Three picks for New Year's day....

Wednesday, 31st December 2025

Three picks for New Year’s day….

In ATC today….

…. I bring you my best picks in the biggest betting heats on New Year’s Day….

I’m on MATATA in the 2.00 at Cheltenham – up at 14s & 12s….

…. I’m on LISTENTOYOURHEART at 14s in the 2.50 at Windsor….

…. and I’m on NEW ORDER at 10s & 9s in the 1.25 at Cheltenham….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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I’m never afraid to back a rag when the case presents itself….

…. and MATATA at 14s & 12s is the pick in tomorrow’s Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase at Cheltenham (2.00)….

The handicapper put him up to a mark of 163 after a 10-length win at Windsor in January….

…. a very literal reading of the form – and it put the tin lid on him for handicaps (at least for a while)….

After a few down the field efforts (some at Graded level)….

…. he’s back down to 154 – a pound below the mark he won off at Windsor….

…. and very much back in business….

He steps up to intermediate trips – at which he’s unexposed….

…. and that’s interesting too – because they stepped him up for the valuable G1 Melling Chase in April having bypassed the Cheltenham Festival….

He was up against it at the weights that day – no doubt….

…. and maybe G1 level is always going to be beyond him….

…. but we’ll never know how much improvement he might have found for the extra half-mile because he made a shuddering mistake at the fifth last fence – and that was race over….

If he finds improvement at the trip tomorrow….

…. and I think connections expect to find something….

…. then he’s in the game and looks a little overpriced to me….

Dan Skelton’s LISTENTOYOURHEART has been aimed at the kind of assignments that suggest her trainer believes she’s better than her mark of 123….

…. and she’s a nice price at 14s going into tomorrow’s Fitzdares New Year's Day Handicap Hurdle at Windsor (2.50)….

On seasonal debut she was fourth – albeit 16-lengths behind the winner – in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Chepstow behind Celtic Dino, Alexei, and Wilful….

…. a whip-smart trio that now rate 10lb, 21lb, and 8lb higher in the rankings respectively….

Next time at Plumpton she ran behind two opponents that have subsequently franked the form and rate 8lbs & 4lb higher….

Skelton’s charge is down 5lb from a career high of 128, track & conditions suit, and we’ve yet to see her best….

There’s more to come and she’s no back number tomorrow – regardless of what her price says to the contrary….

NEW ORDER at 10s & 9s is the pick in the Betfair Handicap Chase at Cheltenham (1.25)….

He put in a much-improved performance stepped back up to 3-miles at Sandown last time….

…. doing all the hard yards up front….

…. getting caught at the post by an up-and-coming horse out of the Paul Nicholls yard….

…. but getting himself back in front again just a couple of yards beyond the finishing line….

A staying trip and a bit of decent ground look like his thing….

…. and whilst he’s got no experience of the track, it promises to suit better than Sandown given how much he jumped out to his left at the fences there….

He’s up 3lb on the back of that personal best….

…. he’s improved for every run at a staying trip so far – and is progressive enough to do so again….

…. and he gets weight from all his opponents….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back with more on Friday….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd