Punters Panel: Weekend horse racing betting advice from our experts
Another busy weekend of racing is on the horizon, with the third and final day of Newmarket's July Festival taking top billing.
We've assembled five racing brains to help mark your card by answering six key questions ahead of the action.
Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters Panel
Before we get stuck in, here’s a little bit more on the four men answering our key questions this week:
SD - The self-proclaimed ‘star of the show’ on Races Now, who has been going viral with his daily tips and betting ring analysis in recent weeks.
Adam Smith - A betting industry veteran, flat lover and one half of our Races Now double act.
Harry Fowler - One of Odds Now’s regular racing contributors, currently working in the industry.
Zac Castledine - Punter, racing lover of both codes and also working in betting.
Jerry White - A professional gambler who specialises in UK National Hunt racing.
Now, onto the good stuff...
Starting with the feature race of the weekend, the Group One July cup – who’s your winner?
SD - I’m nonplussed by those at the head of the market so there is value elsewhere. Spy Chief is improving at a rate of knots and looks every inch a sprinter with his running style so may reward each way support. From the left field , it is easy to forget Run To Freedom ran so well in this two years back after a bad run at Ascot, his reappearance run was not devoid of promise and at triple figure odds with enhanced place terms he looks a lively one.
AS - Notable Speech in there is either desperate or opportunistic in a poor renewal. Big Mojo is the value for me. Easy six is ideal for him. Slightly unlucky last time. Poor ride at Haydock before that.
HF - Flora of Bermuda ran a good race in Jubilee stakes at Royal Ascot last time and I think this is her day out. She should’ve beaten inisherin at York and will make that right on Saturday.
ZC - An intriguing renewal, particularly with Notable Speech being supplemented. However, I think the sprint at Ascot will provide the winner, so it’s Flora Of Bermuda for me. I’d also fancy Iberian at an each way price, who finished 2L behind the selection in the aforementioned race.
JW - Notable Speech for me. Given a fair rub of the green, he should be very strong in the latter stages – as he showed as a 2yr old.
Is there anything else you fancy on the Newmarket card?
SD - More Thunder in the Bunbury Cup now it has cut up really does look like the most likely. I will only play at bottle or above.
AS - I think the supporting races are disappointing in terms of field sizes and quality. Run Boy Run in a Bunbury Cup which has only got 13 runners was my bet.
HF - I’m sticking with Ten Pounds for the Bunbury Cup as previously put up in the Punters Panel a couple of weeks ago at 25/1.
ZC - The Bunbury Cup is one of my favourite races of the season. It’s always a fascinating betting heat and More Thunder will be very hard to beat if on song. In a race with 24 entries though, I can’t be backing a short fav, so I like the chances of Run Boy Run. He’s been a model of consistency in top handicaps and should run his race.
JW - Miss Information. I was impressed with the last piece of recent form and feel the ceiling of ability has not yet been reached.
It's John Smith's Cup day at York. Anything you fancy on the Knavesmire?
SD - A bulldozer would suffice.
AS - I thought Old Cock won really really well over course and distance on his most recent start. Connections avoided the temptation of Royal Ascot and come back for more at York (2:00). He looks a good horse to me.
HF - Have to look in the big race and back down in trip, I fancy Hand Of God to win the John Smith’s Cup. I think Harry Charlton will have a good day Saturday with Ten Pounds too as mentioned before.
ZC - I fancy More Thunder in the big one, nice course form and Mr Burke is no stranger to a nice winner at York.
JW - Al Qareem. Good course form, perfect trip and conditions – plus a great attitude in races Fancied to make all and fend off the stronger stayers.
And then more top-class action to enjoy from Ascot. What's your best bet on that card?
SD - Woolhampton was desperately unlucky in the Gosforth Park Cup last time and loves Ascot.
AS - Their feature race, the Summer Mile, looks intriguing with four runners priced between 3 and 4/1 - two of them first time out of handicaps. Haatem has to be the class act here, surely.
HF - That Newbury maiden comes up again! I really fancy Crest Of Fire. Bumped into one last time and put things right and get off the mark this time
ZC - We get to see My Cloud again at the scene of his greatest triumph. The shortest winner in the history of the Hunt Cup, I think he goes in again.
JW - Crest Of Fire. I like a horse in this particular race to have had a couple of previous outings and I can see the potential for improvement.
Feel free to share any other bets you're eyeing up on Super Saturday...
SD - There will be something from Hamilton Saturday morning, which will be broadcast 8AM on the Races Now channels as per usual.
AS - I'll give you one for Friday. Sudden Flight in the 4:55 at Ascot. Not an ideal ride last time at Newmarket when I really fancied him - too far back, finished full of running. He can do damage off a mark of 89.
HF - Another one from Newmarket. In the 3:25, Fifth Column I think for the Gosden’s has a great chance. If you look last time, he finished seventh at Royal Ascot, winning his side. That performance I think is better than the bare form and he will go well Saturday.
ZC - Mr Fowler put me on THAT Newbury maiden, and it looked like Crest Of Fire bumped into a nice one at York. He’ll do for me.
Looking back, what is your analysis of last weekend's Eclipse?
SD - It showed the 3yo crop are on par, at least, with their older rivals. It also reinforced my view that with no standout performer in the middle distance division and that results may be more likely to oscillate than a normal year. Milers stepping up may reverse this phenomenon.
AS - Tactical and strange to watch at times. William Buick had to make two tactical moves in the first half of the race and that cost him. Firstly to shut the door on Rulling Court, then latterly to keep the Ballydoyle boys at bay. Fair play to the winner Delacroix, I didn't fancy him at all and he proved me bang wrong. Good horse.
HF - It was a very tactical race. I don’t think Buick got it wrong, as suggested by some. The winner was very good and had the worst possible passage to still win. It was a fantastic race and I look forward to seeing them lock horns again.
ZC - I can’t lie, Ombudsman not winning really REALLY hurt. I was on at a nice price, but I must let the pocket talk go and salute an excellent winner in Delacroix. How he won from there I’ll never know. A third eclipse winner for the incredible Dubawi.
JW - A really exciting renewal of a race which can often be uncompetitive.The winner, Delacroix, won on merit and would have been an unlucky looser taking into consideration his troubled passage. Ombudsman showed great tenacity and consistency but was denied by an inspired ride from the best jockey in the world, Ryan Moore. Of the placed horses I would point out that Ruling Court didn’t really like the ground and I feel will find more form with some cut. In my opinion the most exciting race I have seen in ages .The last race that took my breath away like the 2025 Eclipse was in 2022, when Emily Upjohn looked 1/100 to beat Love in the Oaks and didn’t. CALL OUT THE NUMBERS NOT THE NAMES!