Trials Day at Cheltenham headlines Saturday’s action, though with top-class racing also occurring at Doncaster, Matty Sutcliffe had plenty to study ahead of the opening race of the day.
Our top tipster has come up with four best bets across those two cards for you to follow, including two big-priced handicap tips at Prestbury Park.
Doncaster Racing Tips (Saturday 24 January 2026)
Doncaster’s meeting on Saturday features a p[air of Grade 2 contests and the Great Yorkshire Chase, and it is in the aforementioned Graded contests that Matty picks out his best bets on the card.
12:55 Doncaster – Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places River Don Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Country Code 13/2 1pt WIN
Ruth Jefferson won this with Kerryhill in 2024 and she looks to have another sound claim with Country Code. The son of Workforce was well backed into favouritism on each of his two starts over hurdles, successfully landing the odds on both occasions.
He pulled 13 lengths clear of the third alongside the subsequent runner up on hurdles debut at Newcastle, displaying a sharp turn of foot late on after slightly missing the last to fend off the runner up who franked that form next time out. He was again well backed under a penalty at Kelso upped in trip next time out and duly obliged, kicking early off the bend and jumping the second last in front. It had looked as if he needed to be kept up to his work, but after jumping the last in excellent style in front he was eased down to run out a comfortable winner.
While he has something to find on form with some of these, he’s bang there on the figures and visually he looked as impressive as anything the last day. He shaped as if this step up in trip will suit, and he looks to have a sharp enough change of gear to step up into this stronger company with James Bowen a rare booking for the yard.
1:30 Doncaster – Virgin Bet A Good Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Feet Of A Dancer 9/4 2pt WIN
Last year’s winner Jetara holds strong claims and will find this easier than the Christmas Hurdle last time out, but she mightn’t find it all that easy to give 2lbs to the progressive Feet Of A Dancer, who can improve again now stepping back up to three miles.
The Authorized mare was an eye-catcher for the column when staying on five length fifth in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last season, and she backed that up in G2 company at Fairyhouse next time out despite taking a keen hold to only beaten a length into third by Maxxum.
She returned this season back down in trip to land a Punchestown listed contest, and that looked unlikely in the middle part of the race having looked outpaced, before rallying to stay on strongly and win going away by nine lengths on soft going.
She appears to prefer softer conditions, which may have counted against her when a two length fifth to Wodhooh at Leopardstown next time out. She lost nothing in defeat there against a credible Mares Hurdle contender whose sole defeat over hurdles came against Lossiemouth at Aintree, and I’d expect this step back up in trip on soft ground to prove her tough to beat on the back of that performance.
Cheltenham Racing Tips (Saturday 24 January 2026)
Cheltenham’s Trials Day is the final meeting below Cleeve Hill prior to the Festival in March and Matty fancies two selections at decent prices on the card.
1:15 Cheltenham – Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Prairie Wolf 14/1 1pt EW 3 places
The Sue Smith yard are yet to make the 180 mile journey down to Cheltenham since Joel Parkinson was added onto the license and their sole runner here, Prairie Wolf, looks to have a solid chance with Gavin Sheehan on board who’s operating at a 25% strike rate when teaming up with the yard.
The Sageburg gelding looked to have perhaps hit his peak after struggling off a revised mark of 137 last season after a comfortable career best effort at Hayock, but he’s returned in solid form this season having subsequently had wind surgery in the interim.
He was giving 16lbs away to Thistle Ask on seasonal debut in a G3 Handicap at Wetherby, beaten ten lengths by that one who’s now rated 39lbs higher after his second in G1 company to Jonbon last weekend. He was then a seven length third to Booster Bob after Newbury when losing a shoe, finishing a length in front of a subsequent winner now rated 6lbs higher and he has a 6lbs swing in the weights with the re-opposing Booster Bob.
Then back down in trip, he travelled strongly through a 0-150 at Aintree to collar the 9/4F close to home, pulling eighteen lengths clear of the third and a subsequent 3lbs rise could easily prove lenient. I’ve long thought he can be a smart horse for connections, and he looks to have seemingly got his act together over fences this season. He’s 5 from 16 in this sphere now, and he does have C&D form going back a couple years ago when fourth to Ginny’s Destiny here.
2m4f on soft ground appears to bring out the best of him as he does have form over slightly further so any stamina reserves should natural come in to play, and with his jumping looking sharper this season I’d expect him to be bang there in the latter stages under Gavin Sheehan who won with this race on Ga Law in 2024.
1:50 Cheltenham – Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) – Escaria Ten 25/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
A tentative selection goes the way of Escaria Ten, who I’m hoping will be revived by this second run after a wind operation along with the return of the visor, which saw him jump well in the Topham at Aintree.
He was a big priced selection for the column at the Cheltenham Festival last season in the Cross Country, and I thought he put in a remarkable round of jumping from the front before weakening markedly prior to the last fence. He was only four lengths behind Stumptown in the December edition of this contest last season, and given he’s 10lbs lower than that mark I’m happy to take the chance that a return to that piece of form would see him prove good enough to outrun his odds here now stepping back up in trip to this discipline.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
12:55 Doncaster – Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places River Don Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Country Code 13/2 1pt WIN
1:15 Cheltenham – Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Prairie Wolf 14/1 1pt EW 3 places
1:30 Doncaster – Virgin Bet A Good Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Feet Of A Dancer 9/4 2pt WIN
1:50 Cheltenham – Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) – Escaria Ten 25/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
Country Code
Feet Of A DancerMatty Sutcliffe’s Tips – Saturday 24 January
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets at Doncaster & Cheltenham on Saturday 24 January.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Doncaster & Cheltenham tips were published at 10.14am on Friday 23 January.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival.
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