ITV Racing Tips: Three selections for New Year's Day racing at Cheltenham

Racing in 2024 will kick off with a bang as there's some quality action at Cheltenham and Musselburgh in front of the ITV Racing cameras. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers has taken a look at the action and picked out his best bets for what should be a cracking day's racing on Monday afternoon...

Jonjo O'Neill's Inch House has been hugely progressive this season and has been impressive when winning his last two starts over fences at Newbury, but he's been handed another notable 7lbs rise and he could be up against in this trappy five runner affair. Kim Muir runner-up Stumptown and former Coral Gold Cup winner Cloudy Glen are notable rivals, but the one to side with is the Sam Thomas-trained ANGELS BREATH, who steps up in trip for this contest and looks capable of landing the prize.

A former Grade 2 winner of a novice chase, the 10-year-old could only finish seventh in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham in November, but he's been dropped 5lbs for that outing and the step up beyond three miles could well be the making of him. He has winning form in both soft and heavy going and he could well be doing all his best work at the finish of this contest and make the most of his attractive mark of 139.

A plethora of improving hurdlers will take their chance here with the likes of Ed Keeper, Butch and Springwell Bay all looking to continue their winning ways and they dominate the betting, at the time of writing. All worthy of a notable mention they could well have the potential to improve again and have to be respected in what is a hugely competitive betting heat for punters to work out.

One that could run well at a decent price is the Tom George-trained COME ON TEDDY, who returned from a lengthy absence last time out when sixth at Cheltenham in November and he's sure to improve immeasurably for that outing. He travelled well out the back for most of that contest, but just tired in the closing stages. The veteran already has a win to his name over hurdles at Cheltenham, so has shown he can do the business at Prestbury Park, and while you are relying on him recapturing some old form if you can get double figured odds then he could be some each-way value.

There are a quartet of runners in the feature race of the day, the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle, and all eyes will be on last year's fine winner MARIE'S ROCK, who is attempting to retain her crown, but she flopped last time out when well beaten in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury over three miles. The 2022 Mares' Hurdle heroine struggled with the three miles at Newbury, so a drop back to two-and-a-half here should see her in a much better light. She's shown she excels around the undulations of Cheltenham and if Nicky Henderson can get her back to form then she can prove too good for her three rivals here.

Henry de Bromhead's Bob Olinger is a fascinating contender here for Ireland and the nine-year-old was a sparkling winner of the Lismullen Hurdle last time out and a repeat of that would give Marie's Rock something to think about, while Strong Leader was last seen finishing a fine second in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot and is on the upgrade. However, it's Marie's Rock that is the proven class act in this race and she can bounce back to form with aplomb and retain her crown.