'A big opportunity': Irish Raiders at Cheltenham on New Year's Day Every Cheltenham meeting is subject to Irish interest these days and the Gloucestershire course’s New Years’ Day meeting is no different. Three Irish-trained runners are making the trip over, one of which is already a course-and-distance winner. We’re going to take a close look at the chances of all three runners. Eagle Fang - Cheltenham 12.50 @ SP William Durkan’s Eagle Fang was highly tried as a juvenile hurdler and contested a couple of graded races in Ireland. He was then brought over for the 2024 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, although he struggled to make his presence felt and finished down the field. One of his best efforts over hurdles came in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle last season he finished third behind the useful Home By The Lee. Durkan’s gelding failed to win last season however and returned to Cheltenham for the Coral Cup, where he finished 11th. Making the perfect start to his chasing career, he outbattled the 5/2 favourite Kurasso Blue to score by just shy of a length in a 2m6f beginners’ chase at Thurles. You would imagine he’s likely to build on that effort but he’ll need to in order to follow up here. This is a warm novice event and the talented Regent’s Stroll looks like the one to beat, although he can be his own worst enemy at times. Shannon Royale - Cheltenham 13:25 @ SP Previously with Gordon Elliott, Shannon Royale joined Ian Donoghue at the start of the season and he has had two starts so far. He made his stable debut over hurdles at Galway in October and was comfortably beaten, finishing 11 lengths adrift in seventh. A return to fences was on the agenda at Punchestown last time out and that was a very hot race. There were plenty of smart handicappers in the field that day and there was no shame in finishing fifth. This looks easier and it would be no surprise to see him run a big race. Shannon Royale’s sole success over fences came in a beginners’ chase over three miles at Punchestown in December last year and that form looks pretty decent. This eight-year-old has a handicap prize or two in him and this looks like a good opportunity. Moon d’Orange - Cheltenham 14:00 @ SP John McConnell is a regular raider in Britain and tends to send plenty of runners over to Cheltenham throughout the season. Moon d’Orange is a previous course-and-distance winner and that definitely bodes well for his chances here. He managed to win a similar race at Prestbury Park on trials’ day, where he narrowly got the better of Grandeur d’Ame off a mark of 129. McConnell’s gelding has struggled somewhat since but is beginning to come down the weights and currently finds himself on a 4lb higher mark. Struggling in a couple of starts over three miles or further this season, the drop back in trip should help. It was a pretty underwhelming display in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury last time out however and he’ll need to improve significantly on that performance.
