As ever, New Year's Day is action-packed on the racing front, with seven meetings across the UK & Ireland.

Cheltenham, Fairyhouse, Tramore, Catterick, Exeter and Musselburgh all go over jumps alongside an all-weather meeting from Newcastle.

Our three to follow include a dual Festival winner heading back to Cheltenham taking aim at the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle for Henry de Bromhead.

12:55 Cheltenham - Matata @ 15/8

Nigel Twiston-Davies loves a winner at Cheltenham more than most and the Naunton handler will aim to provide some local cheer via Matata in the Close Brothers Novices' Limited Handicap Chase that is the second race on the New Year's Day.

Twiston-Davies had a winner on this card 12 months ago via Weveallbeencaught and this promising chaser looks tailor-made to get him into the winners' circle again.

He won twice over hurdles last season before an excellent run in a Grade 1 novice at Aintree won by Inthepocket on his final start.

He races in the familiar silks of Simon Munir and Isaac Suede and the former point-to-point winner was very impressive at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) in October on his fencing bow.

He jumped immaculately and put the race in safe keeping very easily. The runner-up has given that form a solid look since and it won't come as a shock if Twiston-Davies has eyed up this race from some way out.

14:20 Musselburgh - Frere D'armes @ 15/8

Joining Cheltenham on the terrestrial racing front on Monday will be Musselburgh, as the Hogmanay celebrations carry on just east of Edinburgh.

The traditional centrepiece on this card in the Auld Reekie Handicap Chase over an extended two-and-a-half-miles and Dan Skelton's Frere D'armes can take it out this time.

Fifth behind Boothill at Ascot in November on his comeback, Frere D'armes closed that gap to a half-length when second behind the same rival back there later that same month.

Harry Skelton has partnered him on all four career wins and it's a good sign that the former champion jockey returns now for the first time this season. The stable are in excellent form and Frere D'armes should find this longer trip around Musselburgh within range.

15:15 Cheltenham - Bob Olinger @ 11/8

Henry de Bromhead's Bob Olinger scored at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021 and 2022. He was ultra-impressive in the Ballymore as a novice hurdler and the beneficiary of extreme good fortune in the Turners 12 months later when Galopin Des Champs handed him the race by coming down when clear at the last.

He was then surprisingly pulled up at Punchestown that same spring and returned last November over hurdles again.

He went 0-3 in that sphere, flattering to deceive it must be said, and was duly given an early bath after his poor run at Naas in January.

De Bromhead appears to have got him back now, based on his success in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan (2m4f, soft to heavy) in November.

He travelled well in that race and found generously for Rachael Blackmore once the pressure was applied. This race was pinpointed afterwards by the trainer and he's stuck to his guns.

Last year's winner Marie's Rock – also a Festival winner via the Mares' Hurdle in 2022 – gets 7lb and, on that basis, has every chance for Nicky Henderson, but Bob Olinger can outclass her, especially if building on that comeback win in Ireland.