Punters Panel: Weekend horse racing betting advice from our experts
Ahead of another busy weekend of racing action, we’ve assembled a team of experts to mark your card – introducing our Odds Now Punters Panel!
Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters Panel
Before we get stuck in, here’s a little bit more on the five men answering our key questions:
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 - Another of Odds Now’s regular racing contributors currently working in the industry.
William Kedjanyi - Better known as head of political content at Star Sports, but an avid follower of both codes when not lugging a whiteboard up and down the country.
John Hutchinson - The ultimate 'friend of the channel' and rails bookmaking veteran
Now, onto the fun stuff!
Horse racing betting tips and insight for Saturday May 10, 2025
Who wins the biggest race of the week – the oddsnow. com Your Home Of Betting Insight Handicap Chase (4:05 Hexham)?
SD - I've got a good idea but I'll reveal all on Saturday morning on the Races Now X channel...
AS - Carcaci Castle is one win from one run at Hexham, over the same distance last June. Clearly not great on his two most recent runs but a return to this course, good ground and this level are all big plusses.
HF - I 'm going to take a chance on Carcaci Castle. Won over course and distance last season off 3lbs higher and now has Lewis Dobb taking off 7lbs. Hasn’t been the most inspiring this season in higher grade races but back down to a class 4 and back at Hexham, could run well.
WK - Beny Nahar Road only had a neck in hand at the line and did have to survive a steward’s enquiry for his win at Sedgefield, but as a keen going type who’s fit and well, he should give backers a fine run for their money.
JH - The big race at Hexham is one of those where the exposed horses are ones to oppose generally. So I will go with the unexposed pair Famous Liss and From The Clouds. Slight preference for Famous Liss (often well backed in the ring).
Saturday's jumps racing offering includes the Swinton Handicap Hurdle. What is your best bet at Haydock?
SD - Talpley (1.35) is looking well weighted and Sean Bowen on is a plus. Helnewin is another of note in the same race for Alan King who’s in form.
AS - I like that Lanesborough has had a good rest since his career best performance when winning at Warwick in February. Ben Pauling has clearly skipped the big Festivals and aimed for this. And he's a double figure price.
HF - Dance and Glance (1:35) was given absolutely no chance last time from the back and winner Bareback Jack, who reopposes Saturday, was at the front and got the run on this lad. Harry Cobden takes the ride first time and should go well.
WK - No prizes for guessing that Our Champ (1.35) will run a big race – he’s already favourite at the time of writing – but on his last two runs he’s finished sixth in the County Hurdle and third in the Sussex Champion Hurdle behind Absurde and Daddy Long Legs after being taken on early from the front. He loves good ground, is bang in form, and would be unlikely on paper to face anything of that class here. Next best – in the same race – is Helenwein, who has become frustrating for connections but who does have some of the best big field 2-mile form of any runner here from last season. He didn’t find a small field contest at Chepstow to his liking but this will suit much more and two starts ago he’d just failed to stay when seventh at the Grand National meeting.
JH -The Haydock races are competitive so I will go off on a limb and put one up in the bumper at 2.10 which looks strong with three previous winners in it. I will go with the unraced So Proud for the bumper maestro trainer Don E Cantillon. Sean Bowen a very significant jockey booking, I suspect.
Ascot's first Saturday fixture of the flat season features the Victoria Cup. Any fancies from that card?
SD - Popmaster (2.40) has been here many times and with some respite from the handicapper is interesting.
AS - Biggest fancy of the season so far for me. No Retreat in the Victoria Cup (2:40). Always been well thought of by connections. Won like a good horse at Meydan in February and should have won last time at the same venue but for a poor ride. The pace is high, so hoping the 19 go up the Ascot straight in one group (they might not) and No Retreat can settle mid pack.
HF - Metal Merchant in the Victoria Cup I think will run well at a decent price. Usually goes well at the track and will come on from last month's return
WK - Ten Pounds has been extremely progressive and found plenty on his return at Newmarket, and it’s not hard to imagine him taking a big hand in the Victoria Cup itself. I think it is interesting that English Oak is running again in handicap company and he’s worth watching in the betting. A good judge or two including Paul Kealy of the Racing Post have pointed out that Popmaster is well handicapped.
JH - I never bet on Ascot flat, far too difficult for me.
It's trials day at Lingfield with some good supporting races. Anything take your eye?
SD - They’re not good supporting races, it’s an awful card. No.
AS - My horse to follow for the season, Giselle, runs in the Oaks Trial (1:15) but there's three runners and she's 1/3. Poor. There's no standout in the Derby Trial (3:00) despite Aidan training the top two in the market. I'm backing Nightime Dancer at a double-figure price. Won well from an unpromising position at Southwell last month and will definitely stay.
HF - Giselle – not for Saturday as such because she’s short in a three-runner race but I fancy her to be O’Brien’s Oaks horse. Stay True (3.00) is another who may not win Saturday but going forward in the Irish Derby/ Leger could be interesting following a very taking debut.
WK - Ryan Moore and Ballydoyle have taken all before them so far this week trials wise and Puppet Master has rock solid form form claims in the Lingfield Derby Trial (3.00). He should step forward nicely from his Ballysax fourth, with runner up Lambourn boosting the form at Chester earlier this week. Denise was a standout 13/8 and I doubt he goes off near that price, for all stablemate Stay True was impressive on his debut at Leopardstown. In the Chartwell (3.35), race fitness and a clear run at things could give Jabaara a chance of giving weight and a beating to Cathedral.
JH - If you will allow me, I would like to put up two value bets in the listed Chartwell Fillies Stakes (3.35). Graat Generation and Fair Angelica. Both around the 7 or 8/1 mark and value against the short ones in that
Anything else take your eye this weekend?
SD - Victory Shout (3.15 Ascot) had no chance how the race was run latest and certainly commands respect on his penultimate Southwell effort. 25/1 looks fair.
AS - Fireblade (3.15 Ascot) is a recent recruit for a trainer going places in Dylan Cunha. Won a handicap at Leicester like a horse that will win again and a mark of 85 isn't high enough to stop this full brother to Cracksman.
HF - Camille Pissarro interests me in the French 2000 Guineas on Sunday.
WK -It’s Poulains and Pouliches weekend so all eyes will be on Paris-Longchamp. For the Poulains, the ground will be crucial – a quick surface will boost the chances of Henri Matissse and Amorii City, whilst a decent gallop wouldn’t hurt their prospects either. Jonquil has superb in the Greenham and if taken literally that form puts him right there, whilst Ridari impressed in the Fontainebleau considering that he had trouble throughought the race – the 8/1 on him in a few places may be a decent each/way shout. In the Pouliches, Zarigana will surely be the hot favourite after catching She’s Perfect in the Prix de La Grotte. She should be unbeaten, all things being equal, and she’s one of the most exciting horses in training. Stablemate Mandanaba is unbeaten in two and also has plenty of potential whilst it will be fascinating to see who Ballydoyle send over – has Bedtime Story learned to calm down?
JH - Nap of the weekend is in the other big race, the Heart of All England Maiden Hunter Chase (5.15 Hexham). It is Great Notions for the veteran point to point duo of Robin Tate and John Dawson.
Finally, Kieran Shoemark on Field Of Gold. Bad ride?
SD - Yes. Not that the media said so.
AS - Bad ride. See my Odds Now Focus On The Flat column for a more in depth chat.
HF - Unfortunately, yes. It’s such fine margins because 2 1/2f out he looked to be going the best. Then Shoemark pressed the button and the response just wasn’t quick enough. I think the Craven plays a big part in this, in that race it all fell for Field Of Gold beautifully and he had slightly too much confidence in the Guineas. Buick knows the winner stays so went and forced the issue earlier and caught Shoemark out. I do also want to make reference to ground. Both the Craven and Guineas say good but one was closer to good to soft and one closer to good to firm. That may have played its part in getting Field Of Gold beat too.
WK - In the circumstances he was outridden – and fair play to him for owning it – although a lot of credit is being taken away from Ruling Court, who showed a fine turn of foot and balance to outspeed Field of Gold. A potential rematch would be fascinating depending on how much pace there was in the race!
JH - The Shormark ride wasn’t his best but it wouldn’t have attracted much attention if it had been in the 4.50 at Leicester on a Tuesday. The criticism has been vastly overblown.