Andy Newton’s ITV Racing Tips (and Trends) On Saturday: Cheltenham and Doncaster Best Bets

More top jump horse racing action this weekend, so don’t miss Andy Newton’s ITV Racing tips on Saturday – with the action coming from Cheltenham and Doncaster. 

You can also catch Andy each week on the popular FINAL FURLONG PODCAST with host Emmet Kennedy and guests.

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.

Andy Newton’s ITV Racing Tips Cheltenham and Doncaster: Saturday 24th January 2026 

The ITV Racing schedule on Saturday comes from Cheltenham and Doncaster, with EIGHT races being shown on the ‘free-to-air’ channel.

It’s Cheltenham Trials Day at Prestbury Park – which, as the name suggests, will give punters some more clues ahead of the Festival in March.

With this also the final Cheltenham fixture before the four biggest days at the track in just under two months.

The action will include the Unibet Hurdle (3:00), as Champion Hurdle jolly Sir Gino takes on The New Lion.

With the last horse to win the International and follow-up in the Champion Hurdle (same season) – Rooster Booster in 2003.

While Impose Toi puts his Stayers’ Hurdle credentials on the line in the Cleeve Hurdle (3:35).

Then L’Homme Presse will be looking to become the first ever ‘back-to-back’ Cotswold Chase (2:25).

There are also three ITV races at Doncaster on the afternoon, that include the Great Yorkshire Chase (2:05) – a race Docpickedme won in 2025 and is back for more.

So, to take you through the action you can see Andy Newton’s ITV Racing tips below – as he gives you his 1-2-3 best bets and key trends.

Let’s get going.

Cheltenham ITV Racing Tips: Saturday 24th January, 2026 🏇

1:15 Cheltenham – Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m4½f ITV

With all of the last 10 winners aged eight or younger this would be against the 10yo Triple Trade, who won well at Sandown last time.

While with 18 of the last 21 rated 130+, this might put some off the 128-rated Javert Allen.

Moon d’Orange won this last season and has to be noted on that alone. He hasn’t won since though (eight races) but is only a pound higher.

Jockey Gavin Sheehan has done well in this race recently too and rides Aintree scorer Prairie Wolf and is only up 3lbs for that success.

But I think UNCLE BERT could outrun his odds for the NTD team. He clearly didn’t stay the Welsh National trip last time (fell), but ran well till his tumble

While don’t forget, he was a nice winner before that at Aintree and is only 6lbs higher.

Back in trip here will suit and the Twiston-Davies camp have also won this race twice in the last eight runnings.

While the form of that Aintree win has been boosted with Richmond Lake (2nd) running well in the Peter Marsh last weekend.

Market Dominated By Bob and Jag

But it’s also hard to get away from the main two in the betting – Bolster Bob and Jagwar.

The former beat last week’s Ascot winner Vincenzo last March in the Greatwood Gold Cup and returned this season with another good win at the same track – Newbury.

Up 9lbs here but looks progressive.

However, JAGWAR looks the one to beat.

He’s 1-1-3 here at Cheltenham, having won the Plate at the Festival last season (up 10lbs).

Plus, certainly wasn’t disgraced when third in the December Gold Cup last month on his first run back.

That form has been franked with the already mentioned Vincenzo winning last weekend, while the softer ground is fine.

So, with the expected improvement, Jagwar is the ITV Racing tip to ‘motor’ home.

🥇JAGWAR
🥈UNCLE BERT
🥉BOOSTER BOB 

KEY STATS 📈

1:50 Cheltenham – Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (Gbb Race) Cl2 (5yo+) 3m5½f ITV

A bit of a re-run of the Cross Country race here last month – when Final Orders won well by 4 1/4 lengths.

With J’Arrive De L’Est back in second and now 6lbs better off.

Then Iceo Madrik (9lbs better) in third and Placenet (9lbs better) back in fourth.

Therefore, cases can certainly be made for them all – but the layers (and me) are suggesting with that run under his belt and the weight pull – J’ARRIVE DE L’EST can reverse that form.

The Emmett Mullins horse is the expected jolly and the call to overturn the 4 1/4 lengths – with the softer ground in his favour too.

I was impressed with Final Orders, but his better form has been on slightly quicker ground and did have the benefit of a recent run last time over J’Arrive De L’Est.

Final Orders better form has been on slightly quicker ground – that’s the niggle.

Of the rest, like last time – Iceo Madrik and Placenet – can fight it out for the places, with the former just edging it as Placenet just doesn’t win enough for me (1-15).

🥇J’ARRIVE DE L’EST
🥈ICEO MADRIK 
🥉FINAL ORDERS 

KEY STATS 📈

2:25 Cheltenham – Betfair Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m1½f ITV

We’ve had a few repeat winners of the Cotswold Chase over the years – Grand National hero Many Clouds and See More Business – but we are still to see a ‘back-to-back’ winner.

So, could L’Homme Presse become the first?

Maybe – as despite being 11 now we know he likes Cheltenham, where his form here reads 1-1-4 (Gold Cup)-1-2.

He also ran well to be second here last month with a big weight, when never really looking at home.

But we can expect him to have come on for that effort, and it would a fitting win, in what could be one of his final races.

However, the Venetia Williams camp have been in dire form this season – which is a shame as I’ve liked over the years jumping on their regular purple patches.

So that leaves us with GREY DAWNING, the obvious pick after his smooth Betfair Chase win in November.

He’s the top-rated in the field (166) and we know Cheltenham is okay, having won the Turners here at the Festival in 2024.

Connections have also given him two months off to get over that Haydock win and with many questions around the others – has to be the most reliable option, but that’s reflected in his odds.

Yes, this race used to be a graveyard for the favs – with only three of the last 22 winning. But this is turning with all of those three coming in the last six runnings.

Spillane’s Tower can do best of the rest but is on a recovery mission after last winning in April 2024.

But he gets 6lbs off L’Homme Presse and Grey Dawning and on the revised terms is actually top-rated.

JP has also targeted this race in the past with Chantry House and Capodanno winning – could the green and gold land another?

🥇GREY DAWNING
🥈L’HOMME PRESSE
🥉SPILLANE’S TOWER 

KEY STATS 📈

3:00 Cheltenham – Unibet Hurdle (Registered As The International Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m1f ITV

The softer the better for Nemean Lion here, which he might get, and we’ve also got last year’s runner-up Brentford Hope – but both really should be playing for third and fourth here.

With the main focus here on the current Champion Hurdle first and second favourites SIR GINO and The New Lion.

Both will have their fans and with Lion getting 3lbs off Gino there is only a pound between them on the revised ratings.

Lion, of course, fell last time in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle too, but I think he would have won that day.

Plus, we know he stays further, so on softer ground – this will play to his strengths.

But, for me, it’s still hard to get away from Sir Gino, who has returned from his injury to look as good as ever – winning the Christmas Hurdle by six lengths.

He had Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace back that day and with that horse taking advantage of The New Lion’s fall last time – there is a sort of form line there.

Would Golden Ace have still won? And if not would she have got within six lengths of The New Lion?

Which was how far she was behind Sir Gino at Kempton last time.

For me, I think Lion would have won last time – but I also think Golden Ace might have made him fight for the win.

Therefore, it’s Sir Gino all the way for me to remain unbeaten and head to the Festival as one of the big day one bankers.

With the last International Hurdle winner to land the Champion Hurdle (same season) Rooster Booster in 2002/03.

Let’s just hope they all stay on their feet this time!

🥇SIR GINO
🥈THE NEW LION 
🥉NEMEAN LION 

KEY STATS 📈

3:35 Cheltenham – Pertemps Network Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m ITV

Gowel Road won the Cleeve Hurdle last season and can’t be totally ruled out – but this year’s renewal looks a stronger heat.

Ma Shantou is building up a liking for Cheltenham, with wins at the October and NYD meetings this season – and comes from the Emma Lavelle yard, who did well in this race with three-time winner Paisley Park.

He’s on the up and very much respected.

Strong Leader was only fourth in this race last year and despite being a talented horse is also one that can be frustrating.

It might be worth waiting till Aintree to get involved in him again. I just don’t think Cheltenham suits him.

Plus, he’s already seen the back of IMPOSE TOI twice this season too and I think it will be more of the same here.

Toi has seen him off in both the Long Walk and Long Distance Hurdles this term and his step up in trip has been a shrewd move by trainer Nicky Henderson.

Talking of Hendo – he’s actually NEVER won the Cleeve Hurdle either, so can also put that right on Saturday.

Impose Toi will also be looking to be the first horse to win the Long Walk, Long Distance and Cleeve since Thistlecrack in 2015/16.

He also went onto win the Stayers’ Hurdle that season – where Impose is currently around 11/2.

If Toi doesn’t ‘Impose’ himself again, then Henderson also has a back-up with last season’s Pertemps winner Doddiethegreat, who is certainly no back number.

Hey – after never winning this race, we could even see a Hendo 1-2.

Don’t rule it out!

🥇IMPOSE TOI
🥈DODDIETHEGREAT 
🥉MA SHANTOU

KEY STATS 📈

Doncaster ITV Racing Tips: Saturday 24th January, 2026 🏇

12:55 Doncaster – River Don Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m½f ITV

A tricky opening ITV Racing for the Donny coverage – with stacks of cases.

Carlenrig was a gutsy winner at Cheltenham last month, when having the rail to help.

But the runner-up They Call Me Hugo has been beaten since, to question the form a tad.

Carlenrig was also beaten by Rocking Man at Chepstow (3 lengths) in November and is actually only a pound better off.

Rocking Man hasn’t been out since, but this Sam Thomas runner looks exciting and is taken to uphold that form.

Paul Nolan bring over Thedeviluno is interesting too, and COUNTRY CODE has won well this season too.

The Ruth Jefferson yard also won this race in 2023 and the second, Lewisham Grove, in his Newcastle win in November has won since.

But the main pick is the Ben Pauling runner KICOUR LA, who was an easy winner at Leicester last time.

Yes, this is harder, but he handled the softer/heavy ground well that day and will head here 2-2 over hurdles.

The Pauling yard have also won three of the last six runnings and this 6yo looks the sort to also improve for the step up in trip.

🥇 KICOUR LA
🥈COUNTRY CODE
🥉ROCKING MAN

KEY STATS 📈

1:30 Doncaster – Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m 1/2f ITV

Feet Of A Dancer was a good fourth in the Pertemps last season here – is back rated 5lbs higher but has to be noted after running Wodhooh close last time.

Jetara won this pot last year to give Jessie Harrington their third win since 2019.

She’s not won since (eight races) but this would have been a target and can’t be discounted.

Dream On Baby was third behind Feet Of A Dancer and Wodhooh last time, but FOAD is 3lbs better off this time too so should uphold that form.

So, the call is THAT’LL DO MOSS and recent Donny scorer LAVIDA ADIVA, who looks over-priced to me.

The former was third to Nurse Susan and Jubilee Alpha last time at Sandown over 2m4f but stayed on well to suggest this 3m trip will help.

While remember – she was an excellent runner-up in the Honeysuckle Mares’ Hurdle at Fairyhouse last Easter.

Then Lavida Adiva has a bit to find on these terms – rated 14lbs off last year’s winner Jetara.

But she did it well last time to win a Listed Mares Hurdle over this trip – so we know conditions will suit and Brian Hughes (rode that day) keeps the ride.

🥇THAT’LL DO MOSS
🥈LAVIDA ADIVA
🥉FEET OF A DANCER

KEY STATS 📈

2:05 Doncaster – Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Chase (Premier Handicap Chase) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m ITV

Another tough Doncaster puzzle for ITV Racing fans to unpick here.

Deep Cave will be popular after wins at Aintree, Bangor and Ascot – he’s up 12lbs in total for those wins and connections are hoping to take this to help get him into the Grand National in April (40/1).

He’s certainly a big player, but the 12st will make life hard.

Walking On Air should have won this race last season – had he not fallen at the last.

Don’t remind my Final Furlong Podcast pal Peter Michael – who tipped him last year at 66/1. He’s still licking his wounds!

He’s back rated 2lbs higher but also hasn’t won a race since Feb 2023.

The horse that took advantage of the fall was Docpickedme, who is back for more and also only rated 2lbs higher.

He also loves it here at Donny, with three wins (one hurdles and two chase) from five runs on Town Moor.

This Hobson runner has also returned this season to win here last month and is only 2lbs up from that.

Regular rider Charlie Maggs is on again and takes off a handy 5lbs – he’ll be involved, surely.

Joyeux Machin was 4th to the selection last time and is still looking well-handicapped – he could pop up at a price soon.

But GRAND GESTE won the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock last time with ease and with just three runs over fences looks on the up.

Yes, he’s up 10lbs for that win – however, did it well by 6 1/2 lengths and the Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith team have done well this season in these races – notably with Konfusion.

Grand Geste is the call to continue his upward curve in this sphere.

🥇GRAND GESTE
🥈DOCPICKEDME
🥉DEEP CAVE 

KEY STATS 📈