A true super Saturday of racing is held this weekend up and down the country, with Trials Day at Cheltenham likely to entice ever more punters towards the ante-post markets for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
There is also an excellent card at Doncaster on the day, with our Lucky 15 best bets coming from both Prestbury Park and Town Moor on Saturday.
Cheltenham Racing Tips (Saturday 24 January 2026)
Cheltenham Trials Day looks packed full of exciting races, with anticipation building towards the main Festival at the track in March. Our two best bets on the card run in the Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial and the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase.
12.40 Cheltenham – Minella Yoga (1pt win – 9/4)
There has been prolonged support for Minella Yoga since declarations on Thursday which is particularly interesting given Paul Nicholls has been really struggling to find winners of late. The gamble suggests both that this form may be about to turn and that he has a juvenile of rare quality in Minella Yoga, who only joined the yard in December after making a winning debut for John Nallen in Ireland the month prior. He had won with a fair bit in hand at Fairyhouse on soft-to-heavy ground before outspeeding a talented older novice hurdler on his British debut at Newbury. That was a useful race where he was well clear of the third and beat a horse who may still be a Cheltenham Festival contender at Grade 1 level. As he has already demonstrated that no going is inadequate, he looks a good bet to down favourite Maestro Conti in receipt of 5lb, with his form at a more proven level than Dan Skelton’s charge.
1.50 Cheltenham – Placenet (1pt win – 8/1)
An error two form home put paid to Placenet’s chances of winning the equivalent cross country race on the December card, but he can be persevered with to turn the form around with the three ahead of him, as he travelled sweetly throughout the contest and ran on again even after that mistake. Sam Twiston-Davies is given the call up aboard David Cottin’s nine-year-old, whose winning form has sometimes come on quicker ground on the continent, but who handles soft ground fine, which might not be the case for the Irish-trained pair at the head of the betting. He was only three lengths behind stablemate Iceo Madrik last month and looks a decent bet to turn that around given the latter’s rider, Leo-Paul Brechet, is having his first ride in Great Britain on Saturday.
Doncaster Racing Tips (Saturday 24 January 2026)
Doncaster’s card is headlined by the Great Yorkshire Chase, in which one of our lucky 15 tips runs, but there is Grade 2 action to enjoy at the track as well on Saturday.
12.55 Doncaster – Thedeviluno (1pt win – 6/1)
This is a wide open edition of the Grade 2 River Don Novices’ Hurdle with Irish contender Thedeviluno particularly interesting for Paul Nolan. He was a runner-up in three successive bumpers in the spring before making a surprise winning debut at Gowran Park in November, beating subsequent Grade 1 winner Skylight Hustle over 2m, with the third placing in Graded company since as well. The selection himself could only finish second in a Grade 2 at Navan at the start of December, but the winner was a Willie Mullins-trained contender who has now won two out of two over hurdles and is quietly fancied to make a splash at the Cheltenham Festival. The trip is the question mark for Thedeviluno here, but he was finishing off his race well enough on heavy over 2m4f last time to suggest he could make up into a fine stayer a mould of which Nolan likes, especially as he was placed in bumpers over 2m3f-2m4f.
2.05 Doncaster – Grand Geste (1pt win – 3/1)
He was out of the handicap when winning easily at Haydock, so Grand Geste is effectively up 12lb here, but was so impressive with his jumping when winning the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase that he looks yet another staying handicap chaser to follow for Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith. The grey had immediately improved on his best hurdles form when second at both Carlisle and Newcastle to start this season, losing by just a nose at the latter of those tracks, but he put that right when upped to 3m1½f in the north west, jumping for fun and winning by 6½ lengths. This race sees him go up another level against some in-form rivals, but if he is in similar sprightly form over his obstacles, there may be few who can live with him in the closing stages, as he is still unexposed at staying distances.
GG Lucky 15 Tips – Saturday 24 January
12.40 Cheltenham – Minella Yoga (1pt win – 9/4)
12.55 Doncaster – Thedeviluno (1pt win – 6/1)
1.50 Cheltenham – Placenet (1pt win – 8/1)
2.05 Doncaster – Grand Geste (1pt win – 3/1)
Minella Yoga
ThedevilunoGG Lucky 15 Tips – Saturday 24 January
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- Cheltenham – first race 12:05
- Doncaster– first race 12:20
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s GG Lucky 15 tips?
Joe Napier provides the GG Lucky 15 tips on Saturday 24 January, which include selections at Cheltenham & Doncaster.
Which racecourses run on Saturday 24 January 2026?
Cheltenham, Doncaster, Fairyhouse, Lingfield, Newcastle & Uttoxeter.
When were Saturday’s Lucky 15 tips for Cheltenham & Doncaster published?
GG’s Lucky 15 tips for Saturday 24 January were published at 1.58pm on Friday 23 January.
Who is Joe Napier?
Joe Napier is the deputy editor of GG who gives tips and opinion throughout the week. He has been writing for GG for over four years and is hugely passionate about racing.
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