Jump racing returns to Prestbury Park this week with the two-day Showcase Meeting and you can go through the card with Andy Newton’s Cheltenham racing tips on Friday – the opening day.
Cheltenham Racing Tips: Friday 24th October 2025
The wait is almost over folks for jump racing to return to the home of the National Hunt – as the tape goes up for another season at Prestbury Park on Friday.
Their two-day Showcase Meeting will see 14 races over the fixture and a massive ELEVEN races being shown LIVE on the ITV Racing schedule.
So, to take you through the action – Andy Newton, who is a regular on the popular Final Furlong podcast, gives you is best Cheltenham racing tips for Friday.
You can also get Andy’s daily Lucky 15 horse racing tips here – including his NAP, NB and Each-way fancies each day.
1:15 Cheltenham – William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle Cl3 (3yo+ 0-140) 2m4f ITV
The stats for the last 10 runnings tell us eight winners finished in the top three last time out, but we’ve only had two winning favourites over this period.
Nine of the last 10 winners also carried just 10st 12lbs. While four of the last six winners were ridden by a claiming jockey and 70% were aged 5 or 6.
It’s a super competitive opener, but one horse that fits the above stats is the Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies-trained THE EXPENSIVE ONE.
He’ll be fitter than most – having won earlier this month at October and despite being raised 5lbs for that – this is offset with James Turners 5lb claim.
The yard are in-form (28%) and feature in our best Cheltenham trainer stats feature. Plus they also won this race back in 2021 with Guard Your Dreams.
Of the rest, former Festival winner Jazzy Matty is respected, but Classic King for the in-form Emma Lavelle yard with Harry Cobden booked is interesting too.
As is French Ship, who was in the process of running a big race at Chepstow last time until falling three out.
🥇THE EXPENSIVE ONE (e/w)
🥈CLASSIC KING
🥉FRENCH SHIP
1:50 Cheltenham – Holland Cooper ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m ITV
Stats here tell us it’s been a good race for the favourite in the last 11 runnings – with them ALL finishing first or second and nine winning.
Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell has won the last two – so it catches the eye he sends Addragoole over.
While his fellow Ireland handler Gordon Elliott is double-handed with Relieved Of Duties and King Of Kingsfield – with the later having already won three times over fences.
However, another yard that have done well in this race is the Dan Skelton team, with two wins since 2017 – they run COUNTRY MILE.
This 6 year-old ran showed a good level of form over hurdles last season and wasn’t disgraced on his chasing debut at Uttoxeter earlier this month.
That day he was 3 1/2 lengths behind another of the runners here – Alnilam, but gets a 5lb weight pull this time.
That was also his first run since December so we can expect a lot of improvement. Plus, we know the track suits, having won at Cheltenham over hurdles last season.
When slamming the useful Wingman by 7 1/2 lengths at the December Meeting last season (watch below).
🥇COUNTRY MILE
🥈ADDRAGOOLE
🥉KING OF KINGSFIELD
Yes, That is 🐎 COUNTRY MILE battering twice Grade 1 placed 🐎 Wingmen
Yes, he returns to Cheltenham tomorrow where he last won, when looking like an aeroplane ✈️
Yes, he is getting weight from most of the field
And Yes, he is still odds against…pic.twitter.com/7KpyoBoM3K
— Liam Firkin (@AntepostValue) October 23, 2025
2:25 Cheltenham – Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qual) Cl3 (3yo+ 0-140) 2m½f ITV
Another very tricky contest to unravel, so maybe some stats might help.
ALL of the last 1o winners carried 11st 3lbs in this handicap. With 80% finishing in the top three last time out and also running in the last four weeks.
The last seven winners were also ALL aged 5 or 6 – and it’s a prize the Fergal O’Brien and Paul Nicholls yard have liked, with two wins each.
O’Brien runs Liverpool Knight and Leloopa, with Nicholls saddling up Zaochen Enki.
Of that trio, the 5 year-old LELOOPA could be over-priced – having run well around this time of the year last season and also returns from a recent wind op.
A third at Newton Abbot after would have blown away the cobwebs too and jockey Tom Broughton knows the horses well – winning on her twice before.
Of the rest, Irish trainer Cian Collins won this pot last year and sends over his hat-trick seeking TORQUAY ROAD, who looks a hurdler on the up.
While the Niel King-trained Rubber Ball has to be respected after back in calmer waters after running in the Grade One Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree back in April.
🥇TORQUAY ROAD (e/w)
🥈LELOOPA
🥉RUBBER BALL
3:00 Cheltenham – Oddschecker Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Sharp Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m½f ITV
Starting with the stats again here – this is a race that’s seen ALL of the last 11 winners finish in the top four last time, which would be a negative for Jack Hyde (5th).
Nine of the last 10 winners were aged between 4-6 years-old too. While it’s a race that’s seen some greats win it in the past – with former Champion Chaser Altior winning this in 2015.
We’ve three Irish runners – Run For Mahler (C Byrnes), Jackson Lamb (J McConnell) and Paul’s Dream (Anthony Mullins).
But this could be best left to two home-based yards.
The Dan Skelton camp took the race last year and have a good chance again with Fortune De Mar, who won the bumper at the November Meeting last season.
But he needs to bounce back from being a beaten jolly on his hurdling debut at Uttoxeter earlier this month – maybe the first-time hood will help having found little in the closing stages.
The other big player for the British yards is UN SENS A LA VIE – running for the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard, who won this in 2021 with I Like To Move It.
This 5 year-old was very impressive when winning on his hurdles debut at Market Rasen a few weeks ago and looks to have a similar profile to their Potters Charm – a horse that did well for the stable around this time last year.
He looks worth sticking with for a stable in-form.
🥇UN SENS A LA VIE
🥈FORTUNE DE MAR
🥉RUN FOR MAHLER
3:35 Cheltenham – squareintheair.com Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m ITV
The final ITV race on Friday will see last year’s Cheltenham winner of this race Calico back for more.
He’s respected – having beat another runner here Matata 12 months ago – but is also rated 4lbs higher and a year older this time at 9.
With the Matata sure to run his race again, despite having 12st and rated 13lbs higher than 12 months ago.
The stats tell us 90% of the last 10 winners were aged between 6-8. While 80% didn’t win last time out and had won between 1-3 times over fences.
With these trends in mind, the Henry De Bromhead runner JASKO DES DAMES ticks a lot of boxes – especially as the Irish have won two of the last three renewals.
Festival fans might remember him running 5th in the Grand Annual back in March and is only up 5lbs from that.
At 6 years-old there should be more to come, and he tuned-up for this with a fine second at Listowel last month.
We’ve also for the 2024 Grand Annual winner Unexpected Party. However, is now rated 11lbs higher and not getting any younger at 10 years-old.
🥇JASKO DES DAMES
🥈MATATA
🥉CALICO
What Is The Cheltenham Going On Friday? ☔⛅
The Cheltenham going on Friday is expected to be Good-to-Soft, good in places.
With the Going stick 6.3.
How To Watch Cheltenham Races On Friday 📺
All seven Cheltenham races on Friday will be shown live on Racing TV.
While the first five races will also be shown live on the ITV Racing schedule.
