Founder & Editor · Last reviewed 2026-10-09
Cheltenham New Year's Day 2027
New Year's Day at Cheltenham is the course's first fixture of the calendar year, and its feature is the Relkeel Hurdle, a Grade 2 hurdle over an extended two and a half miles.
The 2027 meeting is on Friday 1 January 2027. Racecards, off times and going are confirmed in the days before, and this page adds them as they are published.
At a glance
- Course: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (the New Course)
- Feature race: the Relkeel Hurdle, a Grade 2 hurdle over 2m 4f 56y
- Age: 5yo+
- Relkeel Hurdle first run: 1988
Below: the 2027 details, the Relkeel's recent winners with the trends behind them, how to watch, and the day out. The Cheltenham course guide covers the track.
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2027 race details
2027 race details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Race date | Friday 1 January 2027 |
| Off time | TBA |
| Going | TBA |
| Field size | TBA |
| Distance | 2m 4f 56y |
| Grade | Grade 2 |
| Age | 5yo+ |
Final declarations are made two days before the race, and the off time and going above update once they are published.
Where the race fits
New Year's Day falls between Cheltenham's December meeting and Festival Trials Day at the end of January, the last big Cheltenham card before the Festival. Our festivals and big races board lists every big race coming up, soonest first.
On race morning the AI race predictor publishes its ratings and fair prices for every British race, the Relkeel Hurdle included.
Recent winners and trends
Recent winners and trends
Relkeel Hurdle: Recent Winners
Grade 2 · 2m 4f 56y · 5yo+ · Cheltenham · January (New Year's Day)
| Year | Winner | Age | SP | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kabral Du Mathan | 6 | 8/15f | Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton |
| 2025 | Lucky Place | 6 | 3/1 | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
| 2024 | Bob Olinger | 9 | 6/4f | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2023 | Marie's Rock | 8 | 11/2 | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
| 2022 | Stormy Ireland | 8 | 4/1 | Danny Mullins | Willie Mullins |
| 2021 | McFabulous | 7 | 10/11f | Harry Cobden | Paul Nicholls |
| 2020 | Summerville Boy | 8 | 10/1 | Jonathan Burke | Tom George |
| 2019 | Midnight Shadow | 6 | 8/1 | Danny Cook | Sue Smith |
| 2018 | Wholestone | 7 | 9/4jf | Daryl Jacob | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2017 | Agrapart | 6 | 16/1 | Lizzie Kelly | Nick Williams |
Trends
- The returned favourite (joint favourites included) won 4 of the 10 runnings from 2017 to 2026.
- Every winner from 2017 to 2026 was aged six to nine.
- Field sizes ran from 4 to 9 runners in 2017 to 2026.
Source-verified from official records. Last checked 2026-10-08.
The trends
Winning age
- 6yo
- 40%
- 8yo
- 30%
- 7yo
- 20%
- 9yo
- 10%
Age known for 10 of 10 winners (2017–2026)
Market
- Started favourite
- 40%
- Won at 10/1 or bigger
- 20%
- Won at 5/1 or shorter
- 60%
Starting price known for 10 of 10 winners (2017–2026)
Trainers & jockeys
- Most successful trainer
- Nicky Henderson (2)
- Most successful jockey
- Nico de Boinville (2)
10 runnings (2017–2026)
The records
The records
- Its names: the race began as the Sport of Kings Challenge, became the Lonesome Glory Hurdle and has carried Relkeel's name since 2000.
- Dual winner: Oscar Whisky, in 2011 and 2012.
How to watch and where to bet
How to watch and where to bet
The television listing and the off time are confirmed in race week, when the declarations are out. This page shows the off time above as soon as it is published.
Two things are worth checking before you bet:
- Free bets and their terms. Check the minimum odds and the expiry before you claim. Our free bet offers page compares them.
- Best odds guaranteed. Prices move once the going is known. A BOG bookmaker pays the starting price if it is bigger than the price you took. See our best BOG bookmakers.
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Raceday at Cheltenham on New Year's Day
Raceday at Cheltenham on New Year's Day
New Year's Day at Cheltenham is a busy holiday fixture with a lively crowd. Book ahead and dress for a cold January afternoon on a hillside course.
For getting there and the enclosures, read our day out at Cheltenham guide, and the Cheltenham betting guide covers the course trends.
Results go on this page within 24 hours of the race, and the full card's results are on our racing results page the same evening.
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