Five eye-catchers at Cheltenham and Musselburgh on New Year's Day

Race: Third in the Enquire About The Cheltenham Bloodstock Club Maiden Hurdle (12.15 Cheltenham).

This six-year-old was set a tough task being pitched into a class two maiden hurdle at Cheltenham on his rules debut against some contenders who had the benefit of experience. 

However, Alan King's charge travelled strongly throughout this contest, and only began to fade late on once the lack of experience, and a recent outing, took a toll. 

Although this probably wasn't the strongest maiden hurdle, both the winner and runner-up (who has a rating of 120) had shown a fair level of form, and are also nice prospects for the future.

Connections must have been pleased with this performance from their £105,000 purchase who won the second of his two point-to-point outings, and is a half-brother to useful hurdler Shoot First.

Neon Dream's profile suggests he may not have been the easiest to train so far as he endured lengthy absences before this effort, and his second point-to-point start, but is from a good jumping family, and is sure to improve now.

Race: Third in the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (2.00 Cheltenham).

Alan King must be wondering when his luck is going to change having had an abundance of placed runners in the past few weeks, and Grandeur D'Ame was another who hit the frame in the feature at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.

King's charge has run some good races in defeat in some strong handicaps at this track over the past couple of seasons, and this effort is worth upgrading given the ground was a shade fast for him. That probably hindered his jumping, too, as he only achieved a RaceiQ Jump Index score of 7.2 out of 10. For context, he scored 8.1 when narrowly denied on Festival Trials Day last season on soft ground where he gained almost 14 lengths via his jumping. 

Although he disappointed on his next four outings following that effort, he whipped round at the start in the Ultima, and failed to handle the National fences in the Topham. He was also in the process of going close when crumpling on landing at the last at Stratford on his seasonal debut before finding the trip too far in the Coral Gold Cup.

Another attempt at the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday, January 24 will surely be the aim now, and he should have a good chance again if the ground is suitable, especially as he remains on an attractive mark.

Race: Fifth in the Virgin Bet Auld Reekie Handicap Chase (2.15 Musselburgh).

The Kalooki Kid appeared to have plenty in his favour here at a track he relishes, but failed to show his best, and was on the backfoot a long way from home.

In hindsight, he may have lacked full fitness given this was his first start for 60 days (he bypassed an outing in December due to unsuitable ground), and if you watch the replay (above), he appeared to be distracted by Jet To Vegas who wandered approaching each obstacle, and jumped out to his right. 

The eight-year-old impressed with his jumping in previous outings, and the RaceiQ data shows he recorded a Jump Index score of 8.5/10, which gained him over 12 lengths, when landing the bet365 Scottish Champion Chase in good style last season. He also gained 17 lengths via his jumping en route to victory at Doncaster prior to that. 

He lost ground via his jumping here, and didn't travel with his usual zest. This is certainly not a dig at Callum Bewley, but Danny McMenamin has ridden The Kalooki Kid in all his previous outings over obstacles, so knows him well, and maybe the change of rider was also a factor, too.

He is better than he showed here, and a repeat bid in the bet365 Scottish Champion Chase must be on the cards now. I'll be siding with him if he does contest that £80,000 prize at Musselburgh on Saturday, January 31, and he could have more to offer over fences this season. 

Race: Fourth in the Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap Hurdle (3.25 Musselburgh).

It was easy to see why Afadil attracted plenty of support ahead of this 0-125 contest given it was the lowest grade he had contested in a handicap, and off a career-low mark. Olive Nicholls also took a handy 5lb off, and Afadil has scored twice over this course and distance. 

He travelled powerfully into contention and was almost upsides the winner when making a mistake at the last, which halted his momentum. It's unlikely he would have won, based on his finishing effort after the last, but it was still another fair effort in defeat, and potentially another stepping stone towards a third tilt at the bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh on Saturday, January 31.

Paul Nicholls' seven-year-old was brought along steadily before winning that race in 2024 (off a rating of 124) and prior to finishing second in last year's renewal.

He's certainly handicapped to go close in that contest again this year, which one expects has been the plan all season. 

Race: Second in the 18 24 Get Your Racepass 'Junior' NH Flat Race (3.40 Cheltenham).

It is always a sign that a youngster is potentially useful when pitched into an above-average contest on debut, and Garrincha was unleashed in this 16-runner Listed prize, which featured debut winners plus a number of contenders who had shown bundles of promise last time out. 

The well-backed winner, Solly's Gold, created a big impression on debut and proved too good again, but Garrincha fared best of the debutants, with Bailly's Comet, who won what looked a decent race at Wincanton last time, in third. 

Jonjo and A J O'Neill's four-year-old raced towards the rear, and out wide, throughout, and made eye-catching headway turning for home, despite displaying signs of greenness, before staying on nicely to finish a never-nearer second. 

He's a full-brother to useful chaser Madara, and is likely to take a sizeable step forward when sent over obstacles. However, he showed enough here to suggest he is capable of winning a bumper this season.