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ITV Racing Tips on January 24th - Saturday's selections at Cheltenham and Doncaster

jon-vine
Editor
Last updated: Fri 23 Jan 2026 12:03
Saturday promises an exciting lineup on ITV with key races at Cheltenham's Trials Day and Doncaster's Great Yorkshire Chase. Key tips include backing 'Grey Dawning' at Cheltenham and 'Grand Geste' at Doncaster. Strategic insights suggest Grey Dawning is well-prepared post-Betfair Chase victory and matches up against notable rivals in Cotswold Chase. Similarly, Grand Geste's triumphs and form suggest a promising outcome over competitors. Positioned for success, these races make for an exhilarating Saturday viewing with potential winning outcomes for keen punters.
Jon Vine 23 Jan 2026
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  • Free tips for the ITV races on Saturday 24th January
  • Cheltenham and Doncaster feature on Sunday's ITV schedule
  • That'll Do Moss and Grand Geste feature in our ITV selections
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doncaster racecourse hurdle
Doncaster racecourse. (Getty)

ITV Racing fans have got a feast of action to take in on Saturday. The bulk of the action comes to us from Trials Day at Cheltenham, with Doncaster chipping in with a trio of quality races on Great Yorkshire Chase day.

I've already published my through-the-card tips for Cheltenham Trials Day 2026. Here are my best betting tips for Saturday's ITV races.

ITV Racing Schedule


TimeTrackTitle
12:55pm Doncaster River Don Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m½f
1:15pm Cheltenham Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2m4½f
1:30pm Doncaster Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m½f
1:50pm Cheltenham Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (Class 2) 3m5½f
2:05pm Doncaster Great Yorkshire Chase (Premier Handicap Chase) 3m
2:25pm Cheltenham Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) 3m1½f
3:00pm Cheltenham Unibet Hurdle (Registered As The International Hurdle) (Grade 2) 2m1f
3:35pm Cheltenham Pertemps Network Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m

ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 24th January


12:55pm Doncaster - River Don Novices' Hurdle Tips


Plenty hold strong claims in this wide-open River Don. I've come down on the side of THEDEVILUNO (6/1), who steps up to three miles after a solid runner-up effort at Grade Two level in December.

Paul Nolan's seven-year-old finished second to Theflyingking and Doctor Du Mesnil in bumpers last spring, before another runner-up effort in a two-and-a-half mile bumper at Wexford in May. Thedeviluno was an unfancied 9/1 shot on his hurdles debut at Gowran Park, but was produced perfectly by Sean O'Keeffe to beat future Royal Bond placer The Passing Wife, and Gordon Elliott's Grade One winner Skylight Hustle.

Nolan's raider handled heavy ground well again in the Navan Novice Hurdle, but didn't have the turn-of-foot required to truly test Doctor Steinberg. Thedeviluno's form in Ireland looks particularly strong, and O'Keeffe's mount seems ready for a more testing trip.

1:15pm Cheltenham - Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase Tips


Jagwar won the novices' handicap chase on this card 12 months ago, before going on to score in the Plate Handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero's star was a huge eyecatcher on his belated reappearance in the December Gold Cup, and I expect Jagwar will take a whole heap of beating on Saturday.

That being said, I like one at a much longer price. DONNACHA (12/1) looked progressive as a novice chaser last term, winning soft-ground handicaps at Exeter and Chepstow, and remains on a decent mark after three defeats this season.

Donnacha was challenging Filanderer on his reappearance at Ffos Las, before a terrible blunder at the second-last put an end to his chances. Nigel Hawke's star has since been narrowly beaten by U Cant Be Serious at Exeter, and had to settle for second again on his most recent outing at Chepstow, where he was giving well over a stone to the winner, Lunar Discovery.

This is a big step up in class for Donnacha, and he's never raced at Cheltenham before. However, James Davies' mount is a straightforward sort, who handles testing ground and enters near the bottom of the weights.

1:30pm Doncaster - Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle Tips


Paul Nolan will fancy his chances in the second of Saturday's Grade Twos at Doncaster too, for which Feet Of A Dancer is the hot-favourite. Defending champion Jetara cannot be discounted either. However, I'm going to side with one of the home runners and back THAT'LL DO MOSS (5/1).

With rain in the forecast, I fancied Fergal O'Brien's mare to go well in the recent Mares' Hurdle at Sandown. Jonny Burke's mount had excelled on more testing ground as a novice last term, losing out narrowly to Hollygrove Cha Cha in the Jane Seymour before a fantastic runner-up effort behind Aurora Vega in the Grade One at Fairyhouse in April.

Sadly, the rain didn't materialise at Sandown, but That'll Do Moss still kept on gamely to finish a close third behind Nurse Susan and Jubilee Alpha. Ground conditions should be much more suitable on Saturday, and That'll Do Moss is bred to be at her most effective over three miles.

1:50pm Cheltenham - Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase Tips


I rarely bet in the Cross Country Handicaps at Cheltenham, but I do feel like ANNUAL INVICTUS (25/1) is overpriced. Chris Gordon's star won the Great Yorkshire Handicap off this mark of 137 in 2024, and was only beaten a neck by Minella Cocooner in the bet365 Gold Cup off 143 a few months later. 

Annual Invictus missed all of last year through injury, and has suffered 30-length defeats on his two starts around Newbury this term. Freddie Gordon's mount will only have to shoulder 11-2 on Saturday, and he's a classy, versatile type who should take well to the Grand National course.

grey dawning
Grey Dawning ridden by Harry Skelton jumps the final fence but is beaten by Gaelic Warrior in the Aintree Bowl. (Getty)

2:05pm Doncaster - Great Yorkshire Chase Tips


In Saturday's main event at Donny, I'm really struggling to see beyond GRANDE GESTE (3/1) - and another victory for Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith's rising star could set him up for a tilt at the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Grand Geste had to settle for second on his first two starts over fences, losing out to The Jukebox Kid at Carlisle and Alcedo at Newcastle. Both races were run on good ground over two-and-a-half miles, and both winners have boosted that form since.

Danny McMenamin's mount then took on his elders in the Tommy Whittle Handicap at Haydock before Christmas, and relished the extra test of stamina, beating a decent field by six-and-a-half lengths. Grand Geste was completely dominant that day, and fully deserved the ten-pound rating hike he received. I'm confident that this talented seven-year-old is still well ahead of the handicapper.

2:25pm Cheltenham - Cotswold Chase Tips


I won't be spending too much time covering the big Graded races on Saturday, as most are fairly unappealing, small-field affairs. 

GREY DAWNING (4/9) has been trained for this contest since his victory in the Betfair Chase. If Dan Skelton's star can't beat two aging rivals in L'Homme Presse and Flooring Porter, and an out-of-form Spillane's Tower, then he's got no chance of challenging the big guns in the Gold Cup.

3:00pm Cheltenham - Unibet Hurdle Tips


Read our guide to the 2026 Unibet Hurdle to find out who we've backed in this new Champion Hurdle trial.

Visit our Unibet Hurdle Live Stream page if you plan on watching any of Saturday's races from Cheltenham via a mobile or tablet.

3:35pm Cheltenham - Cleeve Hurdle Tips


I'd be surprised if IMPOSE TOI (10/11) was beaten en route to the Stayers' Hurdle. Nicky Henderson's eight-year-old has been completely transformed since stepping up to three miles, beating Strong Leader in both the Long Distance Hurdle and the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Henderson's star has run well around Cheltenham before, unlike Strong Leader, who never seems comfortable at this venue. Ma Shantou has to prove that he's up to Grade Two level, and Doddiethegreat has plenty to find with his market-topping stablemate after their meetings this season.

Verdict

Saturday's ITV Tips:

Best Bet1: Grand Geste 2:05pm Doncaster @3/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
Best Bet2: That'll Do Moss 1:30pm Doncaster @5/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
Best Bet3: Thedeviluno 12:55pm Doncaster @6/1 at BOYLE Sports - 5 Units
Grand Geste
2:05pm Doncaster
@3/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

Bet at bet365
That'll Do Moss
1:30pm Doncaster
@5/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

Bet at bet365
Thedeviluno
12:55pm Doncaster
@6/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £40
in free bets

18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply.

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