Barry Geraghty
Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Glengouly to stay a Step Ahead of his rivals At Cheltenham
William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty previews a high-quality card from Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
Cheltenham, New Year’s Day
2026 at Cheltenham begins with a two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle (12:15pm), where STEP AHEAD is of interest. He was third in the good Ascot bumper won by Windbeneathmywings last season, with Moneygarrow narrowly ahead of him in second. He then finished second behind Moneygarrow on his hurdles debut this season. That was his first run of the campaign and if he improves from it then he could be seriously involved here.
EAGLE FANG won nicely at Thurles last time and could offer a bit of value in the two-and-a-half-mile novices’ chase (12:50pm). He had been a bit disappointing in his last few runs before that, but if you look back to the beginning of last season, he was third to Home By The Lee and only three lengths behind second-placed Bob Olinger in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan. That’s high-class form and he looked to return to something like that level when winning on chase debut at Thurles. He jumped well in the main and beat a rival that has gone on to win since. I’m not convinced Regent’s Stroll’s style of racing will be suited to Cheltenham, as he can be keen in his races, and this is a different test to flatter tracks like Wincanton and Newbury.
In the three-mile-one-furlong handicap chase (1:25pm) I’ll side with HERAKLES WESTWOOD, who was a good fourth in a competitive handicap over this trip at Cheltenham’s December Meeting. He was in good company there, finishing only a neck behind The Short Go, with L’Homme Presse and an easy winner in Blaze The Way also ahead of him. This trip and ground should be ideal for him, and I think a reproduction of his last run might be good enough.
GLENGOULY was a fine winner of the December Gold Cup from out of the weights and could follow up by landing this valuable two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase (2:00pm). He’s only gone up three pounds in the handicap for his win last time, leaving him on a revised mark of 131, but only two years ago he was rated 146 after finishing second in the Thyestes. There should be still plenty of scope in his mark, and I think this trip on better ground is ideal for him. He probably has less to contend with than he had last time out too, and Sean Bowen remains in the saddle, so there’s plenty to like.
It’s hard to see past KABRAL DU MATHAN in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle (2:35pm). He had some really good form last season when with Paul Nicholls, finishing second in the Scottish Champion Hurdle and before that also finishing second in valuable handicaps at Ascot and Windsor. After switching to Dan Skelton this season he looked to enjoy the step up in trip when winning well over two-miles-three-furlongs at Haydock. As a six-year-old, he can only build on that and he looks a horse that is really on the up.
In the three-mile handicap hurdle (3:10pm), I like DOUBLE POWERFUL. Things didn’t go to plan over fences earlier in the season, but this return to hurdles might see him in a better light. He finished a good third in a competitive hurdle at Aintree last season, behind a winner that has since franked that form. That was his first try over three miles and prior to that he had some nice form over two-and-a-half. I think he could be open to more progress over this trip now back hurdling.
The Listed bumper (3:40pm) looks a tricky race with 16 runners and little form to go on. You have to take note of Nicky Henderson’s debutant Mariole, who finished second in France on his only start. That form is hard to evaluate though with the first and third not having run since. On known form, I thought James Owen’s SOLLY’S GOLD won well on debut at Wetherby last time. He could come on from that, and I think with Cheltenham being a stiffer track it will benefit him.
