Andy Newton’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips From Cheltenham and Doncaster

Another busy horse weekend ahead as we race toward Christmas – and as always, Andy Newton, is on hand with his best 1-2-3 Saturday ITV Racing tips from Cheltenham and Doncaster. 

Last week he fired in top winners – including Bear Market, Kikijo, Lulamba and Il Etait Temps – so will be looking to boost the festive funds further this Saturday.

You can also catch Andy each week on the popular Final Furlong Podcast – sharing his weekend best bets with the team.

Plus see this daily Lucky 15 horse racing tips, NAP and trainer stats each day on the SportsCasting site.

Andy Newton’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Cheltenham Best Bets (13th December 2025)

1:15 Cheltenham – Quintessentially Mares’ Handicap Chase (Challenger Mares’ Chase Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) Cl3 (4yo+ 0-125) 2m4½f ITV

The Snowden team are flying this season and have another big chance with She Is For Me Boys.

She’s progressive having won her last three, but is up 7lbs from her chase debut so more is needed.

Theonewedreamedof was a nice winner last time too (Exeter) and represents the Skeltons.

Is up 5lbs for that win but the third from her last race has been well beaten since.

I cant have any Gavin Cromwell runner at the moment with their poor SR (3-43), but they did win this in 2023.

They try to turn their fortunes around with Me Wee Bonnie Lass.

It’s Easy ran third behind She Is For Me Boys and is back on the same terms, but has won since so could easily get closer, or reverse that form.

While the six year-old Greyval is the only course winner in the field, so has to be respected on that alone. Especially as 10 of the last 11 winners had run here at Cheltenham before.

But seven of the last nine winners were also aged six or eight, so that helps with the main fancy REALTA LIATH.

The Warren Greatrex team can do little wrong at the moment and this six year-old heads here after a nice win at Fontwell.

Is up 8lbs, which is a tad harsh, but the form looks good with the fifth (Footloose Man) and seventh (Mutley Crew) both winning since.

Her name translates to ‘Grey Star’ (thanks to Jaime Wrenn) so is taken to be just that in this first ITV Racing contest on Saturday.

🥇REALTA LIATH
🥈SHE IS FOR ME BOYS
🥉GREYVAL 

THREE KEY STATS 📈

1:50 Cheltenham – December Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m4½f ITV

Another typically tough renewal for the meeting’s feature race – which has been renamed this year the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup.

The first thing to note is the race has been a graveyard for the favourites – with only one winning since 2000, which was Poquelin in 2009.

At this stage it’s hard to know who will go off as the jolly, with Jagwar, Hoe Joly Smoke, Kim Roque and Vincenzo all in contention.

I like Jagwar, who is two-from-two here at Cheltenham both on the new course too – including winning the Plate at the Festival in March.

But we’ve also seen 20 of the last 22 winners having run in the last six weeks, so will his 275-day break be a worry?

I’m also concerned about the form of the yard – with the Greenall/Guerriero camp just 1-23.

In short – I’m taking him on here.

Take Dan Skelton To ‘Smoke’ The Rest In December Gold Cup

HOE JOLY SMOKE  has taken bronze at the last two Cheltenham meetings this season and might just be better suited by the new course – having run well over 3m 1f here in October.

He’s also 5lbs better off with the second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, Vincenzo and also made a mess of the last fence so would have probably got closer.

Ten of the last 22 winners also ran in the PP Gold Cup last time out, so it’s often been a good guide.

But Vincenzo is yet to finish out of the first two from his five chase starts – it’s a really tricky race to call.

Of the rest, Martator looked to be running back into form last time (2nd Ascot), but is he a better horse there?

He does however, represent last year’s winning yard of Venetia Williams, who seem to be in a bit better form.

Imperial Saint has done all his winning over fences at Aintree, so needs to prove he can win here.

While Il Ridoto is a stalwart in these races these days – winning the 2024 Paddy Power Gold Cup and was second in this in 2023 off a 2lb higher mark.

Paul Nicholls is the winning-most trainer in the race though, so don’t be shocked if he can bounce back from his 8th in the Paddy Power last time out.

But I’ll take Hoe Joly Smoke to give Harry Skelton another ‘Skelicopter’ celebration opportunity.

🥇HOE JOLY SMOKE
🥈VINCENZO 
🥉IL RIDOTO 

THREE KEY STATS 📈

2:25 Cheltenham – Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m½f ITV

The Chris Gordon yard is going well at the moment, so there will be many making a wish on David’s Well.

He was a nice winner at Haydock last time out and looks progressive being 3-from-3 over fences.

Is up 6lbs here though and Freddie Gordon also claimed 3lbs last time – meaning this six year-old is 9lbs higher, but still gets in here with only 10st 3lbs.

This is also a race which 11 of the last 14 winners were aged seven+ and 13 of the last 14 had run here at Cheltenham before – he hasn’t.

The Tizzard pair of JPR One and Triple Trade will have backers too and with Brendan Powell picking the former then this has to be a pointer.

But my niggle with him is he’s 0-5 here at Cheltenham and up another 2lbs for a recent Ascot third.

Excelero is interesting too for the Jane Williams team, who had a winner in the week.

And Country Mile won well at this meeting over hurdles last season and could easily bounce back for the Skelton.

These two are both non-runners now though

Gunsight Ridge Can Take Aim

However, the value for me is GUNSIGHT RIDGE (e/w). 

He ran well for a long way in the Veterans race at the last meeting over 2m4f – so the drop back in trip is a plus.

That run would have also blown away the cobwebs and you have to ask why is he not running in Friday’s Vets race?

Probably because they wanted this shorter trip (all chase wins over 2m).

He’s down a pound too and will have every assistance in the saddle from Sean Bowen.

While don’t let his age put you off – we’ve had two 10 year-old winners since 2016.

Of those at a bigger price, DR T J ECKLEBURG might outrun his odds too for the Evan Williams yard, who won this race last year with Libberty Hunter.

Yes, his runs this season have been poor, but he was only five lengths off David’s Well at Chepstow last Christmas and is meeting that horse on 12lbs better terms here.

🥇GUNSIGHT RIDGE (e/w)
🥈DAVID’S WELL
🥉DR T J ECKLEBURG

THREE KEY STATS 📈

3:00 Cheltenham – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Registered As The Bristol Novices’ Hurdle) (Grade 2) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m ITV

Conman John is going to be all the rage here and it’s easy to see why.

He looks an exciting prospect for the Russell/Scudamore team after nice wins at Kelso and Cheltenham.

That track experience will be a plus too and it’s been a good race for the favourites (12/20) in recent years.

The form of Conman John’s last win has a slightly mixed look, with Great Fleet (2nd) and Kasino Des Mottes (5th) winning since and Island Bridge (4th) running well too.

But Easy Love (3rd) and Pour Les Filles (7th) have been poor since. While the stable form is only moderate at best at the moment (4-46).

He’s 20/1 for the Albert Bartlett at the Festival though, so if you do fancy him you might want to snap that up.

Those against him might look at the form of the yard – just 3-41 in the last 14 days.

But – in short, he’s a big player and it’s hard to put anyone off him.

This Has Been A Good Albert Bartlett Trial

Kilbricken Storm in 2017/18 was the last horse to win both races. With 2016 winner Wholestone third at the Festival and Unowhatimeanharry also taking both.

He does have to give 3lbs away to They Call Me Hugo, who was a good winner at Ffos Las.

But the second Inishcorker has been a beaten favourite since and was also pulled up in the Conman John Cheltenham win.

The Tizzards and Twiston-Davies yards have good records in this and run Kasino Des Mottes (5th to Conman John) and Intosomethinggood.

But the value could sit with the Nicky Henderson runner RECKLESS SPENDING.

This five year-old has only been out once over hurdles so will have more in the locker and caught the eye staying on well over 2m 3 1/2f last time at Ascot.

Therefore, the longer trip (3m) looks a big plus and the Hendo yard is going well at the moment.

They also took this in 2023 with Shanagh Bob – Nico de Boinville rides.

Skelton’s lightly-raced Carlenrig is taken to land third.

🥇RECKLESS SPENDING
🥈CONMAN JOHN
🥉CARLENRIG 

THREE KEY STATS 📈

3:35 Cheltenham – Download The BetMGM App Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m4½f ITV

Sweet Caryline and Jubilee Alpha finished first and second last time out at Wincanton.

Jubilee Alpha is a pound better off this time and should be more at home on the softer ground. Plus Sweet Caryline also had the benefit of a run on her last time.

In short, I think Jubilee can reverse that form.

Skelton’s Nurse Susan won this in 2023 and is very lightly-raced for her age (eight), with only ten career runs.

But she’s won four of those, so knows her job when on-song and is only 2lbs higher than when winning this.

The Skelton yard also won this in 2017 – the betting will be our guide here, but is one to note.

So the call is SIOG GEAL for trainer Fergal O’Brien after a nice return third last time at Carlisle.

She was third to Hartington that day and that horse has since run well in a very competitive handicap hurdle at Haydock to frank the form.

This six year-old was also only 2 3/4 lengths off Jubilee Alpha at Windsor in January 2025 (getting 3lbs). But now gets a massive 18lbs off the Nicholls runner.

Meaning she’s 15lbs better off, which could look too good to be true. My only niggle is the form of the O’Brien yard (3-35), but that’s still a hefty weight swing.

Of the rest, Pretending could outrun her odds as this is a race the Lucy Wadham yard have won twice since 2020.

🥇SIOG GEAL
🥈JUBILEE ALPHA 
🥉PRETENDING 

THREE KEY STATS 📈

Andy Newton’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Doncaster Best Bets (13th December 2025)

2:05 Doncaster – bet365 Pennine Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+ 0-150) 3m ITV

Alcedo is up 5lbs for a recent nose win at Newcastle. But has only had five runs over fences and could have more to come.

The Dan Skelton runner Joyeux Machin is certainly looking well-handicapped and Harry Atkins takes off another 7lbs too.

He’s still not won since 2023 though, when winning at Wexford when trained by Paul Nolan.

Skelton also has Prince Zaltar, who was second to Kikijo at Cheltenham last time over hurdles.

Plus the form of that has been boosted with the winner going in again.

But the safe option here is DOCPICKEDME. 

This horse was a close second in the race 12 months ago and is only 4lbs worse off with all the calculations.

He’s had a similar preparation to last season with a recent run, when coming third in the Rehearsal Chase a few weeks ago.

That will have him spot-on for this and we know this would have been the target.

Take your medicine and side with Docpickedme.

🥇DOCPICKEDME
🥈PRINCE ZALTAR
🥉ALCEDO

THREE KEY STATS 📈

2:40 Doncaster – bet365 Doncaster Mares’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m½f ITV

This should really be going to the Dan Skelton-trained KATEIRA.

She’s well ahead on the official ratings off a mark of 145 and has already returned this season with a win at Wetherby. Albeit over a Golden Ace that needed the run.

But that form has been boosted with the second winning the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle.

Those against her might look to the trip (3m 1/2f), as she’s 0-4 over it. But was only beaten a head over this CD back in January.

Kateira has since run fourth to the useful Woodhooh at Ascot and that’s by far the best form on offer here.

CD winner World Of Fortunes will give the pick most to think about and certainly won’t be a pushover.

Then Bethpage and Lavida Adiva can fight it out for the bronze.

🥇KATEIRA 
🥈WORLD OF FORTUNES
🥉BETHPAGE 

THREE KEY STATS 📈

3:17 Doncaster – Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (3yo+) 2m½f ITV

Belle Le Grand took a funny fall last time at Ludlow – seemed to slip after jumping okay – and could bounce back if none the worse for that.

But this probably revolves around recent winners Amancio, Lanesborough and BOWMORE – with the last-named favoured.

He’s up 10lbs for a recent win at Newbury, but the second has won since to bolster the form.

Yes, 12st to carry isn’t ideal, but connections are helping here with Daire McConville’s 7lbs claim.

Of those at bigger prices – Malystic and Cormier – could outrun their prices.

The former will be ridden by Brian Hughes, who has won two of the last three runnings of this.

He’s 11 now but won three starts ago at Kelso and is 4lbs lower here.

Cormier needs to rediscover his hurdles form. But was a winner on the flat in October and the Brian Ellison yard have been amongst the winners recently.

🥇BOWMORE
🥈MALYSTIC
🥉CORMIER 

THREE KEY STATS 📈