Who caught our experts' eyes on New Year's Day with spring festivals in mind?

On a hectic first day of the year featuring plenty of quality racing, we asked three of our experts who caught their eye the most with the spring festivals in mind . . .

'Why not chance her in the Stayers'?

Marie's Rock looked as good as ever when winning the Relkeel and as Nicky Henderson has the Champion Hurdle under lock and key with Constitution Hill, and Epatante is capable of hustling Honeysuckle in the Mares' Hurdle, why not chance her in the Stayers' Hurdle?

That would mean a clash with stablemate Champ, but she would be an interesting dart for Henderson to throw. She is by Milan out of a Flemensfirth mare, so is bred to stay and has been strong at the finish in her races over intermediate trips, posting form figures of 1P1111 since being upped in distance.
James Burn, Lambourn correspondent

'Those quotes might underestimate his ability'

James Du Berlais was chucked in at the deep end on his first two starts for Willie Mullins in 2021, running in the Champion Hurdle before finishing second in the Grade 1 Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown.

James Du Berlais: as short as 8-1 for the Turners Novices' Chase at Cheltenham in March

He is obviously talented but still had questions to answer on his chase debut at Fairyhouse after such a long layoff. There are tougher tests to come but he could hardly have been more impressive, and quotes of 8-1 for the Turners Novices' Chase and 10-1 for the Brown Advisory might underestimate the extent of his ability.
Jonathan Harding, reporter

'She has the form to be involved'

The most exciting performance came from Marie’s Rock, who ran out an impressive winner of a deep Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham. A Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham and Punchestown in the spring, a marked drift before the race could suggest her six-length drubbing of smart rivals might not have been expected.

There are plenty of options for her moving forward, including the Mares’ Hurdle and the Stayers’, and I would love to see her tackle the latter.

That race looks wide open and the way she has seen out two miles five furlongs in the past suggests a stiff three miles would not be an issue for her. She has the form to be involved and it would almost feel like a waste of her talent if she did not tackle the boys again.
Owen Goulding, tipster

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