ITV Racing Tips for Today - Thursday 1st January

ITV Racing are live from both Cheltenham, Musselburgh and Windsor for a solid day of racing with Graded and handicap action on Thursday 1st January. With the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle featuring at Cheltenham, handicaps from Musselburgh and Windsor. We've gone through all the live races to pick out our selections for the afternoon.

Heracles Westwood 4/1

Arrives in fine nick and looks a serious player off a decent mark. The Warren Greatrex trained 9-year-old has been knocking on the door in staying chases this season, most recently producing a solid fourth over 3m2f here just 20 days ago — a performance that showed he stays well and handles the uphill finish at Prestbury Park.

He’s only a pound or two below some of his main rivals on best form, and his consistency over this sort of trip gives him every chance in a competitive Class 2 handicap.

If he can replicate the finishing effort he showed last time rallying up the hill, could be the one to land the spoils in this wide-open renewal.

Moonbow 5/1

Makes plenty of appeal here having been in terrific nick over hurdles this season — he’s won three of his five starts and been runner-up in the other two, showing both consistency and a progressive profile in his novice campaign.

His last couple of runs over this sort of trip have been particularly encouraging, including a solid second at Aintree off a similar mark where he finished with plenty of zest to suggest he’s ready for this step back into a competitive handicap.

He’s got both the class and tactical speed to be prominent throughout — and his strike-rate of nearly 45 % over jumps this season shows he’s more than capable of going one better if he settles on terms equal to his rivals.

Twinjets 9/2

The Paul Nicholls trained 8-year-old comes into this off the back of back-to-back wins — most recently powering clear to score comfortably at Newbury after making all at Fontwell — and that kind of front-running form suggests he loves to dictate from the front when conditions suit.

Handling handicaps well and hasn’t looked fully out of sorts even when off the pace in better company. His proven ability to jump boldly and keep going up the Cheltenham hill could see him assert control early and force others to chase.

The Kalooki Kid 9/4

The Kalooki Kid looks a very solid fancy to go well at Musselburgh — the Nicky Richards-trained 7-year-old arrives here off the back of a positive reappearance and boasts an excellent record in this sphere, with two wins over fences last season, including a C&D success, and his only run this term a fair fourth in a Listed contest at Carlisle that should have sharpened him up for this assignment.

Now rated 139 and partnered by Callum Bewley, he ticks plenty of boxes in a competitive Class 2 handicap and looks the sort of lightly-raced chaser who could still be improving over this trip.

With his proven ability to handle good-to-soft ground and the prospect of further progression after just five starts over fences, he could be the one to make the step up and land the spoils if he gets a smooth passage and jumps with confidence throughout.

Kabral Du Mathan 4/7

Looks very much the one they have to beat in the Relkeel Hurdle and for good reason. The lightly raced 6-year-old has been progressive from the off, notching up a smart handicap success at Haydock on his seasonal debut for Dan Skelton, where he powered clear and suggested he’s ready to take the step up to Graded company in his stride.

He’s won four of his seven starts over hurdles and been placed in the others, and that strike-rate – coupled with Harry Skelton in the plate – makes him hard to oppose if he reproduces that Haydock performance over this slightly longer trip.

Guard Duty 5/1

Looks a live contender to go one better after running a big race on his seasonal reappearance, finishing a strong-travelled second at Newbury last time out — a performance that suggested he’s primed for this sort of competitive Class 2 contest.

The 8-year-old, trained by Emma Lavelle, has a solid overall record over hurdles with 3 wins and 3 further places from 9 starts, and he already has experience of success around Windsor, having previously won over this sort of trip when rated significantly lower.

Double Powerful 3/1

Currently sitting near the head of the market at around 3/1, but because his form over hurdles has been consistently solid at this track and trip. The 7-year-old gelding has shown he handles Cheltenham well — including a hurdles victory here in 2024 and strong placed efforts in similar staying handicaps before switching briefly to chasing last season.

His official rating of 136 puts him right in contention on merit, and although he fell in a recent chase, that run suggests he’s been kept fresh and should appreciate reverting to timber with a strong pace to aim at.

With an overall jump win strike-rate of around 35 % and multiple placings this season, Double Powerful looks the type to soak up pressure and produce a telling late effort up the Cheltenham hill — exactly the sort of profile you want in a competitive Class 2 handicap.

Below we've put together some of the best bookmaker offers and promotions for today's live ITV Racing.

• Win Double
• Accumulator Tips
• Lucky 15 Tips
• Request-a-bet Tips
• ITV 7 Tips

Other specific tips available include:

• NAP of the Day
• Each Way Tips
• Dark Horse Tips