It is one of the bigger midweek days of racing during the jumps season, with the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park the standout contest, having been won last year by subsequent Grand National winner Nick Rockett.
That race hosts one of our Lucky 15 top tips for Thursday’s racing, while we also have selections elsewhere on the Gowran Park card, as well as one each from Huntingdon and Wetherby.
Wetherby Racing Tips (Thursday 22 January 2026)
Seven races will be hosted by Wetherby on Thursday, with our selection racing in the feature class 3 handicap chase.
1.20 Wetherby – Ned Tanner (1pt win – 8/1)
Although he is a ten-year-old on his first visit to Wetherby, Ned Tanner has become well-treated and the evidence of last season suggests he is on the cusp of returning to winning form. Nick Alexander’s charge is 1lb below his last winning mark from Ayr last season, which was his second victory of the campaign in six starts. He had required two runs to find his feet before winning at the third attempt in 2024/25, which is somewhat mirrored by his efforts this term when uncompetitive at Kelso, a distant third at Aintree, albeit after one bad jumping error, but then a closer third on unseasonably quick ground at Haydock at the end of December. Those three runs have combined to drop him 3lb down the handicap, but back on soft, he could well be about to deliver his best performance of this campaign.
Gowran Park Racing Tips (Thursday 22 January 2026)
It is one of Gowran Park’s biggest racedays on Thursday with the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle and Thyestes Handicap Chase. We have a selection in both contests for our lucky 15 tips.
1.45 Gowran Park – Staffordshire Knot (1pt win – 2/1)
Jack Kennedy may have stayed loyal to Gerri Colombe after his forlorn comeback in the Savills Chase, but race conditions look set to suit stablemate Staffordshire Knot better in the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle. The Elliott pair both receive weight from Home By The Lee and last year’s winner Rocky’s Diamond, but while Gerri Colombe’s wellbeing and ability can now be questioned, the selection is in better form than ever, having won a Punchestown Pertemps qualifier off 140 in November, then followed up just nine days after that in the open Kilsheelan Hurdle at Clonmel. He looked to relish 2m6f-3m in both those wins, each of which was secured with heavy in the going description, so he should be right at home at Gowran Park on Thursday as well.
3.30 Gowran Park – Captain Cody (1pt win – 7/1)
Four of the Willie Mullins-trained quintet make some appeal here, with Shanbally Kid notably interesting at a big price. However, while Paul Townend chose wildly wrong in a Grade 3 handicap at Fairyhouse last week aboard a top-weight, that may have been by design in terms of easing the burden on his lower-handicapped stablemates, whereas he forgoes the ride on top-weight High Class Hero her to ride Scottish National winner Captain Cody. Townend partnered him to seventh at Leopardstown in the Paddy Power Chase when he was one of many stood on the outside inconvenienced by the start, while 3m on yielding ground would have been sharp enough for a 4m scorer. The Mullins team were really struggling after Christmas too, so he ran very respectably with that in mind, while he was also third in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase to start this season over just 2m4f behind Romeo Coolio. His mark of 150 looks defiable with conditions falling right, which could well occur here due to the even greater likely emphasis on stamina.
Huntingdon Racing Tips (Thursday 22 January 2026)
Among the seven races at Huntingdon on Thursday is a Pertemps qualifier for the Cheltenham Festival, with our tip on the card coming in that contest
3.15 Huntingdon – Benign Dictator (1pt win – 13/2)
Ace Of Spades is the clear favourite here, but is not guaranteed to deal with soft ground, whereas Benign Dictator, who had been long absent prior to the start of this campaign, will have no such problems for Olly Murph. The nine-year-old missed nearly two years of action between January 2024 and November 2025, making his reappearance in an extremely competitive handicap at Newbury. However, he showed the benefit of that run when stepping forward to win at Warwick on New Year’s Eve having been eased 2lb. That victory came over 3m2f, so he has no issues with stamina, while he won on soft, and placed on heavy, before his absence. He is up 6lb in the weights, but looks back in business and a good performance in this Pertemps qualifier will book his place at Cheltenham.
GG Lucky 15 Tips – Thursday 22 January
1.20 Wetherby – Ned Tanner (1pt win – 8/1)
1.45 Gowran Park – Staffordshire Knot (1pt win – 2/1)
3.15 Huntingdon – Benign Dictator (1pt win – 13/2)
3.30 Gowran Park – Captain Cody (1pt win – 7/1)
GG Lucky 15 Tips – Thursday 22 January
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- Wetherby – first race 12:20
- Huntingdon – first race 12:28
- Gowran Park – first race 12:40
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s GG Lucky 15 tips?
Joe Napier provides the GG Lucky 15 tips on Thursday 22 January, which include selections at Wetherby, Gowran Park & Huntingdon.
Which racecourses run on Thursday 22 January 2026?
Gowran Park, Huntingdon, Newcastle, Southwell & Wetherby.
When were Thursday’s Lucky 15 tips for Wetherby, Gowran Park & Huntingdon published?
GG’s Lucky 15 tips for Thursday 22 January were published at 3.47pm on Monday 19 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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