New Year’s Day Horse Racing Guide 2024

In total, there are eight New Year’s Day meetings taking place across the UK and Ireland in 2025.

• Cheltenham
• Southwell
• Fakenham
• Musselburgh
• Catterick Bridge
• Exeter
• Newcastle
• Fairyhouse
• Tramore

The most significant of the New Year’s Day meetings takes place at Cheltenham, where a seven-race card features listed and graded events. The feature on the day is the G2 Relkeel Hurdle, which was won in 2024 by Henry de Bromhead-trained Bob Olinger.

While racing at Jumps HQ may get all the attention, you can find out what each New Year’s Day meet has to offer here.

There’s no better way to jump into the New Year than a day at Cheltenham for a high-quality card of action. Seven competitive races make up the day, with the first getting underway at 12:20.

Last year’s day was a star studded affair, with Bob Olinger winning the G2 Relkeel Hurdle for Ireland, while there was Cheltenham Festival clues on offer with Shakem Up’arry winning the New Year’s Day Handicap chase en route to landing the Plate Handicap Chase in March.

Unfortunately Southwell’s New Year’s Day meet fell victim to the weather in 2024, but it returns in 2025. A seven-race jumps card gets underway at 11:54, with excellent entertainment and family-friendly fun available to all.

New Year’s Day action returns to Fakenham after a break in 2025, with an action-packed card of racing due to get underway at 11:45. Under 18s are able to enter for free when accompanied with an adult, while it is a raceday for the whole family, with behaved dogs allowed to enter on short leads.

There are few better locations to ring in the New Year in Scotland than a trip to Musselburgh. The action-packed card gets underway at 12:35, with a winter fashion show competition also taking place with excellent prizes on offer.

On track, the feature is the Auld Reekie Handicap Chase, which was won in 2024 by Harry Derham-trained Fidelio Vallis.

Jump into the New Year at North Yorkshire track Catterick, with a six-race card getting underway at 12:45. Cheapest tickets for the day are priced at £20 in advance, and families are welcome with many activities taking place around the track.

Exeter hosts ‘Devon’s Big Day Out’ on New Year’s Day, with a fantastic seven-race card and plenty of family-friendly fun available to all.

There is competitive action to get stuck into on track, with listed and handicap races being staged throughout the day. The feature is the Novices’ Hurdle Race at 14:45, which was won in 2024 by Storming Nelson.

Festive fun can be had by all at Newcastle on New Year’s Day, as the track hosts racing action on the first day of January for the second successive year. A competitive seven-race all-weather card gets underway at 13:49, with the final race due off at 17:10.

If you’re looking for an afternoon of high-quality racing in Ireland, then Fairyhouse is the place for you on New Year’s Day.

The home of the Irish Grand National is regarded as one of the best tracks in Ireland, and a seven-race card on New Year’s Day features Grade Three action in the form of the John & Chirch Fowler Memorial Irish EBF Mares Chase, won in 2024 by Gordon Elliott-trained Riviere D’Etel.

New Year’s Day is one of the biggest occasions annually for Tramore, and it is one of the most attended fixtures on the opening day of January.

It was notably a starting point for duel-Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, who won the feature G3 Savills New Year’s Day Chase in four successive editions between 2019 and 2022.

There’s no better way to start 2025 than with a winner or two; especially after an expensive festive season!

So, before you head to the races, check out all of our latest New Year’s Day horse racing tips. From singles to trebles and Lucky 15s, we have every option covered. No matter whether you’d like to place an each way bet, find a dark horse to back or want to place an accumulator, we can provide you with the best tips around.

Remember, certain trainers, jockeys and horses all perform well around certain tracks, while others will round into form just in time for the New Year’s Day fixtures. So, check back regularly and make sure you’re armed with all the information you need to make an informed bet.

Above all else, make sure that you always gamble responsibly.

As horse racing on New Year’s Day is so popular, a number of free horse racing bets are usually available. Plus, most bookmakers usually offer free bets and sign-up offers that punters and race-goers can make the most of.

If you’re interested in using these offers, then head over to our free bets page. Here we’ve listed all the best bookmaker signup offers available today.