Punters Panel: Weekend horse racing betting advice from our experts
With Epsom taking centre stage this weekend, we've assembled a four-man Punters Panel to tackle the key questions from a betting perspective.
Check out who each of our contributors fancy for the Oaks and Derby, plus where other value may lie this weekend.
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:
Harry Fowler - One of Odds Now’s regular racing contributors, currently working in the industry.
Lee Jones - Racing trader at a leading bookmaker and well-respected judge in betting circles.
Dale Nicholls - Long-term friend of Races Now and all-weather lover.
Andy Jones - Describes himself as an "average punter" of 24 years who, quite simply, loves the game.
Now, onto the good stuff...
Who is your idea of the Oaks winner on Friday afternoon?
HF - I'm more than happy to let Desert Flower win at 6/4. I have been with Giselle for a good while and happy to stick with her. There's no Ryan Moore but Colin Keane is by no means a bad alternative.
LJ - I really like Minnie Hawk. She is a proper 12f horse who will love the cut in the ground and Ryan has chosen her, which is a big positive.
DN - A below par renewal. Is it time to now question whether the 1000 Guineas now holds more stock than the Oaks itself? Regardless, I think the top of the market really is ripe for taking on, and as such I would chance Revoir (10/1), who seemed to be getting the hang of things late on at Newbury on just her second start. Epsom should suit and hector crouch may just be able to pick up the pieces in this one.
AJ - Desert Flower. Five starts, five wins. Her Fillies Mile win last year was outrageous and her Guineas performance showcased her ability to dig in and find as she did it the hard way. The lack of stamina in her pedigree is the only question mark but she is clearly an outstanding filly and I think she’ll get the job done with Buick riding better than ever this season.
Is there anything else you like the look of at Epsom on Friday?
HF - Defiance (3:15) handicap. A debutant off 99, which is a mark I think could prove to underestimate him. Varian has a brilliant record in this race, the rain/watering has helped his case and he ran well at Epsom last season on reappearance.
LJ - Diego Ventura. Even though it’s around 2/1, I think he will win this as it’s quite a poor standard of race and he is on the improve.
DN - Rathgar (11/1) in the 3:15 does go well here and had subsequent winner Stressfree in behind in his last appearance here, only going down to a very progressive winner by half a length. David Probert knows the horse well and off an unmoved mark of 88 could be well in here to a lot of exposed types.
AJ - Havana Hurricane (2.05). He won well at Goodwood on debut and beat a subsequent winner. He can potentially trouble the Godolphin favourite.
Onto Saturday's action and there's only one place to start. Who wins an open-looking Derby?
HF - Ruling Court I think is the best horse in the race and he will stay providing we don’t have too much rain.
LJ - I've not got a massive opinion on this race but if forced, I’ll side with Lambourn. He will stay all day and is going to be ridden positively. There could be trouble in behind, too.
DN - A race won by two guineas flops over the past two years. People are looking to shoehorn in The Lion In Winter into that blueprint but this is a completely different case.
Pride Of Arras has shown everything you would want leading into this – a good attitude to battle through a wall of horses, strong staying power and a top jockey on board. I'd suspect a drift whilst the punters dive in on stronger connections, so I willhold my nerve until maybe the day of the race. But even the 5/1 currently on offer is a dirty each way play.
AJ - A huge field and a potentially really messy race. It really does look wide open and if there is any cut in the ground I’ll play Rogue Impact in some specials market (hopefully there will be a market for a top five finish) and you can get around 33/1-40/1. If there is no rain, I’ll just watch the race.
What is your best bet from the remainder of Epsom's Saturday offering?
HF - Persica (1:35) won at this meeting last year. Any rain will be welcomed and he has Ryan Moore back on board. I'm still not overly sure why they ran him last time in the Lockinge.
LJ - Ruby’s Profit (2.10) has the perfect draw in 18 and in what is a very poor race, will surely pop out, grab the rail and lead all the way.
DN - Existent boasts a nice form line in the 2:45. Put up an unlucky effort at the ever-demanding Windsor last time, and was unlucky here two starts back. His time is near and the mark is workable. 14/1 is too big.
AJ - In the last race of the meeting at 5.40, Get It loves a downhill track and an easy 6 furlongs. He wasn’t 100% at Ascot on reappearance but surprisingly won well and the second has won since. This looks a great spot for him to go from the front and stay there on his way to another Stewards Cup.
Any other fancies from across Saturday's cards elsewhere?
HF - Up to Doncaster for the 7:50. Tailorman received one of the worst rides I’ve ever seen in the Chester Plate. He drops down to a class 5 here and has Jim Crowley on board for the first time – should go well.
LJ - Synergism (5.34 Lingfield) was given a very poor ride at Catterick last time and as long as he is ridden forward, he will win this.
DN - Alzahir (6.45, Doncaster). Ran off the pace line at a huge price at York, and he did come for late support. Down in class, down in trip and down another 1lb, I would suspect a bold showing and he's one worth giving another chance to at an expected juicy price. The stoff 7f being sure to suit. Keep an eye on Billyjoh in the betting in the same race.
AJ - Billyjoh in the 6.45 at Doncaster. He was also entered at Epsom on Friday but they’ve skipped that to come here and they might be looking to get him up a few pounds so he can run in the Wokingham.
A fun one to finish – who do you believe is the most underrated jockey?
HF - Finley Marsh for me. Not one that ever really gets mentioned but I like him. He rides for Richard Hughes and there is considerably worse jockeys around.
LJ - Cieren Fallon burst on to the scene around covid times and had few doubters after but hes getting better and better with William Haggas 2nd rider job and could land a big job very soon
DN - It’s very rare I have fallen foul of a bad ride from Daniel Muscutt. He will give it full beans and is not one to preserve a mark for a later date. Following the lower class racing as I do this is integral to a decision making process. Harry Davies has matured a lot over the past 12 months too.
AJ - It’s embarrassing to say underrated regarding William Buick but he really is riding unbelievably well this season - currently at a 28% strike rate. His ride on Ten Bob Tony in the John Of Guant and on Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas were rides where the jockey has played a huge part in the result of the race. From an underrated perspective, I like Luke Morris on a well-punted one, albeit he isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing jockey.