Daily expert horse racing betting tips - Monday December 29th 2025

Lee Butterworth (@ButtysBets on X) is back to offer his daily betting selections from the National Hunt sphere right here on OddsNow.com.

Lee flags up anything that takes his eye each weekday morning, with all stakes tracked for P/L purposes.

After banging in two winners from two picks on Wednesday, let's see what Lee fancies today...

Butty's Bets - horse racing tips for Monday December 29th 2025

12.05pm Newbury - Arclight - 15/2 (various)

Arclight has her first run since September here at Newbury, having presumably waited for the better ground to arrive.

Running off a 10lbs lower mark back over hurdles, her 124 rating allows her to sneak into this 0-125 contest in what could be a very shrewd piece of placing. This horse is clearly a better chaser, it should be said. However, she has a strong record fresh and there's plenty to like.

Though she's yet to run at Newbury, I believe this is a course that will suit perfectly. Her form figures on galloping tracks read 43121 and she's never been beaten more than three lengths across those five outings.

You're taking a slight chance on race fitness but at the prices, I think she looks a bet in this contest as she does have plenty of quality compared to many of her rivals.

1:57pm Leopardstown - Ho My Lord - 10/1 (various)

Ho My Lord has slipped back to what now looks a very tempting mark with 4lbs claimer Peter Smithers doing the steering once again. This horse is still a maiden over fences after 11 runs but I do think he's shown enough to show he can cope with this type of mark.

He ran at this meeting back in 2023 over the minimum trip. Still in contention and travelling powerfully, he came down at the second last in a contest eventually won by the high-class Marine Nationale.

High-class company is something he's had plenty of over the years, even running in the 2023 Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival. He was well beaten there but horses don't get entries into such races unless they have shown a certain level of quality in their work.

His RPR is the highest in this field and carrying under 11st in weight today off a kind-looking mark, this well could prove to be his day at a nice price.

3:35pm Newbury - Guard The Moon - 7/2 (William Hill)

The handicapper has taken a swing with Guard The Moon, shoving him up 7lbs for his chase debut success.

He absolutely bolted up on that occasion when pitched into a competitive Class 3 handicap at Aintree. Despite being unfancied in the betting, he overcame a few errors at his obstacles to win comfortably by three lengths ahead of the unexposed and in-form Kdeux Saint Fray.

All things considered, I'd say this 7lbs rise is lenient. When you look at his hurdles form, he surely still has levels to climb. A Class 2 handicap at this track saw him finish a close-up second behind the high-class Impose Et Toi. Given what that winner has done since (three wins form three this season) and the quality of those in behind him, it rates as very strong from indeed.

This particular race doesn't look all that strong and if he runs to a similar level as he did the last day, I think he'll take all the beating here.

Butty's best horse racing bets for Monday December 29th 2025

1pt win- 12.05pm Newbury - Arclight - 15/2 (various)

0.5pt EW - 1:57pm Leopardstown - Ho My Lord - 10/1 (various)

1pt win - 3:35pm Newbury - Guard The Moon - 7/2 (William Hill)

Total staked - 3pts

Prices correct as of 11:30am on Monday, December 29th 2025.