Climb on board for a thrilling Dipper experience as season reaches turning point

New year is just a line drawn in the sand, the joyless will tell you, but if it didn't exist it would be necessary to invent it – fresh beginnings are always welcome. Leave the guilt of December where it lies and look forward with hope that extends further than just your stash of ante-post slips.

For jumpers and those involved with them, new year is less of a fresh start and more of a turning point. The Christmas rush has passed and, even though we are probably none the wiser given the way things have gone at Leopardstown in particular, there is now a much clearer view to the spring and its climactic festivals.

Some horses will be free-wheeling all the way from now until mid-March, but more than usual there is plenty to play for in the meantime, not least at Cheltenham itself.

Trials day is the more obvious dress rehearsal, but the New Year's Day fixture at Prestbury Park, a day especially popular with the locals as opposed to the invasions in November and March, has at least one race that more often than not has a bearing on major prizes to come.

Since the Dipper Novices' Chase moved from Newcastle to Gloucestershire in 2005, it has undoubtedly taken a step up and is now a well established milestone on the way back here in March.

Admittedly, only My Way De Solzen has followed up Dipper success with a win at the festival, but a Grade 2 with Oscar Whisky and Whisper on its recent roll of honour has no trouble justifying its status.

All five declared for the 2018 Dipper arrive with something to recommend them. Willoughby Court and Yanworth bring the hurdles class, Ballyandy has a long and happy history at the track despite being only just seven, Ami Desbois was beaten only at the Cheltenham Festival in 2017 from five starts, and Sizing Tennessee has form that matches him closely with a certain Black Corton.

Ante-post markets suggest Willoughby Court, last year's Neptune winner, sets the standard, being regarded as one of the likeliest candidates for a second festival success in a little more than two months' time. If he beats this lot handsomely that position will be undeniable.

Balance lies in ITV's favour

Looking back is usually reserved for the tail end of the year that is ending, but now feels like a more suitable time to reflect on ITV's stewardship of racing on terrestrial television, exactly 12 months on from its first, rain-soaked broadcast.

Things have looked brighter since that inauspicious start and, a year in, the balance of public and professional opinion almost certainly lies in ITV's favour.

Luke Harvey, Sir Anthony McCoy and Ed Chamberlin on ITV RacingCredit: Alan Crowhurst

There has been no revolution, but the continued willingness to try new things more or less on the job, such as interviewing beaten jockeys immediately after races, is a welcome sign and hopefully year two will bring further innovation.

Agrapart returns 12 months on

That said, it may have to stave off accusations of its coverage becoming samey if Agrapart wins the Relkeel Hurdle again. The first big-race winner on ITV is back 12 months on, having been campaigned exclusively in France so far this season.

His task this year looks tougher, not least because he now carries the maximum penalty. His rivals include Old Guard, who is a renewed force this season and was beaten less than four lengths in the International Hurdle last time, West Yorkshire Hurdle winner Colin's Sister, and Wholestone, who won a couple of Grade 2 novices here last season.

Wholestone's trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies, has a fine record in the feature handicap chase (2.00) and saddles both Splash Of Ginge and Ballyhill.

Splash Of Ginge won the BetVictor Gold Cup under similar conditions earlier in the winter, while the form of the December Gold Cup is also represented by proxy through Sametegal, who was second to Guitar Pete on his return from a 20-month absence in November and has since been third in the Grand Sefton.

Musselburgh riding high

Musselburgh is now established as the second meeting on New Year's Day and is increasingly worthy of the label with those in search of less testing ground and good prize-money drawn to East Lothian these days.

There are two £30,000 handicaps, both live on ITV, with useful Flat performer Sir Chauvelin's return to hurdles coinciding with the handicap debut of former Champion Bumper winner Silver Concorde at 2.15.

There are also the traditional New Year's Day cards at Catterick, Southwell and Fakenham. Ireland also has two meetings on offer. Tramore has a Listed chase that includes a handful of big names, while at Fairyhouse one of last year's top novice hurdlers, Sutton Place, starts out over fences.

The new beginnings keep on coming.

Look back on a sizzling year of racing in the new edition of the Racing Post Annual, which has 208 colour pages packed with the best stories and pictures of 2017. Order now at racingpost.com/shop or call 01933 304858