ITV Racing Tips on January 1st - New Year's Day tips at Cheltenham, Musselburgh and Tramore

Here are our free ITV Racing tips at Cheltenham, Musselburgh and Tramore.

I'm keen to take Monmiral on, as Paul Nicholls' runner makes his Cheltenham debut. Beauport is easily forgiven for his defeat to Ballygriffincottage at Haydock, but he could have a tough task giving five pounds both to the favourite and Olly Murphy's unbeaten chaser, THUNDER ROCK.

A four-time winner over hurdles last season, Murphy's seven-year-old has registered two impressive wins over the larger obstacles this term, winning on his chase debut at Uttoxeter before an emphatic victory over Solo at Ascot. Thunder Rock jumped fluently during both of those victories and he could be well-suited by the sharper New course here at Cheltenham.

Following a fine start to life over fences last season - including a runner-up finish in the Colin Parker and impressive placed efforts at Wetherby and Musselburgh - PAY THE PIPER was handed a handicap mark of 143. Ann Hamilton's star suffered a lengthy defeat on heavy ground at Kelso in February and wasn't seen again until his reappearance at Ayr.

Pay The Piper made a bad mistake early in that two-mile contest and could never get back into contention. Danny McMenamin's mount was badly outpaced over that same trip at Kelso last time out, but battled on bravely to finish a close third. Stepping back up to two-and-a-half miles will certainly help Pay The Piper, who looks very well-treated running off this mark of 138.

I was all over IL RIDOTO going into the Racing Post Gold Cup Handicap here at Cheltenham in December, so I was gutted when that card was abandoned. 

Paul Nicholls' runner ran very well on his reappearance in the Paddy Power, finishing just five lengths behind Ga Law in fourth, and the handicapper has dropped Harry Cobden's mount a pound for that effort. Nicholls' runners tend to relish the New course at Cheltenham and Il Ridoto remains extremely well-handicapped.

I'm also going to take a punt on DEMACHINE, who I fancied for the Coral Gold Cup at the start of last season. Having struggled for form during the first half of the season, Kerry Lee's charge bounced back to winning ways over this trip at Uttoxeter in May. Demachine bumped into Zanza on his reappearance at Newbury, but kept on well to finish a good second and he'll run off the same mark again on Sunday.

STATTLER will start out on his path to the Cheltenham Gold Cup in this Grade Three on Sunday. Willie Mullins twice used this race as a launch pad for two-time Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, and in Stattler, Ireland's Champion Trainer boasts another genuine contender in the Cheltenham Festival's showpiece event.

Last year's National Hunt Chase winner will have to give eight pounds to a former Gold Cup winner in Minella Indo. Rachael Blackmore's mount usually needs his first run of the season and saves his best for the spring, so I can't see Henry De Bromhead's chaser beating Stattler on Sunday.

Read our full guide to the 2023 Relkeel Hurdle to find out who we're backing in Sunday's main event.

If you plan on watching any of Sunday's races via a mobile device, then check out our Relkeel Hurdle Live Stream page.

Al Zaraqaan tops the market, as he looks to win his fifth hurdles race in a row. At the prices, I'd rather side with SOLICIALIST AGENDA, who kept on well to finish second to Al Zaraqaan when they met here at Musselburgh last month.

Laura Morgan's charge won a novice hurdle at Catterick on this day 12 months ago, before running away with the Scottish Champion Hurdle over this course-and-distance last February. Socialist Agenda bounced back to form at Musselburgh the last day and Lewis Dobb's claimer leaves Morgan's seven-year-old carrying a lovely weight.

Two runners from the bottom of the weights top the market for Sunday's final ITV race. I'd rather side with the top-weight, THOMAS DARBY, as Olly Murphy's ten-year-old drops back down into handicap company.

Last season's Long Distance Hurdle winner warmed up for the defence of that crown with a decent showing at Wetherby first time up, finishing second behind the impressive Proschema. Sean Bowen's mount ran a stinker at Newbury, finishing some 50 lengths behind Champ and Paisley Park, but this represents a massive drop in class and Thomas Darby has winning experience carrying top-weight in high-profile handicaps.