2025 Cheltenham & Musselburgh New Year Tips – DS
2025 Cheltenham & Musselburgh Wednesday Preview
Our last blog preview on Boxing Day saw us land places at 33s and 16s (NAP). On Saturday Dave Stevos did even better at Leopardstown, landing places at 40s, 33s and 33s from four bets. We managed to find a nice winning NAP at 14/1 on New Year’s Day in 2024, hopefully we can repeat the trick. Check out Dave’s 2025 Cheltenham & Musselburgh Wednesday tips below.
1.35 Cheltenham – Betfair Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Just five runners and no horse priced up longer than 9/1. A bit of an anti-climactic start to the New Year on ITV Racing. No strong opinion and no bet.
2025 Cheltenham & Musselburgh Tip: No Bet
1.45 Musselburgh – Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
The worst turnout yet for this race with just six declared. Benson is looking to complete a hat-trick of wins in this race and he is 4lb lower than when winning it last year. He’s likely been primed for this but Paul Nicholls will be hoping that Liari can gain his second course win and with Ben Bromley taking off 5lb, the 5yo could be hard to beat.
I did consider putting Ballygeary up for Hughes and McCain. He ran well at this meeting last year but he has shortened in the betting and with just two places on offer, I am going to leave this race alone. No bet.
2025 Cheltenham & Musselburgh Tip: No Bet
2.05 Cheltenham – Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier)
A peak Hitman would have every chance of placing in this race but he reportedly had a bout of colic so he’s probably missed a fair bit of work at home which means he’ll probably need this run.
The bookies seem to have completely dismissed the chances of the veteran Seddon but he ran better than his finishing position suggests here last month and given that was his first run over fences for the guts of six months, he should be sharper with that under his belt.
Yes, he had three spins on the flat in August, September and October so he would have been pretty fit, but he was off the track for two months after his very creditable run off 90 in the Beggar’s End Handicap at Naas so hopefully, he can improve for that run here in December.
The 12yo runs off a mark of 143 today, the same rating off which he won the Plate at the festival in March 2023. His course form figures in handicaps over hurdles and fences read 115 and while John McConnell didn’t have any winners over the festive period, he has had four horses finish second so I’m not too concerned about the form of the yard.
Ben Harvey gets a great tune out of him and he won’t mind a drop of rain so at odds of 22/1, Seddon is the each way selection.
2025 Cheltenham & Musselburgh Tip: Seddon e/w @ 22/1
2.20 Musselburgh – Auld Reekie Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Last year our 14/1 NAP Fidelio Vallis hacked up in this race. Can we repeat the trick in 2025? The one I am going to take a chance on at a slightly shorter price is the 10yo, Half Shot. Trained by Iain Jardine, this horse has finished third in this for the past two years.
Last year, he was beaten 17l off 129 and he is back this time off a 10lb lower mark. The son of Yeats likes it at this track as his course form figures of 132134 indicate. He has won here off 122 so this mark of 119 is not beyond him and Brian Hughes has form figures of 112 when riding him. Hopefully he can add another 1, 2 or 3 to that sequence today. At odds of 9/1, Half Shot is worth backing each way.
2025 Cheltenham & Musselburgh Tip: Half Shot e/w @ 9/1
2.40 Cheltenham – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
If there wasn’t any rain forecast I’d be chancing An Tailliur here. However, all his best form is on nice ground and if he is going to rediscover his mojo, it is unlikely to be on a soft surface. None of the other outsiders make much appeal to be honest so I am going to swerve this one. No bet.
2025 Cheltenham & Musselburgh Tip: No Bet
3.15 Cheltenham – Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2)
One of my favourite NH moments of 2024 was when Golden Ace laughed at a certain Brighterdaysahead in the Mares’ Novice here in March. After the Elliott mare beat State Man (who probably ran to 130 max) at Leopardstown this week a lot of the chatter was ‘how did she lose to a donkey like Golden Ace at Cheltenham?’. Pocket talk at its finest!
Jeremy Scott’s stable star was beaten on her return to action at Ascot in November but hopefully, she’ll get back on track here. If the rain comes, 2m4f on testing ground may not be ideal but this should be a nice stepping stone for her ahead of a return to the festival in March.
Salver has been made favourite and he won’t mind a sup of rain. This new trip should suit him and last year’s Triumph third should go well. Lucky Place is another one that isn’t without a chance after a very pleasing comeback win at Ascot. Langer Dan remains stranded on a mark of 160 and with the handicapper seemingly refusing to relent, he might actually have to try this time.
Unfortunately, it is hard to look past the market leaders here. I really hope Golden Ace wins but at 3/1, I am happy to let her run without my cash weighing her down. No bet.
