Cheltenham selections Thursday 1st January
A Happy New Year to all and we get immediately down to business for 2026 with a busy programme on January 1st. As is traditional the fixture at Cheltenham takes centre stage and I have selections for three races on the Prestbury Park card. Andashan got 2025 off to a strong finish with a win on Monday (advised 5/1).
Cheltenham 1.25: Shannon Royale
Trainer Ian Donoghue has already made some successful raids to Britain with his stable in recent seasons, notably with Lisnamult Lad at this track last season with Sean Bowen aboard. Bowen takes the mount on SHANNON ROYALE who looks well weighted to take this open looking staying event.
Formerly with Gordon Elliott this gelding showed very promising form as a novice last season, finishing a narrow second to classy geldings in Sa Majeste and Dancing City before beating the useful High Class Hero at Punchestown in a beginners chase. However he did not translate that form into higher grades during the second half of the season, albeit at a time when the Elliott team was on a downward spiral.
He has had two runs for Donoghue since switching yards in the summer. On both occasions he showed up well for a long way before fading, but the first was over hurdles where he probably needed the run, and on the second occasion he received a significant bump from another horse two out. A rating of 135 does seem fair on what he has achieved in the past, but all his best form has been when allowed to make all the running and with Bowen on board and a relatively small sized field in opposition, it would be no surprise to see those tactics attempted here. If allowed the head of the race he could prove hard to peg back.
Cheltenham 2.00: Glengouly & Grandeur D’Ame
GLENGOULY caused a big surprise when winning the December Gold Cup at the last meeting and has only been put up 3lbs for that win. That means he has to be strongly considered again here, especially with Bowen back on board and with another opportunity to make all.
The good ground won’t be an issue to him and he is a very quick jumper which means that if he can get to the front, he will prove very hard to pass. He has starting to build up a good run of form at this track and idles in front, meaning he never wins by very far, and therefore does not get clobbered by the handicapper. Despite that latest win, he remains 13lbs lower in the ratings than when last running for Willie Mullins last season, which means there is still plenty of mileage in his new rating.
There is a strong chance that Glengouly will face stronger competition for the head of the race, so if it does get to become something of a cavalry charge, that is something that will suit GRANDEUR D’AME who has a very consistent record at this track without ever quite winning.
He was just touched off by Moon D’orange on Trials day over course and distance last season and has previously finished fourth and fifth in the December Gold Cup. There have been excuses for his recent defeats since that fine run on Trials Day.
He failed to stay beyond 3m both here at the Festival and then on his last run in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. He did not take to the National fences at Aintree and was in the process of running a good race when falling at the last at Stratford on his return this season, where he would probably have finished a good second to that useful novice Be Aware. He is now down to his lowest mark since winning at Chepstow in the autumn of 2024 when he seemed to enjoy the good going he will face today.
Cheltenham 3.10: Pike Road
There is no obvious stand out in this staying hurdle, but at each-way odds PIKE ROAD makes plenty of appeal.
This horse is a very strong stayer, so 3m on a stiff track is a plus. He showed that when a close fourth here last month behind Titan Discovery and even though he is out of the handicap today, he is only 3lbs higher today. He had made all to win a Hexham maiden in the summer on good going and there does not look to be much obvious early pace in this race which leaves an opening for Freddie Keighley to potential dominate on this gelding.
Drying ground is definitely a positive for this improving 7yo and with plenty of confirmed hold up horses in a small sized field, there could be a decent opportunity to steal this race before those horses are asked for their final effort.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Shannon Royale – 1.25 Cheltenham – 9/1 William Hill (¼ odds 1st 3)
1pt win – Glengouly – 2.00 Cheltenham – 9/2 Unibet
1pt each-way – Grandeur D’Ame – 2.00 Cheltenham – 10/1 William Hill (1/4 odds 1st 3)
1pt each-way – Pike Road – 3.10 Cheltenham – 11/1 Ladbrokes, Coral (1/5 odds 1st 3)
