ITV Racing Tips: New Year's Day Racing Double for Cheltenham

Inch House goes in search of a hat-trick of wins over fences in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase and is clearly progressive. However, both his chase wins have been gained at Newbury, and he will venture into different territory at this course with heavy ground to contend with.

Cloudy Glen ran well in the Coral Gold Cup to take fifth, but he isn’t getting any younger, and he was beaten in a much easier race than this in his penultimate start. Stumptown has been poor in three starts this season, while The Wolf was well beaten here last time. 

Then we are left with just one runner, ANGELS BREATH (best price 9/2), who I know has had his problems but ran very well on his return here over hurdles after seven months off when second and was far from disgraced when midfield in the Paddy Power Gold Cup when last spotted.

This is a significant ease in grade, and although he was never able to deliver on his early potential before his issues, this is a great opportunity for him to get back in the winner’s circle. He is unbeaten in two starts with heavy in the description and looks very well-treated with a mark of 139.

Especially when you consider that he was rated as high as 151 as a novice. Whichever way you look at this, he is well worth an experiment over this longer trip, which could prompt improvement. If Sam Thomas can rekindle some of his best form, he is entitled to beat his rivals and beat them well.

Marie’s Rock will bid to defend her Relkeel Hurdle title and should be fitter from her comeback run at Newbury, but that was still a shade disappointing first run of the campaign, and I much prefer the chances of BOB OLINGER (best price 6/4).

The former is better on better ground, and with heavy ground expected, these conditions will suit this dual Cheltenham Festival winner, who defends an unbeaten course record and looked really good on his return when downing Zanahiyr in a Grade 2 race at Navan.

The nine-year-old looked like his old self on his return, where he jumped well, travelled well, and kept on strongly to win by a length. He might not be the horse he once was, but he’s still rated clear of these, and his form figures with heavy ground in the description read 121111.

He was fortunate to win the Turners here last year when Galopin Des Champs fell at the last when clear, but his only previous start here over hurdles saw him produce a brilliant performance in the Ballymore two years ago, and that form is by far the best on offer.

The manner in which he rediscovered some of his best form on last month’s seasonal reappearance was more than encouraging, and regular pilot Rachael Blackmore will come over to ride. If he can back up that latest showing, I expect him to have too much quality for Nicky Henderson’s mare and the other two.