Free Horse Racing Tips

There is no more appropriate place to begin racing in the new year of 2007 than Cheltenham racecourse, the hallowed home of the National Hunt game. The clock is already ticking down to the Festival in March and all eyes will be upon the results of races at Cheltenham’s New Year meeting on January 1st, and at the late January fixture on the 27th of the month.Two races stand out on Cheltenham’s New Year card beginning with the Dipper Novices’ Chase which was won last year by The Listener who claimed among his victims Star de Mohaison, who then went on to reverse New Year’s day form with the winner in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Festival just over ten weeks’ later.Backers should keep an eye on this race with regard to the prospects any SunAlliance contenders. Both Don’t Push It and Mr Pointment, first and second over course and distance last time, should again figure prominently.Cheltenham’s feature handicap on the same day is the Unicoin Homes Handicap Chase which was landed twelve months ago by Fondmort, a course specialist and it may well be that the Nicky Henderson team will be keen to keep up their good work in this well-contested handicap with either Crozan or Mariah Rollins.Sandown on January 6 is the next port of call for the jumping caravan and the feature race on this traditional curtain-raiser is the Tolworth Hurdle, a grade contest for up-and-coming young novice hurdlers. The roll of honour is an illustrious one with past winners such as Best Mate, Monsignor, French Holly and Behrajan all turning out to be stars of the future.Whatever trainer Paul Nicholls sends to this valuable prize should be worth a second look while fancied horses tend to hold sway too with the market leaders dominating the outcome of this two miles and half a furlong race. Beware also of Irish raiders: there have been a number in recent seasons but all have returned home empty-handed.The following week on January 13 Warwick comes into its own with the staging of the valuable totesport Classic Handicap Chase, a contest that sorts out the true stayers from the rest. Increased prize-money in recent seasons has seen the level of competition for this race reach fever pitch and thorough stayers with a sound jumping technique are required for the race.Once again any runners from the Paul Nicholls will bear close scrutiny while Alan King’s D’Argent is likely to attempt a follow-up to his recent big Cheltenham handicap success and this course specialist should go close. Emma Lavelle, meanwhile, may also aim her progressive stayer Tana River at this prize and his front-running style should be suited to this fair and galloping course.The best race of the whole month takes place at Ascot on January 20 when the Victor Chandler Chase returns to its rightful home after a temporary berth at Cheltenham last year because of the controversial re-building programme at Ascot racecourse.