New Year's Day: five horses to watch at Cheltenham

Race: 12.15 - Enquire About The Cheltenham Bloodstock Club Maiden Hurdle

Dan Skelton’s six-year-old has been sent off favourite in both of his novice hurdles this season, but has found a few too strong, including the well-handicapped Zanndabad at Newcastle last time.

The fifth-placed finisher in that race, Kent De Thaix, bolted up to win by 16 lengths at Carlisle a couple of weeks ago, whilst the RaceiQ data tells us that Just Golden recorded the highest Jump Index of the race with a score of 8.4. This was an improved performance in the jumping department from his first run over obstacles where he made a mistake two out and lost crucial momentum behind winner Top Jimmy, who placed in the Grade Two Winter Novices’ Hurdle on his next start.

He handled the undulations of Chepstow well when winning his bumper there in February and, providing he copes with the likely faster conditions on New Year’s Day, he should, at the very least, go close again.

Race: 12.50 - Ellenborough Park Hotel "Chasing Excellence" Novices' Chase

Another horse carrying the famous yellow and red of the Hales family, Wade Out was given a super ride by Sean Bowen to win the 3m1f Novices' Chase here at the November meeting, staying on well to win in testing conditions, despite not jumping brilliantly, over One Big Bang and Isaac Des Obeaux, both of whom have won impressively on their subsequent starts.

Leave Of Absence, who was pulled up in that race, also went close on his next start, getting within a head of winner Deep Cave in the Silver Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot last week.

Raised 8lb for his latest win, Wade Out could still be ahead of his mark and this step back in trip on faster ground would not be too much of a worry given he is unbeaten in three starts over the minimum trip. He also won on good ground on his seasonal reappearance in October ahead of Wendigo, another race that has thrown up several winners and a race in which Wade Out clocked his highest speed of the race in the final furlong.

Race: 1.25 - Betfair Handicap Chase

This race is likely to cut up significantly, with several horses entered showing a distinct liking for softer ground, having run very recently or arriving here out of form. Jasmin De Grugy ran disappointingly in fourth last time, but he may just have needed the run and, in any case, the race is working out well.

The winner Konfusion looks a smart prospect, having followed up with a facile win in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day, whilst the runner-up Deafening Silence placed in the Welsh Grand National and the third won next time out at Doncaster.

Jasmin De Grugy is one of a few in this race that have shown consistent form on a faster surface and, whilst he is yet to run at Cheltenham, all of his wins have came on left-handed tracks. I think he is in with a solid chance in this contest should he take his chance.

Race: 2.00 - Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

The drying ground is a slight worry for my long term fancy for this race, but I suspect John Pullin and his team will have done plenty of watering this week and, if there is any soft in the going, then Booster Bob still has to have every chance in this race.

A sound jumper, with a RaceiQ Jump Index of 8.1 when winning impressively at Newbury last time, his form figures over fences are 132311, with career best efforts on his two most recent starts.

His remarkable victory in a red hot renewal of the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury in March ahead of Vincenzo and Saint Segal is one that will live long in the memory and a 7lb rise may not stop him here. It is a race which could cut up significantly and several of his rivals arrive at Prestbury Park with questions to answer.

Race: 3.10 - Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle

If Olly Murphy is hoping that conditions do not get too quick for Booster Bob earlier on the the card, he should have no worries about Chasing Fire in the finale, who won impressively on good ground at Perth on his seasonal debut in September. He then finished second behind subsequent Long Walk Hurdle hero Impose Toi at Aintree in November when last seen and runs off the same mark of 136 here.

Although Chasing Fire is yet to win at Cheltenham, he has only run twice over hurdles at the track and they were both in 2023; finding the Supreme Novices' Hurdle too tough an ask before he then finished third on his only run on this New Course at the April meeting.

With little jumping to be done in the closing stages on this track, this test ought to suit him well (both hurdles in the straight at Aintree were omitted due to low sun) and, unlike several of his potential rivals, he arrives here in good form. Sean Bowen knows him well and is set to take the ride again.