January 2018 – The Big Races

After some brilliant action over the festive period, we are now greeted by the new year and there is some brilliant action to look forward to in January. As the Festival draws ever closer we’re all looking for clues as to where everyone’s headed and three Grade 1 contests should certainly help. All the key dates are listed below, so you don’t miss any of the action. As always, we’ll have all the build up on our Twitter page, @myracingtips, where you can find all the latest news and share your opinions with us!

Grade 1 Races

Tolworth Hurdle

Date: 06/01/2018
Venue: Sandown
Distance: 2m 110y
2017 Result: 1st Finian’s Oscar, 2nd Capitaine, 3rd Chalonnial

Although there is no defined Festival race to go to from the Tolworth, we’ve been treated to some very classy winners down the year’s who have gone on to Festival glory. The latest winner was Finian’s Oscar who went on to win the Grade 1 Mersey at the Aintree Festival. 2016 was Yorkhill’s year and he ended up winning the Neptune at the Festival three months later for Willie Mullins, so this is certainly an informative race.

Slaney Novice Hurdle

Date: 07/01/2018
Venue: Naas
Distance: 2m 4f
2017 Result: 1st Death Duty, 2nd Turcagua, 3rd Blood Crazed Tiger

Although no horses have gone on to Festival glory in recent years, this Grade 1 contest has still served us up some smart horses including last year’s winner Death Duty. Other previous winners include Bellshill, Briar Hill, Rule The World and Monksland.

Clarence House Chase

Date: 20/01/2018
Venue: Ascot
Distance: 2m 1f
2017 Result (run at Cheltenham): 1st Un De Sceaux, 2nd Uxizandre, 3rd Top Gamble

One of the trials for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the last two years have been dominated by Un De Sceaux, who was 2nd in the 2016 Queen Mother before dominating the Ryanair field this year. History is in the favour of the winner, as the 2013 (Sprinter Sacre), 2014 (Sire De Grugy) and 2015 (Dodging Bullets) victors of this race all went on to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase three months later.

Other Big Races to note

Dipper Novice Chase – 01/01/2018, Cheltenham (2m 5f)

Relkeel Hurdle – 01/01/2018, Cheltenham (2m 4f)

Welsh Grand National – 06/01/2018, Chepstow (3m 5f)

Lanzarote Hurdle – 13/01/2018, Kempton (2m 5f)

Champion Hurdle Trial – 20/01/2018, Haydock (2m)

Peter Marsh Chase – 20/01/2018, Haydock (3m)

Thyestes Chase – 25/01/2018, Gowran Park (3m 1f)

Cleeve Hurdle – 27/01/2018, Cheltenham (3m)