ITV Racing Tips on January 25th - Saturday's tips at Cheltenham and Doncaster

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 24 Jan 2025

Jon Vine 24 Jan 2025

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Tips for the ITV races on Saturday 25th January
Cheltenham and Doncaster feature on the ITV Racing schedule
Some Scope, Ma Shantou and Kateira feature in our selections

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Cheltenham Trials Day. (Getty)

Saturday's Tips

ITV Racing Schedule
1:15pm Cheltenham - Finesse Juvenile Hurdle Tips
1:30pm Doncaster - Handicap Chase Tips
1:50pm Cheltenham - Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase Tips
2:05pm Doncaster - River Don Novices' Hurdle Tips
2:25pm Cheltenham - Cotswold Chase Tips
2:40pm Doncaster - Mares' Hurdle Tips
3:00pm Cheltenham - Unibet Hurdle Tips
3:15pm Doncaster - Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase Tips
3:35pm Cheltenham - Cleeve Hurdle Tips

ITV Racing fans have a feast of action to look forward to on Saturday, providing Storm Eowyn doesn't play a starring role. The red carpet will be rolled out for Constitution Hill as Cheltenham Trials Day takes place. ITV viewers will also take in four excellent races live from Doncaster, where the Great Yorkshire Chase headlines the card.

Here are my best betting tips for Saturday's ITV races at Cheltenham and Doncaster.

ITV Racing Schedule

Time	Track	Title
1:15pm	Cheltenham	JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Finesse) 2m1f
1:30pm	Doncaster	Money Back Handicap Chase (Class 2) 2m½f
1:50pm	Cheltenham	Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2m4½f
2:05pm	Doncaster	River Don Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m½f
2:25pm	Cheltenham	Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) 3m1½f
2:40pm	Doncaster	Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m½f
3:00pm	Cheltenham	Unibet Hurdle (Registered As The International Hurdle) (Grade 2) 2m1f
3:15pm	Doncaster	Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m
3:35pm	Cheltenham	Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) 3m

ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 25th January

1:15pm Cheltenham - Finesse Juvenile Hurdle Tips

James Owen said this week that East India Dock's win in the Prestbury was every bit as impressive as Lulamba's success at Ascot this weekend. It's hard to disagree with that statement, given how Sam Twiston-Davies' mount ate up the Cheltenham hill to claim victory. At their current prices, I know which one I'd rather back in the Triumph Hurdle.

The odds-on favourite will have to contend with Sauvignon and Stencil, both of whom have won in France and will be making their British debuts. As will Ben Pauling's expensive purchase Mambonumberfive, while both Quantock Hills and TERIFERMA (16/1) bring course-winning form to the table.

I'm most interested in the latter of those two from an each-way standpoint. Twice a winner over hurdles in Ireland for Joseph O'Brien, Teriferma flew home from a difficult position to deat-heat with Quantock Hills at the December Meeting on debut for Jack Jones. Sean Bowen's mount can jump much better than he did that day and the ground at Cheltenham should remain favourably good. At 16/1, Teriferma is a value selection against East India Dock.

1:30pm Doncaster - Handicap Chase Tips

CALICO (9/2) has been freshened up since that dreadful performance at Cheltenham's International meeting, and a break usually does Dan Skelton's handicapper good. Harry Skelton's mount has won four times and finished a close second twice on the back of a significant absence and beat Matata on his reappearance at Cheltenham in October.

Calico is a former winner over this course-and-distance and was narrowly beaten by the bottom-weight, Gabriel's Getaway in this race 12 months ago. Harry Skelton has opted to ride at Doncaster over Cheltenham on Saturday and he'll be keen to extend his lead at the top of the David Power Jockey's Cup standings.

1:50pm Cheltenham - Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase Tips

While I remain Iroko's biggest fan, carrying 12-00 over two-and-a-half miles is going to be tough, especially as he wants juice in the ground. At an each-way price, I like the chances of SOME SCOPE (12/1), who was only upped four pounds for winning the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day.

Richard Hobson's seven-year-old travelled and jumped beautifully that day. Another spring-heeled leap at the last allowed Some Scope to open up a six length lead, before Kinondo Kwetu thundered home to make the winning deficit more respectable.

Hobson has never run Some Scope over two-and-a-half miles. While he undoubtedly stays three, Dylan Johnson's mount is by no means a slow horse. He's a fast, economical jumper, with good experience around Cheltenham. I'm hoping he'll play a massive hand with just 10-1 on his back.

2:05pm Doncaster - River Don Novices' Hurdle Tips

I was planning on backing Gamesters Guy, but I see his first preference is to run in the Classic Novices' Hurdle on Trials Day. Instead, I'll place my faith in MA SHANTOU (4/1) for the in-form Emma Lavelle.

A bumper winner at Huntingdon last season, Lavelle stepped Ma Shantou up in trip following a runner-up effort behind the impressive Celtic Dino on his hurdling debut. Rex Dingle's mount won comfortably over 21-furlongs at Warwick next time out and was last seen taking down odds-on favourite Excello at Windsor.

Ma Shantou didn't jump the third-last well, but still had enough left in the tank to run down Excello, who's rated 142 over fences. Emma Lavelle is brilliant at handling stayers and this gelding is bred to be a three-miler.

undefined — Nico de Boinville riding Constitution Hill (white) clear the last to win The Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle from Paul Townend and Lossiemouth (pink) at Kempton Park. (Getty)

2:25pm Cheltenham - Cotswold Chase Tips

Read our full guide to the 2025 Cotswold Chase to find out who we've backed in Saturday's Gold Cup Trial.

Visit our Cotswold Chase Live Stream page if you plan on watching any of Saturday's races via a mobile or tablet.

2:40pm Doncaster - Mares' Hurdle Tips

With no horse guaranteed an easy lead in this Grade Two, the race should set up perfectly for KATEIRA (13/8). Dan Skelton's mare bounced back from a slightly disappointing reappearance at Wetherby with a cosy Listed win at Kempton, where she saw off one of today's rivals, Della Casa Lunga with plenty left up her sleeve.

Dan Skelton then pitched his mare into the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. Harry Skelton's mount made stealthy progress along the inner and was taking aim at the leaders approaching the last. Kateira jinked around just before the flight and jumped it poorly, but still finished her race off well to cross the line fifth, just four lengths adrift of Crambo.

The favourite brings Grade One form into this contest and doesn't have to give weight to either of her main rivals. I'm expecting Kateira's class to shine through on Saturday.

3:00pm Cheltenham - Unibet Hurdle Tips

No bet here. I'll just sit back and watch Constitution Hill do his thing.

3:15pm Doncaster - Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase Tips

I'm keen to back two runners in this valuable handicap, starting with IDALKO BIHOUE (17/2), who steps up in trip for the first time.

Nigel Twiston-Davies' seven-year-old bolted up in a handicap at Cheltenham last October, but hasn't put his best foot forward since. Tom Bellamy's mount ran an awful race in the Grand Sefton, but was better under 12-00 at Haydock the last day, where he was only beaten five lengths.

I've always thought that this strong stayer has wanted to go three miles and ground conditions should be ideal at Doncaster. Idalko Bihoue is now only rated one pound higher than when he won at Cheltenham and remains open to improvement over this trip.

At a longer price, DOCPICKEDME (20/1) stands out. Richard Hobson's nine-year-old ran a blinder over this course-and-distance in December, losing out by just a neck to Charlie Uberalles having led for much of the contest.

The handicapper has only upped Docpickedme's mark by two pounds for that effort and talented claimer Charlie Maggs takes five pounds off his back. Hobson's nine-year-old has won all three of his starts in either January or February. Everything points towards another good performance.

3:35pm Cheltenham - Cleeve Hurdle Tips

Crambo didn't seem to enjoy Cheltenham when he ran in last year's Stayer's Hurdle and Olly Murphy hasn't been particularly bullish about Strong Leader's suitability around this track during the build-up. The only horse I want to back is GOWEL ROAD (9/2), who has finished second on all four of his runs at Cheltenham this season.

Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge was beaten by The Wallpark on his reappearance, before losing out to Doyen Quest and Long Draw when giving them 18 and 25 pounds respectively. Having made the running in the Relkeel Hurdle, Sam Twiston-Davies' mount was passed by Lucky Place on the approach to the last, but Gowel Road fought back valiantly to get within half-a-length of the winner as they crossed the line.

It might be too much to expect a fifth mighty performance from Twiston-Davies' nine-year-old. However, we know Gowel Road loves the track, he stays the trip and he likes decent ground. I'll chance my arm at 9/2.