There are eight live ITV Races on New Years Day 2022 with the traditional Cheltenham meeting the feature and four races coming from there. Tramore hosts the New Years Day Chase where Al Moum Photo is the short-priced favourite.
1:25 Cheltenham
The Dipper Novices Chase is first up on ITV and it is a Grade 2 contest over the intermediate 2m4f trip.
My selection is
COME ON TEDDY EW (17/2). I think the favourite is a worthy favourite but this lad appears to be a little overpriced. He won well on chase debut, jumping well in the main and I think he’ll come on for that effort. He was a useful hurdler last season and has run well here at Cheltenham in the past. He has scope for further improvement and I can see him going well at a price.
1:40 Musselburgh
The 1:40 race is a trappy handicap hurdle over 2m4f.
The selection here is
STRONG GLANCE (11/2). He bounced back to form last time out when pulling clear with the winner to finish a good second. He’s only been raised 2lb for that effort and if he can build on that, he’s sure to go close in a weak enough race.
2:00 Cheltenham
The 2:00 race is a competitive handicap over 2m4f and it’s certainly a wide open renewal.
The one I like is
ZANZA EW (7/1). He was second behind Coole Cody last time out here at Cheltenham keeping on well right to the line. I’m hoping this soft ground will make it more of a stamina test and he’ll claw them back up the hill on this occasion. His jumping appears to have improved and he’ll appreciate the strong gallop. Hobbs reached for the cheekpieces to hopefully squeeze out a little more improvement.
2:10 Musselburgh
The 2:10 race is a handicap hurdle over the minimum trip 2m.
I like
CHRISTOPHER WOOD NB (4/1) here. He is 2 from 2 here at the track and he is well suited by the soft surface which he will get here. He likes to go from the front and I think he will be able to get an uncontested lead here and hopefully grind out a win from the front.
2:35 Cheltenham
The 2:35 race from Cheltenham is a 3m handicap hurdle that will take a lot of getting in this soft ground.
The one for me is
ASK DILLON EW (11/1). He ran a cracker when third last time out behind Kansas City Chief. That slow gallop wouldn’t have suited him that day as he is all stamina. The combination of a likely stronger gallop and deep ground can hopefully bring that stamina more into play today. He’s a previous course and distance winner and trainer Fergal O’Brien has a great record at the track.
2:50 Musselburgh
The 2:50 race is a handicap Chase over 2m4f. I’m happy to take on the favourite Amour De Nuit on the soft ground today.
I’ll hope front runners is the order of the day at Musselburgh as I think
JOKE DANCER (11/2) could be another one who gets his own way in front here. The only pace angle in the race, he’s inconsistent but on a going day he’s capable of running a big race here despite being the rank outsider. He’s very well handicapped on old form off this mark of 128 and there has been some encouraging signs of late. Win only.
3:10 Cheltenham
The 3:10 is the Relkeel Hurdle, a Grade 2 contest over 2m4f.
I think
STORMY IRELAND NAP (9/2) might be able to slip this from the front. She is the only pace angle in the race so she’s likely to her a soft lead. Jockey Danny Mullins is in the form of his life and I’m hoping her run last time out will have blew the cobwebs away. Prior to that effort, she was a Grade 1 winner.
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