Joe’s best horse racing betting tips for New Year’s Day at Cheltenham (1st January)

Dec 31, 2025 - 12:30

New Year’s Day at Cheltenham is all about kicking off the year with a proper Cheltenham test and the Relkeel Hurdle is the clear focal point.

It’s a key mid-season contest for the staying hurdlers, with no hiding places, and it usually gives us a strong steer on who’s built for the spring festivals.

Away from the feature, the rest of the card is classic New Year’s Day Cheltenham with deep handicaps, plenty of jumping pressure and races that reward solid course form.

I’ve pulled together the key Cheltenham tips, trends and betting angles to help you start the year with a swing at one of the most competitive cards of the festive period

New Year’s Day Cheltenham (Thursday) tips

12.15 Step Ahead – 2/1 with bet365
12.50 Califet En Vol – 11/4 with Betfred NEXT BEST
1.25 Herakles Westwood – 4/1 with BetVictor
2.00 Glengouly – 4/1 with BetVictor
2.35 Kabral Du Mathan – 4/7 with bet365
3.10 Ace Of Spades – 9/4 with Paddy Power NAP
3.40 Solly’s Gold – 4/1 with bet365

*odds provided are correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.

Joe’s best horse racing betting tips for New Year’s Day at Cheltenham (1st January)

Find my top tips for Thursday’s racing with odds from the best horse racing bookies below:

12.15 Enquire About The Cheltenham Bloodstock Club Maiden Hurdle (Class 2) 2m41/2f

Just Golden has been expensive to follow for Dan Skelton and while he has to be respected again I didn’t think he shaped like he’d be winning soon when only third at Newcastle last time.

He was one paced so the drop back in trip seems an odds move. I prefer STEP AHEAD for Kim Bailey as he shaped with promise bumping into Moneygarrow on hurdles debut at Warwick. I expect him to improve and he could be quite a nice horse going forward.

Kiwi Rush showed promise on hurdles debut at Newbury but will need to jump better to get involved here. He can obviously improve though so I do see him as the main danger. Neon Dream is the dark horse in the race so keep an eye on the market regarding that one.

Bet on STEP AHEAD to win at 2/1 with bet365

12.50 Ellenborough Park Hotel ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase (Class 2) 2m41/2f

Regent’s Stroll will likely be a warm order here but I can’t help but feel CALIFET EN VOL is better value. He shaped as though he would improve plenty for the run when beaten into second on chase debut at this track last month.

The winner Sixmilebridge is a useful type so it wasn’t a bad effort at all just getting tired in the closing stages. He is still armed with potential and could turn over the odds-on favourite here.

Eagle Fang comes over from Ireland and shouldn’t be ignored either as he won on chase debut at Thurles and could improve again with that experience under his belt. Both Miami Magic and Knight Of Allen seem to have enough to prove.

Bet on CALIFET EN VOL to win at 11/4 with Betfred

1.25 Betfair Handicap Chase (Class 2) 3m11/2f

This slight drop back in trip could suit HERAKLES WESTWOOD and I make him a big player here.

He has run well both starts at this track this season and still has more to come over fences off this mark. James Bowen gets the leg up and the yard remain in really good form so this 8yo clearly has plenty going for him.

Katate Dori is likely to go off favourite but he was poor on return at Aintree and was beaten some 14 lengths behind Panic Attack at Newbury so not much value in his price.

Does He Know isn’t getting any younger but he does arrive in winning form and could run well at an each way price and might be worth a saver.

Bet on HERAKLES WESTWOOD to win at 4/1 with BetVictor

2.00 Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Class 1) 2m41/2f

10 of the last 11 winners were aged between 7 and 9
7 of the last 11 winners were top 3 in the betting
5 of the last 11 winners won on their last run before
9 of the last 11 winners were rated 140 or higher

There seemed no fluke about that win from GLENGOULY over C&D last month. He was ridden aggressively and made all the running convincingly under Sean Bowen. I see a similar scenario playing out here and as long as he isn’t taken on for the lead too much I think he is handicapped to follow up.

Just Over Land stayed on strongly to beat Ben Solo at Chepstow last month and arrives on a hat-trick now so is definitely the danger in his current form. Il Ridoto has ground to make up with the selection but could still run well here at a price.

Bet on GLENGOULY to win at 4/1 with BetVictor

2.35 Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1) 2m41/2f

9 of the last 12 winners were aged between 6 and 8
8 of the last 12 winners were top 3 in the betting
5 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before
8 of the last 12 winners were rated 150 or higher

The way KABRAL DU MATHAN left rivals standing at Haydock on return was really impressive. That was his stable debut having joined Dan Skelton from Paul Nicholls and he looked a horse with a huge amount of potential.

Andashan was 12 lengths back in second and he has won since so the form has been franked too. He should follow up against these as the betting is suggesting.

Lucky Place ran well when second at Newbury but he has been turned over at cramped odds the last twice now and doesn’t really look a natural over fences. Jingko Blue would have needed his reappearance run and is entitled to step forward and run better here.

Bet on KABRAL DU MATHAN to win at 4/7 with bet365

3.10 Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 3m

I’m looking forward to ACE OF SPADES running here as he is a horse who should have plenty more to come over 3 miles. He has run once at this track before and that resulted in a win so back here is definitely a positive for him.

He impressed winning on reappearance at Aintree and then wasn’t disgraced in a tough race at Haydock finishing fourth. He is off an unchanged mark and very much looks the one to beat.

Double Powerful is back over hurdles following a troublesome campaign over fences and might just need this run to get his confidence back. Ma Shantou is plenty talented and despite finishing a long way behind the selection at Haydock could still be the danger.

Bet on ACE OF SPADES to win at 9/4 with Paddy Power

3.40 18-24 Get Your Racepass ‘Junior’ NH Flat Race (Listed) (Class 1) 2m1f

I try not to have strong opinions in bumpers as they are a lottery most of the time but I can see SOLLY’S GOLD running well again.

He impressed winning by over 5 lengths on debut at Wetherby and given the money was down that day suggests they probably knew he was an above average sort. This requires another step up but he does look quite promising.

Roximan was only beaten half a length on debut at Wincanton and with natural improvement should run well here and make a race of it. Molly’s Lad needs to improve on that run at Aintree but should do given the yard and is another one to note.

Bet on SOLLY’S GOLD to win at 4/1 with bet365

My top tip for New Year’s Day racing at Cheltenham

I can see CALIFET EN VOL leaving that chase debut behind and proving a serious danger to the odds-on favourite in the novice chase. I have put him in a treble with KABRAL DU MATHAN who is likely to be a warm order in the Relkeel and ACE OF SPADES who is looking to remain unbeaten around Cheltenham.

Bet a Win Treble on CALIFET EN VOL, KABRAL DU MATHAN and ACE OF SPADES at 18/1 with bet365

About the author

Joe Norris

I’m Joe Norris, co-founder and Director of GetYourTipsOut (GYTO), which I launched in 2009 to provide daily sports betting tips, with the main focus on horse racing. Over the years, I’ve earned a reputation for offering reliable and profitable tips, which led to being named “Best Sports Betting Tipster” in 2023. Alongside my work at GYTO, I also contribute predictions to platforms like Oddschecker, allowing me to share my insights with a wide community of sports enthusiasts and bettors.

Find Joe on X: @JoeNorrisGYTO

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