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Cheltenham Racecourse kicks off 2012 in fine style with a cracking seven-race card on New Year's Day, Sunday, January 1.
New Year's Day is firmly established as a family favourite at Cheltenham, with an enthusiastic crowd determined to enjoy some festive fresh air and welcome in the New Year in style.
New Year's Day is also a highlight for Pony Club members and their families, who have the chance to look behind the scenes in special racecourse tours. Under 18s enjoy free entry.
The richest race of the day is the £40,000 Grade Three Bet With Your Mobile at Victor Chandler Handicap Chase (2.10pm) over two miles and five furlongs.
A total of 25 entries have been received for this race including the Nicky Henderson-trained Master Of The Hall, successful in a Listed chase at Aintree last month.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls could be represented by dual Grade Two winner The Nightingale and Ghizao, successful in the Grade Two Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham last season and sixth last time out in the Grade Three Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup over the course and distance on December 10.
Havingotascoobydo has run good races at Cheltenham on his last two starts, taking second to Tanks For That over two miles at The Open on November 11 and third to Astracad over an extended two miles at The International on December 10. Prior to those two placings, he was an easy winner over two miles at Wetherby on October 29. Local trainer Martin Keighley believes the longer distance will suit the seven-year-old.
Keighley said today: “Havingotascoobydo goes for the Bet With Your Mobile at Victor Chandler Handicap Chase.
“The step up in trip should definitely suit him. It was a shame he missed the cut for the Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup. The two miles and five furlongs should be his ideal trip and you would hope he will improve.
“He has put in some good solid efforts on his last three runs and should go to Cheltenham with a live chance.”
Keighley, who trains at Condicote Stables in Luckley close to Moreton-in-Marsh, is also due to be represented in the £25,000 Grade Two Cheltenham Pony Club Raceday Novices' Chase (1.05pm) by Champion Court. The gelding who turns seven on New Year's Day was a Grade Two winner over hurdles at Cheltenham last season and has made a good start to his chasing career, having won at Aintree in October before taking second to the high-class Grands Crus at The Open on November 11. His most recent effort came at Cheltenham on December 10, when he finished third to Join Together in the Ryman The Stationer Novices' Chase.
Keighley added: “It was a cracking run from Champion Court at Cheltenham on his penultimate start when he was second to Grands Crus, especially as he was trying to give him 5lb.
“Last time out, he was waiting to pounce three out, but hit the fence hard which threw him out of the window. His head hit the ground, he lost a shoe and lost his action for a little bit. He took a while to get going again but he was staying on again after the last. The mistake definitely cost him second I would say.
“He seems in good form and will have a short break after New Year's Day before we bring him back for a prep race before The Festival.”
A high-class entry for the Cheltenham Pony Club Raceday Novices' Chase also includes the Nicky Henderson-trained Solix, who has won both his starts over fences, most recently sauntering to a 12-length success at Cheltenham on December 9. Grade One-winning hurdler Walkon made the perfect start to his chasing career when triumphant at Exeter on December 2, while his trainer Alan King has also entered Invictus, a winner on both his chasing starts.
Racing on New Year's Day gets underway at 12.30pm with the £10,000 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (12.30pm) over an extended two and a half miles, a race won by subsequent Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle victor Bobs Worth last season. There are 28 entries.
New Year's Day also features the £20,000 Raceodds Handicap Chase (1.35pm) over an extended three and a quarter miles and the 25 entries include the 2009 John Smith's Grand National victor Mon Mome.
The talented Tidal Bay, successful in the Arkle Trophy Chase at The Festival in 2008 and now in the care of champion trainer Paul Nicholls, is one of 25 entries for the three-mile £20,000 sportinglife.com Handicap Hurdle (2.45pm), while last season's Stan James Champion Hurdle third Oscar Whisky, successful last time out in the Grade Two Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on December 10, is one of 10 entries for the £20,000 Cheltenham & Three Counties Race Club Hurdle (3.20pm) over an extended two and a half miles which he won in 2011.
New Year's Day concludes with the EBF High Sheriff of Gloucestershire's Junior Standard Open NH Flat Race (3.50pm, 24 entries).