By Carl Harris
Happy New Year! 2010 is here and it promises to be an absolute belter. We get straight down to business on the first day of a new decade with a decent card at Cheltenham. The racing will go ahead at Prestbury Park but elsewhere the country is ravaged by cold weather.
One horse I am looking forward to seeing is Punchestowns, who I think could be a future Gold Cup winner. He should win today. Here are my best bets for New Years Day at Cheltenham.
13:40 Cheltenham, Punchestowns- Win. A decent hurdler, Punchestowns has shown immense promise over fences. He looked a world beater when winning at Newbury and went straight to the head of the RSA Chase market. I have not seen anything that can beat him, in my view and certainly he should dispatch the promising Seven is my Number and Knockara Beau at Cheltenham. The switch to chasing means he will not have to face Big Bucks who got the better of himlast season. This is a rock solid bet and should kick off the new year in style.
Punchestowns and Big Bucks
14:10 Cheltenham, Chapoturgeon- Win. In the Boylesports Gold Cup at Cheltenham last time Chapoturgeon was fourth, but would have been much closer had he not fluffed the last. I suspect that they will have schooled him quite a lot since then at Ditcheat. The handicapper has left his mark alone and with better jumping he could land a decent prize at good odds in this competitive race.
A great day ahead. Have a good one and once again, Happy New Year.
- 13:40 Cheltenham, Punchestowns- Win
- 14:10 Cheltenham, Chapoturgeon- Win
