Horse racing tips: Angus McNae's best bets for New Year's Day

I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and that you had some time to watch all of the top-class action that took place over the Festive period. My Christmas cracker at Leopardstown was Dysart Dynamo who was electric on his chasing debut, and no doubt created a palpitation or two for those who have already taken a short price about Jonbon for the Sporting Life Arkle. Dysart Dynamo is a best-priced 13-2 for the two-mile Grade One contest, and that looks to be a tremendous each-way wager.

Onto the action on New Year’s Day and I have five selections for you across Cheltenham, Musselburgh and Fakenham on what is an excellent day of action. Best of luck, and don’t forget to enjoy every race on Racing TV.

This sharp track should suit Brinbackmemories who was a ten furlong horse on the Flat, with his main asset being his speed.

He has finished second on both of his starts over hurdles and he jumped a little sketchily on his most recent outing at Sedgefield but was still upsides the useful winner two out before being left behind in the closing stages.

He will benefit from that experience and faces nothing of Mctigue’s calibre here plus John McConnell has his horses in tremendous form. On this rare raid to Musselburgh, the Irish handler can record another winner.

If this horse trades odds against, that is value. He made his chasing debut at Warwick where he finished second to Jonbon and while he jumped well there, he was not given a hard time once Jonbon accelerated off the home turn.

He actually finished the race off quite well under a sympathetic ride and will be suited by the extra half mile here.

The Grade One-winning hurdler will also strip a lot fitter as that Warwick effort came following a seven-month absence, and I expect he will be very hard to beat here on his second chase start.

I think this mare stands out here. She is a dual Grade One winner and gets to race with the benefit of the mares’ allowance.

The Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown in May saw her beat Stormy Island, Epatante, Burning Victory and Shewearsitwell, and she faces nothing of their ability in this Grade Two contest.

Even though it is her first start of the season, she is a standout on form and has plenty of stamina, so with an abundance of pace a likelihood here, that will be a major asset.

At a general 11-4, she makes plenty of appeal.

This strong traveller, who is trained by Paul Nicholls, looks to be an ideal type for this sharp track and can follow up his easy victory at Taunton last time out.

He has gone up 6lb for that Taunton win which means he races off a rating of 122 here, but a strong pace at this sharp track will really suit this gelding, who on the evidence of his latest success, is still improving. This is a competitive handicap, but he can strike for the Ditcheat handler.

This six-year-old ran very well on his handicap debut here at Cheltenham when finishing fourth in a race that is working out nicely.

He travelled strongly but perhaps hit the front a little too soon as he arrived on the scene before three out.

If he is ridden with a little more patience this time, he looks likely to go very close.

Charlie Longsdon has had a successful time of late and clearly has his horses in good form, so at 12-1, I am happy to side with Hector Javilex in this competitive handicap.