Andy Newton’s Cheltenham 1-2-3 Best Bets: Friday ITV Racing Tips

It’s day one of the Christmas Meeting at Prestbury Park on Friday, with FIVE races LIVE on ITV Racing – so, as always, around the big fixtures – you can see Andy Newton’s Cheltenham horse racing tips and 1-2-3 best bets.

Cheltenham Horse Racing Tips: Friday 12th December 2025 

The ITV Racing schedule on Friday sees five LIVE races on the ‘free-to-air’ channel on the seven race card.

We see the first of the ITV races at 1:15pm for the Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle. A race that’s seen three of the last five winners ridden by a claiming jockey.

The Veterans’ Chase at 2:25pm will welcome the return of some old faces, including 2023 December Gold Cup winner Fugitif.

Plus we’ve also got the Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Chase (3:00pm). Can Mister Coffey finally win over fences?

Andy Newton, who fired in plenty of winners last weekend, is on hand with his 1-2-3 Cheltenham horse racing tips.

You can also see Andy’s daily Lucky 15 horse racing tips – including NAP, NB, best e/w picks and highlighting the trainers in-form.

1:15 Cheltenham – Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle Cl3 (3yo+ 0-140) 2m1f ITV

French Emperor was a good winner here last month and is respected despite being 7lbs higher. Sean Bowen riding is an obvious plus too.

Seven year-old Iberico Lord is the top-rated (138) and on his best form can’t be ruled out, but was well back in the Greatwood Hurdle here last time and is only a pound lower.

But 10 of the last 12 winners have been aged six or younger.

The Skelton runner Fortune De Mer won here in October, despite drifting in the betting that day, and has since run a fair race to be second at Ascot so is another shortlisted.

But another horse who won on that Cheltenham October card was LELOOPA, who scooted home by 4 3/4 lengths that day.

This Fergal O’Brien-trained five year-old is up 6lbs here but Tom Broughton, who was on the last day, can claim 5lbs this time.

Meaning he’s only a pound higher here – while this has also been a good race for claiming riders with three of the last five ridden by a conditional.

Nine of the last 12 winners were also aged five or six, while 11 of the last 12 finished in the top four last time.

Of those at bigger prices, another who is ridden by a claimer is Continuance, with Freddie Keighley in the plate.

He was an improved second at Sandown last time out and should strip fitter now with that only his second outing this season.

Brentford Hope could bounce back too.

He’s not quite been enjoying himself over fences and is back over hurdles on a fair mark. With Megan Fox also taking off a handy 7lbs.

Don’t forget he ran Constitution Hill to three lengths in the International Hurdle here back in January.

🥇LELOOPA
🥈BRENTFORD HOPE 
🥉FRENCH EMPEROR

THREE KEY STATS 📈

1:50 Cheltenham – Turners Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m2½f ITV

The Warren Greatrex yard are in great form and so their Herakles Westwood is interesting after a nice second here in November.

But he’s racing 9lbs out of the handicap with the classy L’HOMME PRESSE in action.

Last season’s King George third landed the Cotswold Chase here on Trials Day in January and could just have too much class for this lot – despite a big weight (12st).

He’s gone well fresh several times in the past too, so the 300-day break is not too much of a worry.

Yes, the form of the Venetia Williams yard has been suspect in recent months, but there are signs of a revival.

With Djelo winning the Peterborough Chase last Sunday and another in midweek.

The stable also have a fair record in this race, with two wins in the last nine (both ridden by Charlie Deutsch).

Gowel Road often goes well here and is interesting back over fences. With his recent third over hurdles to Kikijo having been franked since.

2024 Winner King Turgeon Back To Defend Crown

Last year’s winner King Turgeon will be popular too and is only up 3lbs here.

He hasn’t won since (four races), but the Pipe team has a top record in the race with six wins.

The Doyen Chief can be forgiven his last run after totally fluffing the start. He’s best judged on his second at Banger to Deep Cave before that.

He, therefore, comes with risks if he’ll repeat those antics at the tape again so is overlooked.

The Short Go is the pick to follow home L’Homme Presse though.

This Henry De Bromhead runner was a fine fourth here in October and does seem to like it here at Cheltenham.

He’s up 4lbs for that last run, but is 2-5-4 at Prestbury Park now, including when fifth in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Festival in March.

Connections are also reaching for the first-time tongue-tie and top Irish rider Darragh O’Keeffe comes over for the ride.

🥇L’HOMME PRESSE
🥈THE SHORT GO 
🥉KING TURGEON 

THREE KEY STATS 📈

WATCH: L’Homme Presse Winning The Cotswold Chase

2:25 Cheltenham – Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Series Handicap Chase (Qualifier) Cl2 (9yo+ 0-150) 2m4½f ITV

Eldorado Allen won well here last month and will love conditions again – he can go well off a 5lb higher mark.

The consistent COURTLAND is another that is sure to be in the mix though and is a solid call to be in the shake-up.

Especially as the form of his recent second to Twig has since been franked with that horse winning the Becher Chase last weekend at Aintree.

He’s off the same mark here and we know he stays a bit further than this 2m 4f 1/2 trip – which will help on this softer ground.

Oh, and a certain Sean Bowen rides.

Fugitif won the 2023 December Gold Cup and is rated 8lbs lower now and has Charlie Maggs claiming another 5lbs – so could be dangerous.

But hasn’t won since taking that contest two years ago and was well beaten behind Eldorado Allen last time.

Can You Call was just under six lengths behind Eldorado Allen last time and is 3lbs better off.

While I’d not be shocked to see Le Milos leave his recent Bangor run (pulled up) behind.

But the danger to Courtland can come from WHISTLEINTHEDARK, who strangely looks to be improving at the age of 10.

He was a nice eight-length winner last time at Carlisle over this trip. And even though he’s up 5lbs, will head here in much better form than a lot of these.

And despite a very tenuous link – the last three winners of this race have all gone to female trainers.

Laura Morgan (Whistleinthedark) is the only one flying the ‘girl power’ flag here.

🥇COURTLAND
🥈WHISTLEINTHEDARK 
🥉ELDORADO ALLEN 

THREE KEY STATS 📈

3:00 Cheltenham – Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Handicap Chase Cl2 (5yo+) 3m5½f ITV

The David Cottin yard won this in 2019 with Easysland. They try again with Iceo Madrik and Placenet.

The former looks their main hope but unseated in this last year and also refused at a fence in his last race – so comes with risks.

MISTER COFFEY has famously never won over fences (17 races), but has run well in these Cross Country races before. Including a second in this last season.

He’s 2lbs higher this time – so you just hope the handicapper gives him a break at some point.

And you might think I’m mad – but could this be his day?

But he ran well here last month and there is no Stumptown, who won this race last season, to deal with this time.

So don’t rule him out breaking his duck – on Nicky Henderson’s 75th birthday week, this would give him a nice present.

Past Winner Latenightpass Back For More

We know 2023 winner Latenightpass likes this course too, but is 2lbs higher and 12 years-old now.

Oh, and hasn’t won since taking this pot two years ago.

The Emmet Mullins-trained J’Arrive De L’Est could be very interesting if taking to the fences/course.

He’s a young French recruit that is having his first run for the yard, but brings some fair form over from France and certainly won’t mind the ground.

We’ve also seen four of the last nine favourites win and that trend could carry on with Busselton, who sports the first time visor.

But my concern here is this Joseph O’Brien-trained eight year-old has run three times over these fences and been 6-6-PU.

Including sixth in this last season and is only 3lbs better off.

16 of the last 20 winners had run over these fences in the past too.

However, one horse that could defy that stat is the Henry De Bromhead runner AMIRITE. 

He was fourth in the Galway Plate at the end of July but there are signs this track will suit. Having run fourth in the Topham Chase at Aintree over the Grand National fences in April.

Darragh O’Keeffe rides and off a mark of 146 is the top-rated in the field and will have to shoulder 12st, but could just be the sort to take to these races.

🥇MISTER COFFEY
🥈AMRITE 
🥉J’ARRIVE DE L’EST 

THREE KEY STATS 📈

3:35 Cheltenham – Citipost Handicap Hurdle Cl2 (4yo+) 3m ITV

Long Draw won this in 2024 and is back for more, but this time rated 17lbs higher.

But is clearly a better horse these days and the form of his recent fourth at Cheltenham has been boosted with the winner Kikijo winning again.

The handicapper has helped a tad too – dropping him a pound from that last run and Sean Bowen rides. He’s a big player.

Tranquil Sea will be on many shortlists coming from the Skelton camp, but isn’t an easy horse to win with (one win from last 11).

This has been another good race for the conditional jockeys with three of the last eight ticking this box.

Spike Jones, Everyonesgame, Titan Discovery, Pike Road and Lihyan fit the bill here.

Lucky Manifest ran well to be second here at the November Meeting, but is 5lbs higher this time.

But the call is KYNTARA, for the Mel Rowley yard that did us a favour last weekend with Bear Market.

This nine year-old was only beaten 3 3/4 lengths to Impose Toi last time at Aintree and that form has been boosted with the winner taking the Long Distance Hurdle.

He’s on the same mark as last time and should improve for that run (first for eight months).

And we know the track is fine – having run second in the 2024 Pertemps here (again off this same 131 mark). You can relive that below.

🥇KYNTARA 
🥈LONG DRAW
🥉LUCKY MANIFEST

THREE KEY STATS 📈

WATCH: Kyntara Running Second In The 2024 Pertemps