1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle if you fancy a live outsider for that big Cheltenham race in March.

The horse that ran second to Kabral Du Mathan last time, Andashan has also franked the form when winning at Newbury on Monday.

🥇KABRAL DU MATHAN
🥈GOWEL ROAD 
🥉LUCKY PLACE 

KEY STATS 📈

3:10 Cheltenham – Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle (Gbb Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 3m ITV

With 30% of the last 10 winners ridden by a claiming jockey, then Pike Road (Freddie Keighley) and Spike Road (Benjamin Macey) fit the bill here.

But both these two and Love Of Neymore will be running slightly out of the handicap.

14 of the last 21 winners were also rated 130+, which would be against those three.

The 10yo Harbour Lake returns from a wind op and is the top-rated in the field, but with eight of the last nine winners aged 6-8, I think Ma Shantou, Ace Of Spades and Double Powerful are the ones to focus on.

Ace Of Spades was a fair 4th at Haydock last time out, with MA SHANTOU way back, but that run from the Emma Lavelle horse looked too bad to be true.

Prior to that he’d won well at Cheltenham at their October Meeting – with the winner of that Haydock race (Electric Mason) – 2 3/4 lengths back in second.

Harry Cobden, who was on his back for that Cheltenham win (but not last time), returns to the saddle and despite some risks and unknowns – he’s taken to return to winning ways.

Double Powerful can go well too, having run a good third here at the October Meeting over fences, but has unseated and fallen in his next two.

The return to hurdles looks a good move after that and we know he likes it here at Cheltenham too.

🥇 MA SHANTOU
🥈 DOUBLE POWERFUL 
🥉 ACE OF SPADES 

KEY STATS 📈

Musselburgh Horse Racing Tips On Thursday 1st January 2026

1:40 Musselburgh – Virgin Bet A Good Bet Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle Cl3 (4yo+ 0-135) 2m4f ITV

Paul Nicholls runners at Musselburgh should always be respected and so their Fasol catches the eye here.

He was a good winner at Wincanton last time out and is only up 2lbs for that.

Olive Nicholls, claimed 7lbs that day, but can still take off 5lbs here – so the horse is really only 4lbs higher.

But the slight niggle is the step up in trip (2m4f), with that last win coming over 2m.

Lucinda Russell has won two of the last four runnings and sends Chanonry Point and last year’s winner Bold Light to post.

The last-named is 8lbs higher this time so has more on his plate, but this would have been a target and two recent runs this season should have him spot-on.

The consistent Moonbow and Bel Amigo have claims too, as does recent Doncaster winner Serious Chat.

But the one I like here is WISE EAGLE is loves it here at Musselburgh and can hopefully swoop home again.

This Adam Nicol runner has five course wins at Musselburgh (flat and hurdles) and the cobwebs have been blown away with a recent spin on the flat at Southwell.

Trip and ground are also fine, and connections have also booked former Grand National-winning rider Ryan Mania, who has won this race twice since 2023.

🥇WISE EAGLE
🥈BOLD LIGHT 
🥉FASOL 

KEY STATS 📈

2:15 Musselburgh – Virgin Bet Auld Reekie Handicap Chase (Gbb Race) Cl2 (5yo+ 0-145) 2m4½f ITV

Trainer Donald McCain has a 22% SR with his chasers here at Musselburgh and runs Bleu d’Enfer, but has been well down the field in his two runs this season.

The Russell/Scudamore team run two – Jet To Vegas and Inox Allen, with Brian Hughes catching the eye booked to ride the former.

Course winner Tommy’s Oscar should run his race but is now 11yo and the trip would be the issue with him, with his best runs coming over shorter.

So that leaves us with another Paul Nicholls runner Insurrection and the Nicky Richards entry THE KALOOKI KID – both are also proven CD winners.

Insurrection won at the track back in February and is only 5lbs higher this time, while despite a 250-day break is a horse that’s gone well fresh in the past.

But The Kalooki Kid could just have the slight fitness edge on him – despite being last out two months ago.

This 8yo was last of four at Carlisle last time, but was only beaten 4 1/4 lengths to the useful Resplendent Grey, with Handstands and Hollygrove Cha Cha in second and third.

The third has since won well at Exeter too to boost that form and we can also expect The Kalooki Kid to have improved for that run with this race in mind.

He beat Saint Segal here last February and despite being 8lbs higher has only raced five times over fences (two wins) so there is every reason to think he’s got more in the locker.

🥇THE KALOOKI KID
🥈INSURRECTION 
🥉JET TO VEGAS 

KEY STATS 📈