Fresh off the back of several weekend winners, Sportscasting’s racing editor Andy Newton returns with his ITV Racing tips on Friday 15th January as the cameras are at Windsor, for the opening day of their Berkshire Winter Millions Festival, and also at Market Rasen.
Andy Newton’s ITV Racing Tips Windsor and Market Rasen: Friday 16th January 2026
The ITV Racing schedule on Friday will see SIX races on the ‘free-to-air’ channel that include four from the opening day of the three-day Berkshire Winter Millions Festival.
Windsor get the festival going on Friday, with Ascot taking over on Saturday, before returning to Windsor on Sunday.
All three days will be covered on ITV, with Friday seeing FOUR live races from the reinstated jumps track.
They will be joined by Market Rasen, with ITV Racing showing two races from the Lincolnshire venue.
So, as always, Andy Newton is on hand with his ITV Racing tips and key stats for each day – as he goes in search of more winners.
Plus each day you can also see Andy’s daily horse racing tips and cheat sheet – including his NAP, NB, Lay Of The Day and hot trainers list.
Let’s get going.
Windsor ITV Racing Tips: Friday 16th January, 2026 🏇
1:50 Windsor – Fitzdares Your Personal Bookmaker Lightning Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m ITV4
Just the five runners here and squeaks can be made for them all.
However, with eight of the last nine winners aged six or 7, then this is against the 8yos in the race – Hansard (NR) and No Question Asked.
The 7yo Alnilam did well back in October but has since lost his way a tad in more recent runs at Sandown and Kempton, so needs to bounce back and is overlooked too.
Roadlesstravelled (NR) can’t be ruled out if finding the level of form that saw him win a Grade Two Novice Hurdle at Haydock last season.
But has been pulled up twice since and is first time over fences today. Would be a big ask.
That leaves us with the 7yo BE AWARE, who brings the best form into the race after running second to one of the big Cheltenham favourites Lulamba (Arkle) at Sandown last time.
Before that was also a fine second to the useful July Flower and with three chase runs under his belt, this Skelton-trained grey sets the standard.
The others should certainly ‘Be Aware’.
🥇BE AWARE
🥈NO QUESTIONS ASKED
🥉ALNILAM
KEY STATS 📈
- 8 of the last 9 winners aged 6 or 7
- 5 winning favs in the last 9
- All of the last 9 winners 15/2 or shorter
- Trainer Jonjo O’Neill & A J O’Neill have a 33% SR over fences at Windsor
2:25 Windsor – Fitzdares Telephone And Text Betting Service Mares’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (5yo+ 0-145) 2m4f ITV4
The O’Neill camp boast a solid 33% SR over fences at Windsor, so their All The Glory is worth a second glance in the betting at a nice price.
Alfie’s Princess is up 5lbs for her recent win at Wincanton.
Which looks fair and this Sam Thomas runner should have more to come with only two chase starts.
Largy Force is another last time out winner in the race and is only up 2lbs for her recent Uttoxeter win.
He’ll also have the services of Sean Bowen and so is certainly one for the shortlist.
Top-weight Bluey was second last time at Exeter and returns on the same mark, plus has had a wind op since.
The Emma Lavelle team are in fine fettle too and this 7yo is another with a big chance.
Hollygrove Cha Cha To Dance Home
However, it’s the horse that beat Bluey that I’m interested in – HOLLYGROVE CHA CHA.
This Jamie Snowden runner had 4 3/4 lengths in-hand over Bluey last time and despite being 6lbs worse off is the call to uphold that form.
She’s an exciting mare that before that win ran third behind the useful Resplendent Grey and Handstands at Carlisle. And is taken to improve again now stepped back up in trip.
I’ll take Hollygrove Cha Cha to dance home and could even head to the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after this.
Here’s also what Jamie Snowden told us this morning on the FromTheStables site – let’s hope he’s right!
“Hollygrove Cha Cha She was 2nd in a Listed event at Taunton over 2m and won the Grade 2 Jane Seymour over 2m4f at Sandown last season. She was an excellent 3rd on her seasonal and chasing debut in the Listed Colin Parker at Carlisle, and won a novice at Exeter last time out. She steps into a competitive handicap now, but she is improving and should take a lot of beating.” Jamie Snowden
🥇HOLLYGROVE CHA CHA
🥈BLUEY
🥉LARGY FORCE
KEY STATS 📈
- Trainer Jonjo O’Neill & A J O’Neill have a 33% SR over fences at Windsor
- The favourite has won the last two runnings
3:00 Windsor – Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (5yo+) 2m4f ITV4
Altobelli won in January last year – at this weekend’s Ascot card.
However, has lost his way a bit since and the niggle for me is that he seems a better horse at the Berkshire track.
The Skelton runner Take No Chances also had an entry in a race she won last season on Saturday – the Warfield Mares’ Hurdle at Ascot. However, connections are preferring this option.
She’s a player too, having run well this season behind Stayers’ Hurdle hope Impose Toi in the Long Distance Hurdle (3rd) and before that ran second to Strong Leader at Wetherby.
Take No Chances is rated 145 and also gets a handy 7lbs from Potters Charm and last year’s winner Nemean Lion.
Potters Charm will be more at home dropped back in trip after not quite seeing out the 3m 1/2 in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last time.
That said, still finished a fair 4th and only 8 1/2 lengths off Impose Toi.
Stick With Last Year’s Winner (Providing The Rain Comes)
But I still think last year’s winner NEMEAN LION is the one to beat here. After running a blinder in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle (3rd) last time.
Okay, if The New Lion and Constitution Hill had stayed up, then he might have been fifth.
He was still only 1 3/4 lengths off last season’s Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace at the line though.
The softer the better for this Kerry Lee runner, who just lacks the class at the very top table so you feel this £50k pot will be his big target this season.
Windsor is expected to get more rain on Thursday, with a drier day on Friday – so let’s just hope it’s soft enough.
As long some more rain comes – Nemean Lion is the call to ‘roar’ home in this race again.
🥇NEMEAN LION
🥈POTTERS CHARM
🥉TAKE NO CHANCES
KEY STATS 📈
- Nemean Lion won this race last season
3:35 Windsor – Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m ITV4
The final ITV Racing scheduled race at Windsor on Friday is a very competitive handicap hurdle. So you might need to dig out the trusty ‘pin’.
Trainer Jamie Snowden boasts a solid 29% SR with his hurdlers here and runs Milldam. But does need to recover from two poor runs this season.
On a plus, he’s only rated 2lbs higher than his last win.
Go Dante was 11th in this last year off 130 and is rated 134 now – plus is better at Sandown for me.
Dan Skelton Yard Mob-Handed
Dan Skelton means business in the race with four runners – Great Fleet, Listentoyourheart, Live Conti and Knickerbockerglory. With main jockey Harry (Skelton) picking Live Conti.
Conti has only had four career runs (two wins) and was second in the Grade One 4-Y-O Anniversary Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree last season.
However, he was 25 lengths behind another runner here – Wilful (up 7lbs) last time at Ascot.
Connections are putting on the first-time tongue-tie here though and in his defence that was his first run just over eight months.
Better is expected, but is there a bigger day waiting at the Cheltenham Festival for this 5yo?
Knickerbocker glory will love the rain and has help with Harry Atkins claiming 7lbs.
But, of the Skelton runners, I’d prefer GREAT FLEET, who is into handicap company for the first time.
He won well at Kelso last time and both career wins have been with Triston Durrell riding, who is in the plate again.
With just 10-12 there could be more to come from this 6yo.
Of the rest, the consistent Spectacularsunrise can get involved too.
While it’s another Skelton entry LISTENTOYOURHEART that catches the eye up 5lbs for a recent win here at Windsor.
But that is offset with the booking of Heidi Palin (claiming 7lbs).
Her course experience is a bonus and last time with the first two pulling just over four lengths clear of the rest. In short, the form looks solid.
🥇LISTENTOYOURHEART
🥈GREAT FLEET
🥉WILFUL
KEY STATS 📈
- Trainer Jamie Snowden has a 29% SR with his hurdlers at the track
Market Rasen ITV Racing Tips: Friday 16th January, 2026 🏇
2:05 Market Rasen – Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Unibet Mid Dist Vets’ Chase Series) Cl2 (9yo+ 0-150) 2m5½f ITV4
Plenty of old faces on show in this Veterans’ Chase, including last year’s winner The Flier Begley.
However, now aged 11, this Gary Hammer runner is rated a big-looking 15lbs higher.
And jockey Jack Hogan also can’t claim 3lbs this year. Meaning he’s 18lbs worse off this time.
DOYEN DU BAR is looking the likely jolly and it’s easy to see why.
Trainer Nicky Richards has a 50% SR at the track with his chasers. And this 10yo is yet to finish out of the top three over fences (eight runs).
He’s also lightly-raced for a horse running in a vets race (just 14 career runs) so could just have the legs on this lot.
Mahons Glory (5th) and Bill Baxter (6th) both ran blinders in the Becher Chase at Aintree last time and can’t be ruled out either.W
While, at a price, Two For Gold could outrun his odds too. Yes, he’s 13 now but is also rated 8lbs lower than his last winning mark. Albeit which came in April 2023.
But the other worth a mention is the Hughie Morrison runner FILANDERER, with the yard boasting a top 75% (3-4) SR with their chasers here at Market Rasen.
He jumped poorly the last day at Newbury, so does need to recover from that.
But before that won three on the spin and was also in the winners’ enclosure last January.
A 49-day break should have freshened him up too and gets in here with just 10-3 in weight.
🥇FILANDERER
🥈DOYEN DU BAR
🥉THE FLIER BEGLEY
KEY STATS 📈
- The Flier Begley won this race last season
- Trainer Hughie Morrison has a 75% SR with his chasers at Market Rasen
- Trainer Nicky Richards has a 50% SR with his chasers at Market Rasen
- Jockey Jack Hogan has a 27% SR riding over fences at Market Rasen
- Jockey Ciaran Gethings has a 27% SR riding over fences at Market Rasen
2:40 Market Rasen – Alan Swinbank Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed Race) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4-6yo) 2m½f ITV4
The stats here tell us ALL of the last seven winners were aged four or five.
Meaning the slightly older runners in the field – Malina Road (6) and I C U In My Dreams (6) – are overlooked.
This is a race trainer David Pipe won last season too.
He tries again this year with Red Wine Supernova, who was a nice winner at Sedgefield on Boxing Day.
The two 4 year-olds in the race – Lady Litigator and Galaxy Star – were separated by just a head last time at Newbury.
But with GALAXY STAR 7lbs better off now is taken to reverse the form for the Alan King yard.
Of the rest, The Flaggy Shore was impressive at Warwick last time, but I think the second that day JOLLIE DAME can get closer.
Why?
She’s 5lbs better off as jockey Toby McCain-Mitchell can’t claim this time.
Plus, that was also Jollie Dame’s first ever career run. Suggesting this Dan Skelton runner will come on a lot for it.
🥇JOLLIE DAME
🥈GALAXY STAR
🥉RED WINE SUPERNOVA
KEY STATS 📈
- The last seven winners aged 4 or 5
- Trainer David Pipe won this race last season
- Trainer Fergal O’Brien has a 33% SR with his NH Flat runners at the track
