It’s the final live ITV Racing of 2025 and the action takes place at Kelso and Newbury for a cracking day’s action on Monday 29 December.
Matty Sutcliffe is back to try and end the year on a high and has five selections for the live terrestrial action.
Kelso Racing Tips (Monday 29 December 2025)
A seven race card takes place at Kelso with the action kicking off at 11.45am and finishing at 3.15pm. Matty has a brace of selections for the northern meeting.
1:29 Kelso – Save 50% On Racing TV Maiden Hurdle (Go North Night Nurse Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Div I) (Class 4) (4yo+) – They’re Chancers 7/4 1pt WIN
I’ve been looking forward to seeing one of my GG Horses To Follow They’re Chancers make his hurdles debut and he can’t go unbacked here despite having a credible opponent in They Want Me, who was second to the subsequent Formby winner Idaho Sun last time out.
The £70,000 Store purchase created a smart impression on bumper debut at Ayr in January when cruising through the field under Danny McMenamin before powering away once asked the question. He’s a half brother to the smart Edwulf, and his action would suggest this better ground should suit.
3:15 Kelso – Chas Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-125) – Baratablet 11/8 2pt WIN
The sole improver in here is the five-year-old Baratablet whose career record reads 221311, starting off favourite in four of those efforts. He was met with defeat in his first handicap in April, but he was ridden a touch too conservatively with the former dual Graded place Quebeciois making light work of his opening mark of 131 to make all to win that contest, and the Mullins-trained second franked that form next time out to comfortably land a class two contest at Sandown now rated 6lbs higher.
Baratablet continued his upward trajectory on seasonal debut at Newcastle when pulling four lengths clear of 5/4F Aire Spray, shaping as if this step up to 2m6f can bring out further improvement given the way he struck the line. Nicky Richards remains form with ten of the yards last fourteen runner either winning or hitting the frame, and this improving son of Wings of Eagles should prove tough to beat.
Newbury Racing Tips (Monday 29 December 2025)
A quality meeting lights up Newbury with the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle the final top class race of the year, but Matty looks elsewhere for his best bets of the day.
1:50 Newbury – Coral Mandarin Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-145) King’s Threshold 7/2 1pt WIN + Brave Kingdom 0.5pt WIN 9/1 0.5pt WIN
King’s Threshold caught the eye last time out in the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap here last month when staying on late in the day to be beaten an eight length fourth, and that effort can be significantly upgraded given the first three home were all prominent for the majority of the contest with the third franking that at Aintree on Boxing Day when taking a class two in good style.
His career best effort came here over just shy of three miles when beating River’s Corner an easy five lengths, and given he’s a half brother to strong stayers Captain Cattistock and Bretney I’d expect this extra two furlongs to bring out further improvement at a course he clearly thrives at
I’d also like to save on Brave Kingdom, who was a 19-length third in this contest last season and will likely have been aimed here. He’s a risky proposition give he’s pulled up three times ad had wind surgery twice since returning from a 690 day layoff two seasons ago, but he won his first two starts there in comfortable fashion including here over just shy of three miles.
He’s now 9lbs lower than his effort here last season while faith is required he can bounce back from pulling up when behind King’s Threshold last time out, he’s clearly talented when on a going day.
2:22 Newbury – Join Coral “Bet £10 Get £50” Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-130) Peacenik 9/1 1pt WIN
Peacenik lowered the colours of 4/5F Crest Of Fortune last season after being beaten a large way on seasonal debut with that one subsequently finishing third in the G1 Sefton Novices now rated 137, and he delivered a career best effort at Doncaster last time out despite beaten a similar margin on seasonal debut this term.
The son of Mount Nelson made all under Gavin Sheehan to comfortably beat 11/10F George’s Lad, and a revised mark of 128 looks more than workable on his novice form, which also included a two-length third in G2 company despite losing a shoe.
Despite winning at Exeter last season, he tends to shift to his left and combine that with his form around galloping tracks should as Haydock and Doncaster, Newbury should suit him particularly given his forcing style.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
1:29 Kelso – Save 50% On Racing TV Maiden Hurdle (Go North Night Nurse Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Div I) (Class 4) (4yo+) – They’re Chancers 7/4 1pt WIN
1:50 Newbury – Coral Mandarin Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-145) King’s Threshold 7/2 1pt WIN + Brave Kingdom 0.5pt WIN 9/1 0.5pt WIN
2:22 Newbury – Join Coral “Bet £10 Get £50” Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-130) Peacenik 9/1 1pt WIN
3:15 Kelso – Chas Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-125) – Baratablet 11/8 2pt WIN
Theyre ChancersMatty Sutcliffe’s Racing Tips – Monday 29 December
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets at Kelso & Newbury across Monday 29 December’s cards.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Kelso & Newbury tips were published at 8pm on Sunday 28 December.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival.
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