Horse racing tips: Cheltenham, Exeter, Catterick, Musselburgh, Fakenham and Southwell – Steve Mullen’s betting preview for the racing this Monday, January 1
Steve Mullen guides you through Monday's racing at Cheltenham, Exeter, Catterick, Musselburgh, Fakenham and Southwell.
CHELTENHAM
12.15
TIKKANBAR was a handy performer at bumper level and translated that form into a win on his hurdles debut at Plumpton last time out.
He looked green — as you might expect — there but kept finding more to win convincingly. This trip and ground suit and there should be some improvement to come.
12.50
All of these have questions to answer but VYTA DU ROC does have some solid chasing form in the book. He didn’t shine in the Hennessy at Newbury last time but finished last season by coming home a head second in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.
He’s won at Cheltenham before so anything like that form would be more than good enough.
1.25
WILLOUGHBY COURT got the better of Yanworth at Newbury last time off level weights and can confirm the form despite carrying a 5lb penalty here.
He jumped really well for a horse on just his third chase start and has no problem with this distance. He likes it soft and can take another big step forward here.
BURTONS WELL will relish these testing conditions and comes here are going close on quicker ground at Stratford last time out. He was well backed on his most recent visit here only to fall when going well in the Close Brothers Chase at the Festival.
He’s normally a solid jumper and can prove that here, with any more rain a bonus.
2.35
LOVENORMONEY loved the testing conditions at Chepstow last time where he won with an easy nine lengths to spare.
A 10lb rise in the weights for that means he has to find a bit more but at this early stage of his career that should be possible.
3.10
COLIN’S SISTER already had a win in this grade to her name from the tough West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby in November.
She was far from disgraced in good company at Newbury last time and has a handy weight allowance here. The drop back from 3m won’t hurt either in these testing conditions.
3.45
VOLCANO is much the best of those to have seen a racecourse after cruising to victory at Exeter last time out. The second has come out and won since to frank the form and he loved the soft ground.
Barry Geraghty is an eyecatching jockey booking and there should be a lot more to come.
MOST READ
CATTERICK
12.25 Dieg Man
1.00 Today Please
1.35 Impulsive Star
2.10 Paper Roses
2.45 Witness
3.20 Beyondtheflame
EXETER
12.40 Show On The Road
1.15 Yalltari
1.50 Turangi
2.25 Solomn Grundy
3.00 Report To Base
3.35 Lord Bryan
4.05 Springcombe Joe
FAKENHAM
12.45 Vive Le Roi
1.20 Oakidoaki
1.55 Mamoo
2.30 Phare Isle
3.05 Norse Light
3.40 Fresh New Dawn
MUSSELBURGH
12.30 Je Suis Charlie
1.05 Volcanic
1.40 Indian Temple
2.15 Apterix
2.50 Craig Star
3.25 Apachee Prince
SOUTHWELL
12.05 Axe Cap
12.35 By Royal Approval
1.10 Pearl Castle
1.45 Aleef
2.20 Holiday Magic
2.55 Mama Africa
3.30 Mr Coco Bean