ITV Racing Tips Friday 23rd October: Cheltenham and Doncaster

Brian Healy
ITV Racing Tips

The ITV Racing cameras return on Friday for the first visit of the new jumps season to Cheltenham, with day one of the Showcase Meeting, alongside the opening day of Doncaster’s Futurity Trophy Weekend.

It is a cracking afternoon of action across the two cards, and below are my selections for every race on the ITV coverage. Tips by Brian Healy.

Brian Healy’s ITV Racing Selections at a Glance

  • 13:15 Cheltenham – Handlethekettle
  • 13:35 Doncaster – Bulletsnap
  • 13:50 Cheltenham – Jarrive De Mee
  • 14:10 Doncaster – Station X
  • 14:25 Cheltenham – Mojito Des Mottes (each-way)
  • 14:45 Doncaster – Palladas
  • 15:00 Cheltenham – Cooltobecareless
  • 15:35 Cheltenham – Sky Lord

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My full tips for the Cheltenham Showcase from our racing model follow later this evening – keep an eye on our Cheltenham tips page for those.

13:15 Cheltenham: William Hill Epic Boosts Handicap Hurdle

The lightly-raced HANDLETHEKETTLE looks worth chancing off the back of a promising return from more than a year on the sidelines, and Jamie Snowden’s gelding can go close if he builds on it. The Youmzain gelding won three of his four starts in 2025 after wind surgery, beaten only when sent over fences, but missed the whole of last season. He reappeared at Worcester last month to finish runner-up to That’s Nice, keen early and only headed late, which was a solid effort. Racing off the same mark, he will strip fitter for that run and, still low on mileage, may have more to offer. A previous runner-up effort at Listowel when trained in Ireland suggests the undulating track holds no fears, and he teams up again with Gavin Sheehan, with whom he has a good record.

13:35 Doncaster: William Hill Extra Places Every Day Nursery Handicap

BULLETSNAP is far less exposed than most of his rivals and the Minzaal colt can follow up last month’s breakthrough to double his tally. William Haggas’ charge had shaped nicely in three previous outings before getting off the mark at Ripon, where he beat Scenic Route by six lengths in good style. Now switched to handicaps off an opening mark of 87, there should be more to come from him, and that rating could prove a lenient starting point. His debut came on soft ground, so conditions here will not be a concern, and he looks the way to go.

13:50 Cheltenham: Catesby Estates Novices’ Chase

Point-winner JARRIVE DE MEE can get off the mark at the third attempt over fences for Willie Mullins. The Authorized gelding won three times from four starts over hurdles in 2024/25, losing his unbeaten record only when stepped up to a Grade One at Punchestown, where he was fourth to Jasmin De Vaux. He has had two runs over fences so far, sixth in a beginners’ chase at Galway last August and sixth again at Listowel following a 419-day absence, that time behind Love Me Tender. That Listowel race has already thrown up a subsequent winner, and the Closutton raider makes plenty of appeal back in novice company and dropping in trip, with two of his three hurdle wins coming at around this distance.

14:10 Doncaster: William Hill Epic Boosts Handicap

Ayr Silver Cup winner STATION X can follow up and confirm the form with reopposing Goldmoyne. Bryan Smart’s four-year-old won at Chester in August and bounced back from a below-par run here in the Portland – where he was possibly used too much up front behind Air Force One – when ridden with more restraint at Ayr, sluicing through the mud to get up on the line. He is only 3lb higher for that and now receives 1lb from Goldmoyne, having given the runner-up 2lb last time. The ground was heavy at Ayr so any further easing will not be a problem, and Paul Mulrennan, successful on him last time, takes the ride again. Another big run looks on the cards from the Dark Angel gelding.

14:25 Cheltenham: Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle

MOJITO DES MOTTES is my each-way play of the day. Ben Pauling’s gelding was only a length behind reopposing Gower Prince two starts ago, and on revised terms it is worth chancing him to turn that around. The Clovis Du Berlais gelding won at Newton Abbot back in August and has run well since, most recently fourth in a stronger race than this at Chepstow 13 days ago. Now 1lb lower, he has the services of top conditional Beau Morgan, whose 3lb claim could prove invaluable, and he enjoys a sizeable pull at the weights with the improving, now-penalised Gower Prince. The stiffer test should suit, and provided he is not caught for pace, a big run would not surprise. The each-way angle is the way in here.

14:45 Doncaster: William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap

PALLADAS has looked a potentially smart sort in two all-weather victories and the Lope De Vega colt can improve again now he tackles turf on his handicap debut. Charlie Appleby’s colt caught the eye winning on debut at Kempton in January, in a race that has produced several winners since, and improved for the experience to run out an easy winner of a Southwell novice next time. That came after a break, so he will strip fitter again, and the runner-up boosted the form afterwards. Switching to turf he could progress further, the drop in trip is no concern on his two runs to date, and an opening mark of 95 looks workable. He ought to go close.

15:00 Cheltenham: Oddschecker Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)

COOLTOBECARELESS bolted up on his hurdles debut at Chepstow a fortnight ago and Dan Skelton’s gelding can take this step up in class in his stride. The Maxios gelding won a point-to-point in Ireland before joining the yard and showed up well in bumpers after his switch, winning at Fakenham before finishing down the field in a Grade Two Aintree bumper at the Grand National meeting. He had wind surgery ahead of his reappearance and ran out an easy 13-length winner from Herbies Sock, always travelling strongly and asserting readily between the last two. The strength of his opposition that day is open to question, but he could not have been more impressive, and his yard has started the season in typically strong form. Significant improvement is expected and it would be no surprise to see him win again.

15:35 Cheltenham: squareintheair.com Handicap Chase

SKY LORD is of plenty of interest for Henry de Bromhead, the Irish raider having had the benefit of a recent run at Listowel. The Blue Bresil gelding finished eighth in the 2025 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle here and was kept busy over fences last term, often in the frame before making the breakthrough at Wexford in July, where he wore cheekpieces for the first time. Back from a break last time, he was a two-length third behind Ocastle Des Mottes, and he could be well treated off this handicap mark, getting a decent amount of weight from last season’s race-winner Calico and the smart JPR One. From a top yard that does well here away from the Festival, he looks capable of a big performance.

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Tips by Brian Healy. Selections are our opinion and not guaranteed – odds and runners are subject to change, so always check the card before betting. 18+. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org · GamCare.org.uk.

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