New Year's Day tips: best bets at Cheltenham and Musselburgh

Best odds: 9-4 (general).

The Kalooki Kid quickly developed into a useful performer when switched to chasing last season and after scoring with ease at Doncaster off a rating of 124, he produced a smart performance to win the bet365 Scottish Champion Chase off a 7lb higher mark over this course and distance on just his third outing over fences. The runner-up, Saint Segal, has also boosted that form significantly since.

The RaceiQ data shows he recorded a Jump Index score of 8.5/10 there, and gained over 12 lengths via his jumping. It was also a similar scenario at Doncaster where he gained over 17 lengths thanks to some impressive leaps.

Grade One company proved too hot on his next outing, which was no surprise, and he was not beaten far, despite finishing last, when chasing home some useful performers in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase on his seasonal debut.

That effort should have blown the cobwebs away, and Nicky Richards' charge looks ready to strike returning to a handicap now off a rating of 139. 

Jumping is clearly his forte, and this strong traveller should prove hard to beat at a track he relishes. He's the nap of the day on New Year's Day.

Best odds: 7-2 (Bet365).

It was hard not to be impressed with Ma Shantou's win in the Pertemps Qualifier at this track on his return to action in October where, according to the RaceiQ data, he gained ground at every hurdle, and recorded a Jump Index score of 8.2/10. He also clocked the quickest furlong and the best FSP (finished speed percentage) en route to a dominant victory, and it was no surprise he earned quotes for the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle afterwards.

He appeared to hold strong claims when sent off favourite for the Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle on his next start, but ran below par, and no excuses emerged afterwards. 

However, Emma Lavelle's team were not firing in November, with just one winner from 45 runners, and the Marlborough handler is returning to form now having had two winners and six horses placed from her past 20 runners. 

The form of his Cheltenham win looked strong, too, as the runner-up, Electric Mason, landed the Haydock race (that Ma Shantou disappointed in) off a 4lb higher mark, and there were numerous other decent handicappers in behind. 

He remains on a 9lb higher mark, but the manner of his Cheltenham victory suggested a rating of 138 may still underestimate him, especially as he is lightly-raced over obstacles. 

The ground will be in his favour and I believe he's the one to beat if he does bounce back to form, with Harry Cobden a positive jockey booking. 

Best odds: 17-2 (William Hill).

There were a few contenders with eye-catching pedigrees in the bumper Bailly's Comet landed on debut at Wincanton in November on good ground, and this youngster was noticeably strong in the market beforehand which hinted he had been showing the right signs at home. 

The jockey bookings, and the betting, suggested he was the best of Anthony Honeyball's three debutants there, and although he only scored by a neck, he was value for more than the winning margin suggests having shown significant signs of greenness, especially in the straight. 

Having raced prominently, the youngster began to wander under pressure turning for home, and raced a shade awkwardly, but showed a good attitude once the penny finally dropped, and should improve significantly for that effort.

Admittedly, the fourth, fifth and sixth have let the form down since, but they are probably horses for the future (a couple had excuses, too), so I wouldn't be overly concerned about that. 

Honeyball also said on his website that Bailly's Comet, who is a half-brother to Romeo Coolio and Ascending Lark, is being aimed at the £100,000 Goffs UK sales bumper at Newbury in March, so clearly thinks plenty of him.

Rex Dingle again opts to ride this four-year-old (three-year-old if you're reading this before New Year's Day!) and it would be no surprise if his mount attracts support again. The standout 17-2 with William Hill, at the time of writing, is therefore worth taking.