New Year’s Day Meeting 1st January 2027

Race 1 - Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) - 12:15

The first race of the day involves the running of this exciting hurdles race that entails ten different jumps. You can expect somewhere around 5-10 horses to be lined up to start the race (maximum 16), though not all are guaranteed to finish with it being a maiden race.  Last year 7 ran with all finishing.

This Class 2 race is for horses aged four and up and is run over two miles, four furlongs and fifty-six yards (2m, 4f, 56y). It’s normally over within about five minutes, so try not to nip for a wee until it’s done!

Previously the first race was a class 1 Listed Novices' Hurdle but this was changed to a class 2 maiden race in 2023.

Race 2 - Novices' Chase (GBB Race) - 12:50

Following changes made in 2026 this race was added to New Year's Day as a new race to replace a shorter Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.  Similar to a lot of the other Novices' Chases held at Cheltenham it is open to 5yo+ horses and takes place over just over two and a half miles (2m, 4f, 127y).

There are seventeen fences to be jumped in this class 2 race and with these being novices there is plenty of chance to stumble or fall and set the field wide open.  These are often entertaining and unpredictable races, which is great for a laugh on New Year's Day but maybe not great for backing a winner.  Saying that it is a good one to look for an each-way in at decent odds.

It’s an exciting chase and if the going is Good to Soft then you can expect it to last just over five minutes.  Last year 5 ran.

Race 3 - Handicap Chase (GBB Race) - 13:25

Sponsorship of this race changes a lot so the name you see on the card is likely to change on an annual basis, since 2025 it has been sponsored by Betfair.

This Handicap Chase is open to horses aged five and over rated 0-150 and involves twenty-one fences that must be negotiated. It’s run over three miles, one furlongs and fifty-six yards (3m, 1f, 56y), usually lasting for about six and a half  minutes.

You can expect a low to mid-sized field for this one (maximum 17), generally, in spite of its decent purse.  Last year eight ran but only four finished.

Race 4 - New Year's Day Handicap Chase (GBB Race) - 14:00

Nothing says ‘gearing up for the Festival’ quite like sponsors using these races to get people to think about using their services.  This year it is sponsored by another bookie, Betfair.

This Premier Handicap event takes place over two miles, four furlongs and one-hundred and sixty-six yards (2m, 4f, 127y), with its seventeen fences to be navigated. This is a race for five-year-old horses and up.

This race started life in 1990 as the Cleeve Hill Handicap Chase. It was awarded Grade 3 status in 2009 and in 2014 it was given the official name of the Fairlawne Handicap Chase, though it is normally ran under a sponsored title.  It was changed to a Premier Handicap in 2022 as part of the general ratings changes for all Grade 3 handicaps - its status remains the same.

The Fairlawne Handicap Chase was run at Windsor until 1997. No horse has won the race more than once, though Aidan Coleman, Jamie Bargary, Mick Fitzgerald, Harry Skelton and Timmy Murphy have all won it twice as jockeys.  Only Sam Twiston-Davies has ridden the winner in this one three times though.

Josh Gifford. Venetia Williams and Dan Skelton have both managed two wins as trainers, though they trail some way behind Nigel Twiston-Davies and his six wins.

Race 5 - Relkeel Hurdle (GBB Race) - 14:35

The final noteworthy race of the day is this Grade 2 hurdle open to horses at or over five years of age. There are ten hurdles that must be jumped over the course of two miles, four furlongs and fifty-six yards (2m, 4f, 56y).

More often than not you’ll find the field for this one hovers somewhere between five and ten horses - six ran last year - and the race will last for over five minutes only if the going is heavy.

Sponsored by Dornan Engineering since the 2018 jump racing season, this race is officially named after the three-time winner of the International Hurdle, Relkeel, which is held during Festival Trials Day later this month.

That name is a recent addition to the race’s title, of course, originally run in 1988 as the Sport of Kings Challenge. In 1992 a horse trained in America and named Lonesome Glory won the race, so from 1993 it was known as the Lonesome Glory Hurdle. It earned its Relkeel moniker in 1990 and was only moved to New Year’s Day in 2016, having previously taken place during the Christmas Meeting.

Oscar Whisky is the only horse to win the race more than once, earning back-to-back wins in 2011 and 2012. Barry Geraghty was the rider on both occasions, notching up two of his three wins in this one. A couple of jockeys have two wins, but it’s Tony McCoy who leads the way with five victories. Jonjo O’Neill has two wins of this race as a trainer and Alan King has three. Martin Pipe was the leading trainer for a long while in this race with four victories but Nicky Henderson now holds that crown with 5 wins to date.

Race 6 - Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) - 15:10

Betfair once again used a race to let punters know what they’re all about by naming the sixth race of the day after themselves. It’s a Class 2 race that typically tends to feature one of the largest fields of the day at about ten to fifteen horses (max 17).  Having said that last year only seven ran with five finishing.

Open to four-year-olds plus, the race has twelve hurdles and takes place over two miles, seven furlongs and two-hundred and thirteen yards (2m, 7f, 213y). As the name suggests, this is another race that engages the work of the handicapper.

Race 7 - 'Junior' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race) - 15:40

New Year’s Day’s racing on Cheltenham Racecourse comes to a close thanks to the 'Junior National Hunt flat race. A Class 1 Listed race, The name should make clear that there are no hurdles that need to be negotiated with this one. Instead it’s a relatively quick race, with the competitors usually coming home in around four minutes.

It’s only open to four-year-olds and is run over two miles and one-hundred and seventy nine yards (2m, 179y). This is the race that offers the largest field most years, often seeing between ten and fifteen horses (max 17) lining up for starter’s orders.