Punters Panel: Weekend horse racing betting advice from our experts
Another busy weekend of racing is on the horizon, with the Irish Oaks, flat action from Newbury and Market Rasen's summer plate meeting in the jumps sphere all to look forward to.
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.
Ash Symonds - Horse racing journalist working for several established publications.
Craig Talbot - Owner of Ursa Major Racing, providing affordable and rewarding syndicates for racing fans.
Now, onto the good stuff...
Starting with the Group 1 of the weekend, is the Irish Oaks a penalty kick for Minnie Hauk?
SD - Yes.
AS - Penalty kick. At 1/4, we might not find out in this poor Group One, but I think she could be potentially very very good. Even against the boys later in the season.
HF - Absolutely. The only remote threat is Wemightakedlongway and she’s already beat her in the Oaks by 5 1/4 lengths. I think she is the best of the O’Brien 3 year old fillies – and that is a decent bar.
ASy - I do think Minnie Hauk will win this weekend, but I don’t have much interest in the race. The Irish Oaks isn’t a race that I have fond memories of, as the last few years have been similar to this. The 2023 renewal was okay, but it’s just a race that doesn’t get much support, which is a shame.
CT - Looks like it! Very sad to see no UK runners go over either. A poor advert for racing.
Back on British shores, Newbury’s card is the best of the flat action. Any fancies there?
SD - Yes. I think it’s hugely significant the lack of a single figure draw in the Super Sprint winning in the last decade. With the jolly in 9, Anthelia, already a listed winner and for Rod Millman, who won this with two in the past including that great horse Lord Kintyre 28 years ago, makes appeal.
AS - I quite like Regional in the Hackwood (2:57). Fair effort at Royal Ascot last time and this is well within his compass.
HF - In the first race of the day at Newbury, its a good competitive listed race but I’m sticking with Enfjaar. I think he should’ve won last time – he was completely trapped on the rail and took an age to finally get a gap. When he did, he finished strongly.
ASy - With the rain that has hit Newbury, now could be the time to take a small swing at Certain Lad in the Group 3 Steventon Stakes. He has some nice form with Anmaat on good to firm, though much of his form comes on slower ground. The track was given a good showering on Thursday, and that could just help him get back into the winners’ enclosure. If there’s a time to catch Elite Status, this weekend could really be the one, and I think he could take some beating in the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes if repeating last year’s effort.
CT - Taking a look at the Super Sprint, I think Havana Hurricane will obviously be very tough to beat. But I do think Big Fun at around 20/1 will give you a run for your money.
National Hunt fans get a fix this weekend with Summer Plate day at Market Rasen. Tell us your best bet?
SD - They’ve done a Go Dante with Sure Touch, haven’t they? The mark is good. And his connections are the right people.
AS - Absolutely no idea. How can anyone be thinking of jumps racing in July is mad to me.
HF - In the big Summer Plate Handicap chase, I fancy Ballysax Hank for Gavin Cromwell. Harry Cobden takes the ride and I think 128 looks to be a good mark. Has only had three runs over fences, one on good ground and won that very nicely. I think it is significant that after that third chase race he has since run in two hurdle races, potentially saving that mark of 128. 11/2 looks a fair price.
ASy - If the rain was staying away from Market Rasen, I’d be with Hang In There. Unfortunately, it looks like the track will get a good soaking on Saturday, so I’ll look elsewhere. It’s not too long ago since Horantzau d’Airy finished second to Flooring Porter in a Kerry National off 141 and second to Real Steel in a Munster National off 145. He’s down to 141, and he should love the conditions of this Summer Plate much more than his run on good ground at Uttoxeter in May. He could be overpriced on his first start for Sara Bradstock.
CT - It's a great weekend of National Hunt racing at Market Rasen, Cartmel and then Stratford on Sunday. Ballysax Hank would be my play in the big race. But the rain forecast on Saturday could change things massively.
Anything else you are backing this Saturday?
SD - The others I’m backing will depend on how much rain falls and where. Looking at the forecast, Noah may be seen at Cartmel Saturday, which won’t suit many.
AS - If it rains, IF, then Contacto (2:25) would have a nice chance. He’s a different horse on soft ground.
HF - In the last at Newbury – a premier fillies handicap – I fancy Mollie Foster. She is yet to be priced up but I am expecting a double figures, which I think will be fair. She was a big eyecatcher at Chester two starts ago. We are due a decent bit of rain and think that’ll help, as she doesn’t appear to love rattling quick ground. Up to 7f I don’t think will be an issue and with her mark slipping down to 78, I think she can take advantage.
ASy - In the final race of the whole day, the 9:00 at Haydock, Secret Mistral returns to her favourite track. She finished second there earlier this month when the 3/1 favourite, and the handicapper has kindly dropped her by a pound. She’s an incredibly fast filly who loves this course and distance, and I think she could take some whacking for Tony Carroll and Jack Doughty. I’m hoping she’ll be somewhere north of 7/2.
CT - Our Horse Lumenbourg at Doncaster (6.45) should have a big chance.
Glorious Goodwood is on the horizon. What’s the best ante post bet you can see at this stage?
SD - I’ve been playing Rosallion for weeks each way. I’ve not bet him but Scandinavia was seriously good at Newmarket and would be interesting if coming to the Goodwood Cup. It’s my favourite racing festival of the year.
AS - Not Delacroix, on which SD get drawn into the fake “gamble” the other day. Field Of Gold is odds on. Illinois is odds on. The best betting race will be the Lennox Stakes, depending on who runs.
HF - I am looking to the first day in the Lennox Stakes and I like Jonquil. I think he was never going to be suited by the Commonwealth on rattling ground, having to avoid Field of Gold and then avoiding the Jersey as it is a Group 3. Back up to 7f here in a race which doesn’t have a huge amount of strength with the likes of Kinross, Audience and Lake Forest the likely rivals, especially now with the news Never So Brave is waiting for York. 6/1 on Hills I think is a decent price.
ASy - I may be the CEO of the Audience fan club, but I’ve just noticed that he is entered for the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood. I think he is very talented, and his last run can be forgiven for fitness reasons. The 8/1 about him to win this race for the second year in a row is appealing.
CT - Not a big ante post player myself but Qirat for the Golden Mile would be of interest
Music nights at racecourses - are you a fan?
SD - No. I run out of the car park at the speed of light as the last race closes. I couldn’t think of anything worse than attending a concert. My Mrs once made me stay for that loser Ollie Murs. It was like being waterboarded.
AS - Good for the racecourses and their balance sheet. Bad for racing purists/ dinosaurs like our friend SD.
HF - I am a fan, yes. I have plenty of mates who I have gone to these music nights with and now are into racing. It gets people through the door and in a time where we have these poor crowd sizes and declining crowds, how can it be bad? What I will say is, it would be good to somehow separate people that want just racing and then the racing and music after people. The racing fans that aren’t interested in the music are paying a lot higher admission prices because of a music cost that they aren’t there for.
ASy - I have no issue with it. Most people like to have a good time at these summer race days, especially evening ones with the sun blazing down. A nice six or seven race card with a few pints kicks the evening off in great style, and then if there’s some live music afterwards to continue the party, then why not? Racing fans are there for the racing, and they then have the option of staying or going. If they have headline acts on at the course, I wouldn’t mind seeing a few different ticket prices. Say someone like Craig David is playing one night at Newbury; it would be nice if those pure racing fans who won’t be attending the music afterwards could have a slightly lower ticket price. Admittedly, I imagine this would cause the course some logistical hassle of finding out who has paid for the music ticket and who hasn’t, but the concept seems pretty fair.
CT - Yes – but only if courses actually recognise that racing is the main attraction for the day. Not vise versa, like it seems at most such nights currently.