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David Jennings has tipped 11-2 and 6-4 winners - don't miss his pick for Cheltenham's finale
Deputy Irish editor and Upping The Ante star David Jennings has his say on the top races at Cheltenham, headlined by the New Year's Day Handicap (2.05).
What is Premier racing?
12.20 Cheltenham
Favourite From The Sun Now Daily Maiden Hurdle, 2m4½f
DJ's tip: Champagne Twist
The obvious starting point is Peaky Boy on his debut for the Nicky Henderson stable but when you delve into his form it might not be obvious at all. He was firmly put in his place by the 112-rated Realisation on his penultimate start for Michael Scudamore, so I prefer Champagne Twist. His point-to-point form is solid and he ran well for a long way at Ascot, despite losing a shoe. Any improvement on that might be good enough.
12.55 Cheltenham
Close Brothers Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, 2m½f
DJ's tip: Petit Tonnerre
This is the banker, boys and girls. This is the one to set off the fireworks for 2024. The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Petit Tonnerre runs in his first handicap over fences off a mark of 138, lenient considering he has Racing Post Ratings of 140 and 143 this season. He was never really competitive in the Henry VIII last time, yet was still beaten only nine lengths and instinct tells me we will be hearing a lot more about him in the coming months. He surely has a few pounds up his sleeve.
1.30 Cheltenham
Paddy Power Handicap Chase, 3m1½f
DJ's tip: Inch House
Continuing the Jackdaws Castle love-in, Inch House still has the look of a well-handicapped horse for Jonjo O'Neill off 137. He got hit with a 7lb rise for the latest of his Newbury wins but always looked in control up the straight there. He can complete the hat-trick in style.
2.05 Cheltenham
Paddy Power New Year's Day Handicap Chase, 2m4½f
DJ's tip: Shakem Up'Arry
It is one thing being a leading fancy for the Ryanair, it is another trying to win a handicap off 166 and giving lumps of weight to experienced battle-hardened handicappers. Make no mistake about it, Stage Star has plenty on his plate here. Shakem Up'Arry, sent off favourite for this very race last season, was third in the Plate at the festival off 139 and sneaks in off the same mark here carrying just 10st 2lb, albeit 1lb out of the handicap. He's extremely dangerous nonetheless.
2.40 Cheltenham
Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle, 3m
DJ's tip: Springwell Bay
After a brief hiatus, we're back around the table at Jackdaws. Jonjo O'Neill Jr teams up again with his dad for Springwell Bay and, if he is to be a Stayers' Hurdle dark horse (which I have a feeling he might just be), he would need to be winning this off 143.
3.15 Cheltenham
Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle, 2m4½f, Grade 2
DJ's tip: Bob Olinger
You could write a book on Bob Olinger. He appeared to be the second coming, then we lost faith in him, but he looked as though he was reincarnated into a smart middle-distance hurdler last time at Navan. The key thing there was seeing him finish out his race, something he hadn't done for yonks. You couldn't trust him as far as you could throw him, but I think he will win this . . . comfortably.
3.50 Cheltenham
Family Day "Junior" National Hunt Flat Race, 1m6f
DJ's tip: La Marquise
I liked the look of La Marquise at Stratford and the runner-up that day has bolted up since. She's a half-sister to Mister Policeman and is fancied to make it two from two.
Big-race highlights
The big race
Just four runners line up for the sole Graded race of the day but there is plenty of intrigue as last year's winner Marie's Rock bids to bounce back to form and land another Relkeel Hurdle (3.15). She is taken on by Bob Olinger, who is the first Irish-trained runner to contest the Grade 2 race since Stormy Ireland won in 2022, alongside the Olly Murphy duo of Brewin'upastorm and Strong Leader, who has King George-winning jockey Gavin Sheehan on board. All is to play for in this £70,000 contest, with little separating the top three in the market.
The big horse
Stage Star was gearing up for a run in a Plumpton novice chase this time last year but has since shot to stardom with a Grade 1 victory at the Cheltenham Festival before storming to Paddy Power Gold Cup glory on his seasonal reappearance in November. He has gone up 11lb since his last success and shoulders top weight against five rivals for the day's feature handicap (2.05), but could still deliver another big-race victory for the in-form Paul Nicholls yard.
The big story
Cheltenham's New Year's Day card is the first meeting under the Premier racing banner and it will be interesting to see how the shake-up to the fixture list plays out. This is the first of 170 such meetings to be held in 2024 and the card has been switched up further with the removal of the Grade 2 Dipper Chase, won last year by The Real Whacker, and the introduction of a Class 3 novice handicap chase (12.55). However, the fields have taken a battering from the elements, with fewer than 50 horses declared across the card as conditions turn heavy at Prestbury Park.
New Year's Day previews:
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