There’s some excellent live ITV Racing on Monday 29 December, and Andrew Mount focuses on the terrestrial action with his best bets running at Kelso and Newbury racecourses.
We take a look through Andrew’s top tips of the day and go through them meeting by meeting.
Kelso Racing Tips (Monday 29 December 2025)
It’s a very early start at Kelso, with the action starting at 11.45am and Andrew’s brace of selections come in the first half of the card.
12.19 Kelso – Skyhill (1pt win – 12/1 bet365)
Skyhill has a fine record around New Year’s Day and Alison Hamilton’s veteran, the outsider of the six runners at the time of writing, is worth a punt in this 3m2f amateur riders’ handicap chase. The 12-year-old has been off the track for 308 days but returned from a 248-day layoff to land this race last year (29 December) and he also won on New Year’s Day 2024. Throw in other wins on January 1st 2023, January 2nd 2020, and another Kelso success in December 2019 and the evidence points to this being his time of year.
1.29 Kelso – They Want Me (2pts win – 6/4 bet365, 11/8 generally)
They Want Me was runner-up to 1-14 shot Idaho Sun (Grade 1 winner since) in a Class 3 novices’ hurdle at Bangor on his latest start, a race run in a fast time. Donald McCain’s five-year-old was making his hurdles/seasonal debut and was also having his first outing since a wind operation, could never strike a blow at the winner but pulled 20 lengths clear of stablemate Count Adhemar in third place. McCain’s hurdlers don’t have the greatest record on their first run back following wind surgery, landing just 17 of their 155 starts (11% strike-rate) for a loss of £55.68 to a £1 level stake at SP, but they do well on their second run after the operation, with 22 winners from 141 bets (15.6%) for a lovely profit of £48.58 (+£99.54 at BSP after commission). Those who finished second or third on their latest start were 11 from 43 (25.6%) for a profit of £32.88 at SP (+£58.08 at BSP after comm).
Newbury Racing Tips (Monday 29 December 2025)
Undoubtedly, the highlight at Newbury is the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle at 2.25pm, but Andrew veers away from that event and pick out two other selections on the card.
1.50 Newbury – King’s Threshold (1pt win – 100/30 generally)
King’s Threshold has a good record at Newbury and looks the answer to the Mandarin. Emma Lavell’s eight-year-old ran a good race over the extended 2m6f trip here at the ‘Hennessy’ meeting, staying on into a nine-length 14-1 fourth behind the progressive Booster Bob and that form was boosted when seven-length Prairie Wolf went two places better at Aintree on Boxing Day. His two other course outings produced a five-length win over the 2m7.5f trip (where he has today’s favourite Rivers Corner back in second place) and a third place over 2m6.5f and today’s step up in trip looks likely to suit.
2.22 Newbury – Andashan (1pt e/w – 11/2 Sky Bet, five places, 6/1 William Hill, four places)
I can make cases for a few in this 2m4.5f handicap hurdle but the bet is Andashan who clocked a fast time when second to the gambled-o Kabral Du Mathan at Haydock last time. Chris Gordon’s five-year-old looked to improve for the step up from 2m to 2m3f that day and should have plenty more to offer over today’s trip. His two runs here have produced placed efforts – the first behind Regent’s Stroll (now rated 146) in a bumper and the other in a 2m handicap hurdle on his penultimate start.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets Today
12.19 Kelso – Skyhill (1pt win – 12/1 bet365)
1.29 Kelso – They Want Me (2pts win – 6/4 bet365, 11/8 generally)
1.50 Newbury – King’s Threshold (1pt win – 100/30 generally)
2.22 Newbury – Andashan (1pt e/w – 11/2 Sky Bet, five places, 6/1 William Hill, four places)
1.50 Newbury – King’s Threshold (1pt win – 100/30 generally)
They Want MeAndrew Mount’s Horse Racing Tips – Monday 29 December
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- Kelso – first race 11:45
- Newbury – first race 12:05
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s racing tips?
Andrew Mount provides his best bets at Kelso & Newbury.
Which racecourses run on Monday 29 December 2025?
Doncaster, Kelso, Leopardstown, Limerick, Newbury & Newcastle.
Who is Andrew Mount?
Andrew Mount is a leading horse racing adviser, expert pundit and journalist, contributing regularly to the Racing Post, Racing & Football Outlook, Racing Post Weekender and William Hill radio as well as providing a daily tipping column for the GG.co.uk website for more than 20 years.
When were today’s Kelso and Newbury tips published?
Today’s tips were published at 8.00am on Monday 29 December, 2025.
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