Horse Racing Tips: Ed Quigley's Cheltenham Best Bets for Saturday, 24 October

Written By Ed Quigley | Published at October 24, 2026

See Ed Quigley's horse racing tips for Cheltenham on Saturday, 24 October 2026. — CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UK : 15 March 2022 : Jockey Rachael Blackmore riding Honeysuckle winning the 2022 Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy

It's Saturday at Cheltenham Racecourse! We are set for incredible action, and Ed Quigley, who's been firing in the winners lately, is in the hot seat to give his Cheltenham best bets for what should be a wonderful afternoon of racing.

Saturday's horse racing tips for 24 October include a group of capable champions.

Cheltenham Best Bet - Derryhassen Paddy at 4.05

It is great to see DERRYHASSEN PADDY back in action, and with the Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore partnership in fine fettle, I think he's more than capable of landing this on his comeback.

He won two of his three starts over hurdles; his only defeat came when he finished third in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, behind Jasmin De Vaux in a great performance. He was runner-up over an inadequate 2m4f on his only start over fences last season, before a setback curtailed the rest of his season and, obviously, kept him Novice for this campaign. That form has worked out well, with his conqueror that day, Sixmilebridge, going on to score at Grade 1 level.

This test of stamina should suit better, and Derryhassen Paddy looks to have major claims with Derek Fox taking the ride. It would be a surprise if he didn't take his game to higher levels over the larger obstacles, as is often the case with horses trained by the Scottish yard. I think Derryhassen Paddy could easily become one of the best staying Novice Chasers around this time.

Hattrick-seeking Butch Cassidy is a threat for the Henry De Bromhead stable. The 6-year-old dotted up last time out and won by 9 lengths on his penultimate start, so he arrives here full of confidence. The complication will be the 8lb penalty, and whether his jumping will be as good around Prestbury Park on softer ground. Catchintsavo was last seen when runner-up in Grade 1 company as a Novice Hurdler at Aintree, and brings bags of potential to the table as he embarks on a Chasing career. He is versatile on the ground and looks like a major player for the in-form Anthony Honeyball team.

Next Best Bet for Cheltenham - Uncle Bert at 2.55

Storm Austen is bringing plenty of rain to the UK at the moment, and that will be music to the ears of UNCLE BERT, if the predicted weather forecast materialises.

If the ground turns Soft, then he should get the underfoot conditions he will relish, and with up to 15mm of rain on the radar, the weather gods could be smiling in his favour. He also has a very good record first-time out for the season, as his reappearance form figures of 2131 testify, so catching Uncle Bert when fresh looks like the perfect time. Sam Twiston-Davies will likely be positive as the flag drops, and it wouldn't surprise me if he tries to make all as he likes to be ridden prominently. Off a mark of 135, I think he is competitively handicapped, and this 9-year-old should be right in the shake-up come the hard yards in what could easily be an attritional encounter.

A few of the antepost protagonists for this encounter would probably prefer a much sounder surface, and a few of them arrive under a bit of a cloud, so I think the claims of Uncle Bert are as compelling as anything else in the mix here for a yard operating at around a 30% strike-rate for October.

More Cheltenham Picks

It is a competitive-looking card, and the ground will no doubt play a major part in how things unfold.

De Temps En Temps looks to be an each-way play in the opener for local trainer Martin Keighley. He has good form at the track, and is a fascinating contender first time out over fences. The yard often hits the mark at this meeting, and he can't be ruled out with the trainer's son, Freddie Keighley, in the saddle, claiming 5lb.

Later on the card, the Masterson Holdings Hurdle feels wide open. One Horse Town has to be respected for the Harry Derham team, and he won on his only previous start over the Course and Distance. Paul O'Brien takes the ride, and I can see this combination running a big race in this Class 2 assignment worth over £20,000 to the winner.

In the finale, we have some exciting bumper recruits, and keep your eyes on the Dan Skelton-trained Newgrove. Doyen's son bolted up in his only start in an Irish point and has joined a team that can do very little wrong at present as they hunt down Martin Pipe's training record, held for nearly 27 years.