New Year’s Day ITV Racing Tips: SIX live, including four from Cheltenham

New Year's greetings to one and all! 2026 kicks off with a Cheltenham gathering no less, and the ITV cameras are beaming four gems from their seven-race card into our homes, and on to our favourite devices. Two belters from Musselburgh as well - could be some delicate Hogmanay heads hoping the cheering doesn't get too loud!

Kindly accept our very best wishes for a cracking 2026; from all of us here at Betfred.

Horse Racing odds

Full ITV Schedule;

13:25 Cheltenham - Handicap Chase 3m 1f

13:45 Musselburgh - Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

14:00 Cheltenham - Handicap Chase 2m 4 1/2f

14:20 Musselburgh - Auld Reekie Handicap Chase 2m 4f

14:35 Cheltenham - Handicap Hurdle 3m

15:10 Cheltenham - Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 4f

Fast Racing Results

Rationale;

13:25 Cheltenham - Herakles Westwood @ 4/1

Warren Greatrex trains in Upper Lambourn, and James Bowen has the riding assignment.

Herakles Westwood is a nine-year-old French-bred gelding, lightly-raced due to having several breaks, and possesses a five-wins-from-20 career record. He's had two runs in the new campaign since returning to action in November - both here, and highly creditable efforts they were.

First a second-placed finish in an amateur riders' event at around this  trip, then a close-up fourth (beaten 5.75l) in the £50k+ Turners Handicap Chase 20 days ago.

Sean Bowen had the ride on that occasion but today's pilot James is the man who's ridden him the most. He's down a pound in the handicap from that spin and should be cherry-ripe for this.

It's still pretty much career-high territory but so was that last performance - and turning nine, celebrating his birthday on January 1 as all racehorses do, he should be right at his physical peak too.

Warren's had three winners from just ten runners in the last fortnight so the yard's really cooking.

13:40 Musselburgh - Fasol @ 4/1

Trainer Paul Nicholls' daughter Olive was outstanding in taking a big handicap chase at Kempton a few days ago on her father's Viroflay, and the pair combine once again in this one with a seven-year-old gelded son of the mighty Galileo - Fasol. 

The selection last appeared at Wincanton 54 days ago and it was to take a decent novice at odds-on, winning in impressive fashion. The second, a stablemate, has won since and Faso returns to handicap ranks after being highly tried at Ascot the time before in a Class 2 off 116 (beaten 7.5l).

He runs off 117 in this Class 3 with Olive claiming a useful 5lb, meaning he'll actually carry just less than 11st in the context of this handicap with the likes of Wise Eagle and Moonbow heading the weights with 12st and 11st 13lb respectively.

The Nicholls stable have had some fine performances to cheer in recent weeks and the yard's ticking along nicely with a 26% strike-rate over the past 14 days. Fingers crossed that this can be another for the Somerset operation.

14:00 Cheltenham - Glengouly @ 4/1

Sean Bowen produced a masterful front-running display on Glengouly here 19 days ago to take the December Gold Cup, and the 10-year-old gelding bids to follow up off a 3lb higher mark.

He was 33/1 that day but seemingly quietly fancied by some shrewd judges. He ran off a mark of 146 in the spring of 2024 when in the hands of Willie Mullins (admittedly unsuccessfully) so today's 131 could well be within compass if the renaissance continues.

It will be tough to follow up but trainer Faye Bramley has evidently worked wonders - and as for the champ on top, well. What a talent.

14:15 Musselburgh - Insurrection @ 10/3

I'm with P Nicholls once again in this handicap chase, with young Freddie Gingell doing the steering this time. My selection Insurrection must overcome an absence of some 250 days to take it, but has previous when it comes to running well (and winning) off a break.

The nine-year-old Getaway gelding won here back in February off 134 under Harry Cobden before rather disappointing at Chelters in the Golden Miller and then at Sandown on the season's big finale day in April.

He races off 139 this afternoon but if anywhere near that February form has a first-class chance in an open-looking contest. Freddie's got four rides on the card and Paul has five slated to face the starter so it's a fair old raiding party. Let's hope it's a successful one.

14:35 Cheltenham - Kabral Du Mathan @ 8/15

At just short of this trip Kabral Du Mathan rather announced himself at Haydock 40 days ago when running away with a £26k handicap by 12l. It was his first outing for Team Skelton, having joined from the P Nicholls' Ditcheat battalions in September. A wind procedure in June evidently has been a plus, too.

If in anything like the same order he has persuasive credentials, as he now tackles G2 company. He's rated 14lb higher on official marks than for that last romp and is very well in with absolutely everything here, even Nicky Henderson's Lucky Place who is rated just a pound inferior yet must concede 6lb as a penance for winning this very race last year.

He's a six-year-old son of a German Derby winner and looked really outstanding in the North-West. He'll be no price but is very, very hard to oppose.

15:10 Cheltenham - Ace Of Spades @ 9/4

We're with the brothers Skelton once again with their seven-year-old French-bred staying handicap hurdler Ace Of Spades.

Four wins from 11 starts is a decent return and he's taken his form to a new level since reappearing in October, winning nicely at Aintree (2m 4f) off 127 then at around this 3m trip didn't quite get to them at Haydock in a £57k contest when last seen 40 days ago, beaten 6.25l.

It's a fair old pull to the line at Haydock but Cheltenham and the hill is a whole new level of required stamina reserves. He's won on the course before, admittedly at shorter than this, but it's still a big positive.

This is a very competitive affair but off 130, unchanged from last time, he must have an excellent chance.

ITV Racing Tips with Betfred Insights.