2024 New Year’s Day Meeting Preview
The first major horse racing meeting of 2024 will soon be here, with the action at Cheltenham underway in less than two weeks.
With horse racing coming to a close for 2023, we are now looking ahead to the first major horse racing meeting of 2024. This will be the New Year’s Day Meeting, which is set to see seven races take place throughout Monday, 1st January 2024, at the iconic and historic Cheltenham Racecourse.
Racing gets underway at 12:20 with The Prestbury Maiden Hurdle before the enthralling action ends with the Sudely ‘Junior’ National Hunt Flat Race that will take place at 15:50 on Monday afternoon.
All of the races are noteworthy, but there is one race in particular in this one day spectacular that stands out amongst the rest of the races set to be run on New Year’s Day. This race is the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase, which will occur at 14:05.
The Fairlawne Handicap Chase, known as the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase for sponsorship reasons, began just over 30 years ago in 1990. The inaugural winner was Paddyboro, ridden by jockey Richard Rowe and trained by Josh Gifford.
This was Rowe’s only victory in this race, whilst Gifford would go on to taste victory in this race one more time with Nodform in 1992.
No less than six jockeys share the record for the most victories secured in the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase. They are: Mick Fitzgerald (Pete The Parson, 1998 & Fondmort, 2006), Timmy Murphy (Too Forward, 2007 & Vodka Bleu, 2008), Aidan Coleman (Stan, 2009 & Shantou Flyer, 2017), Sam Twiston-Davies (Double Ross, 2014 & Vienna Court, 2022), Jamie Bargary (Splash of Ginge, 2015 & Ballyhill, 2018) and Harry Skelton.
Harry Skelton’s maiden victory in this race was in 2020 when he rode Oldgrangewood to victory. Skelton secured his second victory in the most recent running of this race at Cheltenham Racecourse in 2023, leading Midnight River to victory ahead of stern competition from Stolen River (Sam Twiston-Davies) and Nassalam (Jamie Moore), who had to settle for second and third place respectively.
Now, as we look ahead to the 2024 New Year’s Day Meeting, we look back at what happened at the 2023 event.
Prestbury Maiden Hurdle (12:20)
The first of the seven races set to take place on New Year’s Day 2024 is the Prestbury Maiden Hurdle. Back in January 2023, which saw the most recent Maiden Hurdle take place, was won by pre-race favourite Weveallbeencaught ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies. Tom Scudamore’s Rock My Way and James Bowen’s Militaire came second and third place.
Winchcombe Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (12:55)
The 2024 Maiden Hurdle will be followed by the latest running of the Winchcombe Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase. The winner of the most recent limited handicap chase at Cheltenham was Rapper, who jockey Richard Patrick rode. Tom Scudamore’s Java Print and Adam Wedge’s Secret Reprieve had to settle for second and third place, respectively.
Charlie Deutsch’s Farinet was the pre-race favourite but finished in 5th place.
Paddy Power Handicap (13:30)
Known as the Paddy Power Novices’ Chase in January 2023, the 2024 Paddy Power Handicap will be the third race to take place on Monday, 1st January, 2024. Sam Twiston-Davies rode The Real Whacker to victory in the most recent running of this race, finishing ahead of Harry Cobden’s pre-race favourite Monmiral, and Adrian Heskin’s Thunder Rock rounded off the top three in third place.
Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase (14:05)
The race that follows the Paddy Power Handicap will be the headline race of the day – the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap Chase. As mentioned earlier, the latest winner of this prestigious race was Harry Skelton, who rode Midnight River to victory ahead of Sam Twiston-Davies’ Stolen Silver and Jamie Moore’s Nassalam in second and third.
Pre-race favourite Shakem Up’Arry, ridden by Luca Morgan, had to settle for a 5th place finish.
Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (14:40)
The third to last race of the 2024 New Year’s Day Meeting will be the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle. The 2023 winner was Marie’s Rock, who was ridden by Nico de Boinville and trained by Nicky Henderson. Rex Dingle’s Dashel Dancer came second, while James Bowen’s First Street came third.
Sam-Twiston rode pre-race favourite I Like To Move It but could only finish in sixth place.
Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle (15:15)
The penultimate race of this meeting will be the 2024 Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle. In 2023, the winner was Lilly Pinchin’s Hector Javilex, who fought off stern competition from pre-race favourite Jet Of Magic (2nd, Harry Cobden) and Abuffalosoldier (3rd, Brendan Powell).
Sudely ‘Junior’ National Hunt Flat Race (15:30)
The 2024 New Year’s Day Meeting’s final race is set to be the Sudely ‘Junior’ National Hunt Flat Race. Luca Morgan’s Fiercely Proud was the winner of the latest running of this race back on 1st January 2024, with Harry Cobden’s Meatloaf and Tom Cannon’s Dancing In Brazil rounding off the top three in second and third place, respectively.
Excitement and anticipation are building rapidly ahead of the 2024 New Year’s Day Meeting at the iconic and historic Cheltenham Racecourse on Monday, 1st January 2024.
There is no better way to enjoy the 2024 New Year’s Day Meeting than with an Eventmasters Corporate Hospitality Package. Book now to avoid disappointment.
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