ITV Racing Tips: Fab Four from Cheltenham to warm the heart

Nothing like a big Saturday Cheltenham fixture to get the juices of the relatively 'new' jumps season flowing. ITV cameras are taking in a couple from Newcastle on the Tapeta, too - good-looking Listed heats with some top yards represented.

So, here are the ITV Racing tips for Saturday, November 16 - and after a couple of good winners in last week's piece, plus some close shaves, let's see if we can find a few again to run well for us on what's sure to be a cracking afternoon of sport. The station are doing their thing from 13:45 onwards.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

Full ITV schedule;

Cheltenham
13:45 PADDY POWER ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHY TRIAL (GRADE 2) 2m
14:20 PADDY POWER GOLD CUP HANDICAP CHASE 2m 4f
14:55 FROM THE HORSES MOUTH PODCAST HANDICAP HURDLE 3m
15:30 PADDY POWER INTERMEDIATE H’CAP HURDLE 2m 5f

Newcastle
15:15 BET UK CHURCHILL STAKES (LISTED) 1m 2f
15:48 BET UK GOLDEN ROSE STAKES (LISTED) 6f

Rationale;

13:45 Cheltenham - L'Eau du Sud @ 1/1

Our Cheltenham exposure kicks off with a Skelton hot-pot - an improving six-year-old gelding racing in the familiar silks of a partnership that includes Sir Alex Ferguson.

One run only over the larger obstacles so far, a bloodless victory at Stratford. One novicey mistake that he wouldn't want to be making here, but already he looks likely to be a better fencer than hurdler, and he was very respectable in that sphere (rated 138).

L'Eau du Sud is all about promise right now, and with great respect this is a vastly different challenge than that posed in Shakespeare country 16 days ago. Yet he's with a masterful trainer, will be ridden by Dan Skelton's brother Harry, and connections will doubtless be dreaming of returning with a chance in the Arkle by the time the Festival comes around.

A win today would help give substance to those aspirations and though novice chases are noted nerve-janglers, if he can avoid mishap the French-bred appeals as by far the most likely scorer.

14:20 Cheltenham - Ga Law each-way @ 11/2

Two-and-half-miles, 16 fences, and the small matter of £84k to the winner. We're paying four places, and I'll be playing accordingly.

Ga Law is an eight-year-old gelding by the great Derby and Arc winner Sinndar. He's won five races over fences, been second three times, and third twice. He's won over course-and-distance, and run well here on several occasions.

'Gorgeous' Gavin Sheehan rides, 'Mr big-race Saturday,' for trainer Jamie Snowden. The pair specialise in snaffling these huge weekend baubles, so there's plenty to commend him.

At Chepstow 35 days ago Ga Law reappeared in a good contest at around this trip off 154, and was beaten 2l into second. My feeling is that will have put him spot-on for today, up just a pound to 155, and Gav now replaces Jonathan Burke.

This is one of the standout early-season tests, and will take some winning. As a spectacle, it's sure to be quite something.

14:55 Cheltenham - Noble Birth each-way @ 7/1

A decidedly warm-looking, staying handicap hurdle. Four each-way places again, and I'm happy to take advantage of that.

Noble Birth travels over from Gavin Cromwell's yard in County Meath, and regular pilot Daniel King is on board. The selection visited these environs for the Pertemps final at the Festival in March and never got competitive, but I'm hoping this will be a little less fevered.

He shoulders an attractive-looking racing weight of 10st 13lb, and is match-fit (three runs since August, the latest of which was 34 days ago). That last spin at Cork was the first under Cromwell's direction, only having shipped into the yard in October, a handful of days beforehand.

The change of scenery could unlock a bit of improvement, and the seven-year-old son of Nathaniel might just enjoy the advertised good ground, too. A fiendishly difficult heat but it should be an absolute cracker.

15:15 Newcastle - Dubai Honour @ 15/8

A 10f Listed race worth around £28k to the winner.

The standout on form in my book is the selection - Dubai Honour. The six-year-old was beaten a mile in the King George at Ascot but is best judged on his previous run at St Cloud in June, taking a Group 1 emphatically under Tom Marquand.

The jockey has been plundering prizes further afield of late on something of a world tour Ms Swift would be proud of, so Adam Faragher deputises in the plate. The gelding took a Listed heat at Kempton on the all-weather under Ryan Moore in April off 120, and lines up here on 118.

Great chance for the jockey to take a prize of note, and though the horse carries topweight of 9st 11lb he's earned it. If he's straight after a 76-day break it's his to lose in my view.

15:30 Cheltenham - Long Draw each-way @ 15/2

I'm in each-way territory prices-wise, at least as I write, so that's for me the sensible option.

Long Draw is housed with Warwickshire trainer Olly Murphy, a growing, potent threat especially when title-chasing pilot Sean Bowen is engaged on top - as in this instance.

The five-year-old gelding is in fine form this autumn, with placed efforts at Worcester, Warwick and Aintree. Such is the nature of things he's sneaking up the handicap as a result of these terrific runs without actually winning, which for connections must be a pill that's difficult to swallow.

Second at Worcester in September off 106 - and after two subsequent runner-up performances finds himself racing today off a mark of 118. Luckily he's improving at a similar rate, and will need to be riding that upward curve for a little longer if he's to prevail. Fingers crossed that there's more in the tank.

15:48 Newcastle - Night Raider @ 7/2

Another Listed affair at Gosforth Park, a 6f sprint with plenty of runners (13 are declared).

Our selection Night Raider will be ridden for the first time by outstanding champion jockey Oisin Murphy. The three-year-old Dark Angel colt is trained by the brilliant Karl Burke, and carries the colours of prolific owner Clipper Logistics.

At Kempton 45 days ago Night Raider took a Class 2 sprint rather cosily, officially rated 100, in career-best fashion. Up to this level he has it to do on official figures today off 105, but this is an improving colt having only his seventh lifetime start, and his trainer has enjoyed a stellar campaign in 2024.

He's won before on Tapeta at Southwell, the same surface at he'll encounter today, and I wonder if Oisin might just set him alight from the off and say 'catch me if you can?'

A potential thriller with which to end ITV's Saturday coverage, and I do hope you will by this stage have had a lovely afternoon's sport. Take care, be lucky, see you soon, and thanks for your company.

ITV Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.