The BETTOR'S BLOG 1ST JANUARY

# BETTOR'S BLOG - January 1, 2026

Happy New Year, punters! Welcome to 2026 – may your accumulators land and your each-way bets pay out big. We're kicking off the year with a packed day of action across football, jumps racing at some classic venues, and greyhound meetings to keep the adrenaline flowing. William Hill has all the markets covered, from match winners to trap challenges, with boosted odds and specials to get your year started right. Let's dive in.

### Football Focus: New Year's Day Premier League Action

Traditional New Year's Day football is back with a bang in the Premier League, featuring several key clashes broadcast live on Sky Sports. Highlights include:

- **Crystal Palace vs Fulham** (17:30 kick-off) – A London derby to warm up the evening.

- **Liverpool vs Leeds United** (17:30) – Anfield hosts this one; expect goals with Liverpool's attacking flair.

- **Brentford vs Tottenham Hotspur** (20:00) – Spurs looking to build momentum.

- **Sunderland vs Manchester City** (20:00) – City aiming to start the year strongly against promoted Sunderland.

Elsewhere, a full card of EFL matches dominates the day, with all 72 teams from the Championship, League One, and League Two in action – perfect for building those big accas on William Hill. Check their site for enhanced multiples and in-play offers as the games unfold.

### Horse Racing: Jumps Action on New Year's Day

The National Hunt season continues with festive meetings to blow away the cobwebs. Key fixtures include:

- **Cheltenham** – The prestige venue hosts a strong card, featuring the Relkeel Hurdle and other graded races. Look out for standout runners like Glengouly (impressive recent winner) and Regent's Stroll in the chases.

- **Exeter** – Devon's big New Year's Day meet with competitive hurdles and chases.

- **Royal Windsor** – Making a historic return to New Year's Day racing after nearly 30 years, with jumps action on the card.

William Hill offers Best Odds Guaranteed on all UK races, plus extra places on selected handicaps. Traditional New Year's Day highlights like the Challow Hurdle equivalents could feature – head to their racing section for live streaming and form guides.

### Greyhounds: Evening Thrills Across the Tracks

Greyhound action keeps rolling into the night with meetings at several top venues:

- **Nottingham** – Afternoon/evening card with strong opens.

- **Central Park** – New Year's Day special racing.

- **Valley Greyhounds** and others like Romford and Newcastle gearing up for early 2026 cards.

William Hill streams all UK greyhound races live (bet £1 to watch), with markets on winners, forecasts, and traps. Perfect for late-night bets after the football wraps up.

### Daily Crypto Roundup

As we step into 2026, crypto starts the year with notable developments:

- **Ripple's Big Unlock**: Ripple releases 1 billion XRP (~$1 billion value) from escrow today – a monthly ritual. Historically, much gets re-locked, limiting real supply impact, but watch for short-term volatility.

- **Regulatory Shifts**: OECD's CARF tax rules kick in globally from today, increasing reporting for crypto exchanges. In the EU, DAC8 enhances tax transparency starting January. US eyes the CLARITY Act markup this month for clearer digital asset rules.

- **Market Sentiment**: Bitcoin hovers around $87-88K after year-end dips, with analysts eyeing $100K+ if institutional inflows continue. ETF activity remains positive, and whale accumulation in alts like LINK and LDO signals optimism for early 2026 gains.

Stay sharp on William Hill for any crypto-related specials if they emerge – though focus remains on traditional sports betting.

That's your lot for January 1 – bet responsibly, enjoy the action, and here's to a profitable 2026! Back tomorrow with more tips and previews.

*The Bettor's Blog Team*

(Gamble responsibly – 18+ | BeGambleAware.org)