Today's Racing Tips: Sam Turner's best bets for New Year's Day with Cheltenham nap

• Little Risk backing Skelton chaser on favoured ground

• Classy Kid can capture Musselburgh prize

• Rely on talented Ma to land the finale

Cheltenham, 13.25 - Back Herakles Westwood @ 4/15.00

The jury is out whether Cheltenham ideally suits Herakles Westwood, but in the hope the nine-year-old doesn't find conditions too quick then he could prove the answer to this staying chase.

Trainer Warren Greatrex and connections were penalised for running the selection from out of the handicap last time with the presence of L'Homme Presse ensuring the gelding was 9lb wrong at the weights.

Beaten six lengths by Blaze The Way - who himself looked very well handicapped - the assessor gave Herakles Westwood a hike to 135 which seems a touch harsh, especially as he was comfortably held in fourth, despite making late inroads on the winner.

In an age where we are trying to encourage bigger fields and horses to run, I'm not sure that is a particularly wise or fair process and I can understand those who would want to take on Greatrex's son of Saddler Maker off his revised mark.

However, he has looked a horse highly capable of taking a staying event like this and, if James Bowen can keep his mount motivated in mid race, he ought to be charging home at the death, new mark or not in what appears a weaker affair than last time.  

Cheltenham, 14.00 - Back Riskintheground each-way @ 5/16.00

Dan Skelton has won this corresponding race twice in the last five runnings with Oldgrangewood and Midnight River and Riskintheground could follow in their hoofprints today.

The son of Presenting ran a blinder in the Coral Gold Trophy when beaten 20 lengths by stablemate Panic Attack where his stamina noticeably ebbed away over the last two fences.

Rider Kielan Woods looked after him from that point and theat patience could be rewarded in this handicap with the selection afforded the rare opportunity to race on his favoured sound surface despite it being the middle of winter.

One of his career best efforts came over today's course and distance on spring ground last April and he ought to have a major chance with conditions to suit here.

Musselburgh, 14.15 - Back The Kalooki Kid @ 9/43.25

The Kalooki Kid may not have beaten a horse at Carlisle on his comeback, but the handicapper was still sufficiently impressed with the display, raising him 3lb for his eyecatching fourth to Resplendent Grey.

The latter was a disappointment subsequently in the Coral Gold Cup, however runner-up runner-up Handstands ran creditably without necessarily seeing out the trip in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase, while Hollygrove Cha Cha (third) scored at Exeter on her next start.

The Kalooki Kid appeared as though the run would be extremely beneficial that day and that theory will be tested here when he returns to the scene of a very impressive defeat of Saint Segal in the Scottish Champion Chase.

His victim is now rated 155 after winning three of his next seven starts, so Nicky Richards' grey still appeals as favourably treated, especially under conditions which should suit him well.

Cheltenham, 15.10 - Back Ma Shantou @ 10/34.33

A busy day concludes with the Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle in which Ace Of Spades will be very popular for the Skeltons.

The seven-year-old finished in front of Ma Shantou at Haydock last time in the race won by Electric Mason, but the selection ran too badly to be true that day and is clearly better judged on his smooth success here on the Old Course back in October.

That was a Pertemps Qualifier and, as I have discussed before in this column, backing horses which have already qualified for March and the final can be a dangerous so a modest stake is advised.

However, if he is at his best, Ma Shantou ought to give Ace Of Spades something to think about.

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