ITV Racing Tips for Cheltenham and Doncaster on Saturday 25th October

Read our Cheltenham and Doncaster tips for the ITV Racing on Saturday 25th October below. Cheltenham’s first meeting of the season will give us some early clues ahead of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival in March.

1:10 Cheltenham

The opener on ITV from Cheltenham is a novice handicap chase over 2m4f.

The horse I like is DOUBLE POWERFUL. A progressive hurdler last season winning his first four starts before continuing in fine fettle going close in decent competitive handicaps towards the end of his campaign. He looks like he would make a chaser and if he’s even slightly better over fences than hurdles, he ought to go close off his current mark. A previous course winner over hurdles suggests the undulations of Cheltenham won’t be an issue.

1:30 Doncaster

The first race from Doncaster is a trappy Class 2 5f handicap.

This stiff test will suit JER BATT who’s been running well in recent starts and his turn looks near. The hold up performer ran well at Haydock last time out I thought considering he started slowly and that track on good ground is very difficult to make ground on. This stiffer test on soft ground is more his cup of tea. He has plenty of pace in here to aim at and the jockey booking of the champion jockey Oisin Murphy is certainly an eye-catching one. I’m expecting a bold bid.

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1:45 Cheltenham

Next up from HQ is 3m novice hurdle for the stayers.

I like CONMAN JOHN in this. After showing plenty of encouragement in bumpers, he took a decent step forward on hurdles debut when winning well at Kelso jumping well. He looks sure to appreciate this step up to 3m and the yard excels with their staying sorts. They don’t pitch their horses into races like this unless they’re confident they have a decent one on their hands. His chances have to be seriously respected here.

2:05 Doncaster

The 2:05 from Doncaster is the Group 1 Futurity Trophy Stakes. A mile contest for the 2 year-olds.

At the prices, I like ACTION who looks sure to step up on recent performances now tackling a mile on soft ground. He improved from his debut effort to win a maiden at Galway on his second start. Last seen staying on to finish third in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes, he can continue improving and go close now his stamina can be used as an asset. Wayne Lordan takes the ride.

2:20 Cheltenham

Next up from Cheltenham is a handicap chase, this time over 3m1f.

The one for me is THE SHORT GO EW for the red-hot Henry De Bromhead yard. A mixed bag last season but he should have won here last season at this meeting when finishing a close second. He then ran a cracker in the competitive Ultima Handicap at the Festival finishing a never nearer 5th. A race that always works out well, the horse obviously excels here at the track. He’s handicapped to go well still and this 8 year-old will be well suited by today’s assignment.

2:40 Doncaster

The final race from Doncaster on ITV is the Prospect Stakes, a listed class 6f contest for 2 year-olds.

I think LAM YAI NB sets a decent standard here and it’ll take a good one to beat him. She was a close second last time out at Group 3 level and if she runs near that level of form, her rivals would have to take a huge step forward to be beaten her. The more rain the better and it’ll certainly be very soft which she’ll relish.

2:55 Cheltenham

The 2:55 is a Pertemps qualifier for the final in March, it’s a 3m handicap hurdle race.

I’d be chancing top weight GOWEL ROAD EW in this. The Twiston-Davies yard have started the season strongly as per usual and this looked an obvious early season target for Gowel Road. The winner of the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle here last season, he also ran a cracker in this race when finishing a close second. The Stayers Hurdle was a step too far at the Festival but back in handicap company, he’ll be able to dictate from the front which is what he likes. He’ll be ridden to win today while a lot of his rivals may have other days in mind. He looks a big price on what we know.

3:30 Cheltenham

The Masterson Holdings Hurdle over the extended 2m comes up at 3:30.

I’d expect GIVE IT TO ME OJ to take a lot of beating in this. He was a progressive novice hurdler last season which resulted in a fine victory at Sandown to end his season. That was a competitive handicap and he managed to defy top-weight which suggests he has a bit of class. He’s ran twice on the flat over the summer and won both so he obviously remains in good health. As a result, he won’t lack for fitness and you’d be disappointed if he wasn’t winning this.

4:05 Cheltenham

The final race is one for the staying novice chasers over the 3m1f trip.

It is INTENSE APPROACH NAP I’ve landed on in this. He was a decent hurdler last season and he managed to win at this meeting over hurdles last season relishing the 3m stamina test. He made a winning chase debut at Galway in August where he jumped like a natural. Back up to 3m here at a track he enjoys, he’s the one they have to beat in my book.

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