Andy Newton’s ITV Racing Tips From Cheltenham – Friday 23rd October

See Andy Newton’s ITV Racing tips from Cheltenham on Friday 23rd October – day one of the October Showcase Meeting. 

In total, there are FIVE ITV Racing at the home of National Hunt racing on Friday – starting at 1:15pm and ending at 3:35pm.

With the Grade 2 Sharp Novices’ Hurdle at 3pm one of the afternoon’s highlights – a prize Cheltenham that Dan and Harry Skelton have won for the last two seasons.

So, let’s get going – you can see Andy Newton’s 1-2-3 ITV Racing tips for ALL the ITV races from the Cheltenham Showcase Meeting on Friday.

 

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Andy Newton’s Quickfire Cheltenham ITV Racing Tips: Friday 23rd October, 2026:

• 1:15 – Cheltenham: SUNNY SOUTH WEST 
• 1:50 – Cheltenham: JARRIVE DE MEE 
• 2:25 – Cheltenham: CONTINUANCE (e/w)
• 3:00 – Cheltenham: COOLTOBECARELESS (NB)
• 3:35 – Cheltenham: CALICO (NAP)

🎙️You can also catch Andy’s views each week on the Final Furlong Podcast here.

📝Plus see Andy’s DAILY HORSE RACING CHEAT SHEET, with key stats, tips and pointers each day.

Andy Newton’s Cheltenham ITV Racing Tips: Showcase Meeting Day One: Calico Can Collect AGAIN 

1:15 – Cheltenham: William Hill Epic Boosts Handicap Hurdle Class 3 (3yo+, 0–140), 2m 4f – ITV

Sunny South West To Go North

SUNNY SOUTH WEST comes over from the Edward Power yard in Ireland and head here in winning form.

He was last seen just 15 days winning on the flat at Thurles and with that coming on softer ground, then any more of the wet stuff will be fine for him.

This 6yold has also only had four career runs over hurdles (1 win) so will have more to come and gets in with a handy 10st 9lbs, less Michael Kenneally’s 3lb claim.

With four of the last 7 winners of this also claimer ridden, 8 of the last 11 aged 5 or 6 and 82% of the last 11 carrying 10st 12lbs or less – then he also ticks all these of these key trends.

Of the rest, Hendo’s East India Express is a proven course winner and was still going well when falling (as favourite) in this last season. He’s back rated 2lbs lower.

While the Jamie Snowden yard have made a good start to the season and they run Handlethekettle, who knows how to win with 4 successes from 7 over hurdles.

🥇SUNNY SOUTH WEST
🥈East India Express
🥉Handlethekettle

1:50 – Cheltenham: Catesby Estates “Chasing Excellence” Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) Class 2 (4yo+), 2m – ITV

Team Up With Mullins and Mee

JARRIVE DE MEE is chanced for Willie and Patrick Mullins in a race that makes little appeal.

This 7yold at least ticks the age trend that has seen 11 of the last 12 winners between 5-7.

Yes, he’s yet to win over fences, but has only had two starts over the bigger obstacles. While having run over much further the last twice, it’s interesting he’s back in trip (2m) here.

Having won on good-to-soft in the past then hopefully a bit more rain will be fine too. Plus was only beaten 4 3/4 lengths in a 16 runner (6th) Beginners Chase at Galway in August – form that would give him a real chance.

Of the rest, Ice Jet for the Skelton’s will be popular after a good summer jumps campaign, but is up 10lbs more and likely to face much softer ground.

The consistent Bowensonfire will be the likely favourite, but hasn’t won since winning at the DRF last season (7 races ago).

And despite having a fair time at this meeting last season, Gordon Elliott is still only 4-128 (3%) over fences at Cheltenham.

🥇JARRIVE DE MEE
🥈Bowensonfire
🥉Glen To Glen 

📈See the key Cheltenham trends and stats for the main Friday races here.

2:25 – Cheltenham: Foundation Developments Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger 2M Hurdle Series Qualifier) Class 3 (3yo+, 0–140), 2m ½f – ITV

Persist With Keighley’s Continuance

CONTINUANCE (e/w) was an excellent second at this meeting last season and is back here on the same mark (120).

Local trainer Martin Keighley also won this race in 2017 and this 5yold blew away the cobwebs for this with a fair 2nd at Kelso last month.

For this conditional jockeys’ race, the experienced Harry Atkins (244 rides) has been booked too, while the last eight winners were all aged 5 or 6, so this 5yold also ticks this stat.

Of the rest, with Atkins often used by the Skelton’s, then it’s interesting they are opting for a 10lb claimer (Dom Lewis) to ride their Loriko.

The Fergal O’Brien yard have won well in this race too – winning 3 of the last 7 – they run Fils De Roi, but Fern O’Brien rides Wild Goose for Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls.

Of the rest, JP’s Mojito Des Mottes will be interesting too, but the Ben Pauling yard are only 1-54 over hurdles here.

🥇CONTINUANCE (e/w)
🥈Wild Goose
🥉Fils De Roi

3:00 – Cheltenham: Oddschecker Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2, registered as the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle, GBB Race) Class 1 (4yo+), 2m ½f – ITV

Skelton To Freeze Out Rivals With Cooltobecarless

COOLTOBECARELESS was super impressive when winning at Chepstow 14 days ago and with the Skelton yard winning the last two runnings of this looks worth sticking with.

He bolted up by 15 lengths that day, on what was his first run back from a wind op.

That recent run will give him a fitness edge, you feel, over his main rival in the betting – the unbeaten Planters Punch for Nicky Henderson.

Hendo won this with the mighty Altior in 2015.

His runner here was also last seen winning at Chepstow – but that came back in April.

Any more rain for the pick will also be fine, having won on soft and heavy in the past.

Of the rest, Scott’s Legacy was a good winner at Newton Abbot last time and represents the in-form Twiston-Davies team.

While Eternal Angel and Irish raider Bells Grove will also have their fans after recent wins too.

🥇COOLTOBECARELESS (NB)
🥈Planters Punch
🥉Bells Grove 

What a hurdles debut! 👀

Cooltobecareless is in a league of his own in the @Chepstow_Racing opener, fired into the last before quickening away to win readily…@DSkeltonRacing | @harryskelton89 pic.twitter.com/NnQm0ArwFw

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 9, 2026

3:35 – Cheltenham: squareintheair.com Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Class 2 (4yo+), 2m – ITV

Calico Can Collect For Third Year

CALICO can win this race for a third year in-a-row and cap off a good day for the Skelton team.

He’s back rated 6lbs higher than 2025 and 10lbs higher than 2024 – but you feel this would have been his big target again.

Yes, he’s now a 10yold, but does have a top record when fresh 2-2-1-1 in recent years.

Harry Skelton rides.

Of the rest, Soul Icon is interesting back in trip and away from the pick is the only other course winner.

JPR One brings a bit of class to the race – but as a result, this 158-rated Tizzard chaser has 12st to carry.

So Sky Lord for the Henry De Bromhead yard is the next best, with the yard having won this in 2023.

He’ll be better for a third at Listowel last month and has tasted Cheltenham in the past – when well down the field in Kopek’s Supreme in 2025.

🥇CALICO (NAP)
🥈JPR One
🥉Sky Lord

 

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