Daily expert horse racing betting tips - Monday January 12th 2026

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.

Let's see what he fancies today!

Butty's Bets - horse racing tips for Monday January 12th 2026

1.00pm Hereford - Martalmix'jac - 11/1 (Various)

Martalmix'jac steps up in trip today having been dropped 2lbs for his last run, which was at this same venue last month.

This 9-year-old now sits 6lbs below his last winning mark, for which you have to look back nearly two years ago in February 2024. However, there has been promise in several of the subsequent runs – notably when placing off a mark of 85 on no less than three occasions. He also placed off 80 last time out.

This longer trip is relatively untested, having only ran over 3m four times in 29 career starts. The last of those was this time last year, when he went down by just a short head in second place at Southwell over 3m1f. That day, he had course specialist Ali Star Bert, Fairlawn Flyer and Balkardy all in behind him – three horses rated far above him.

I thought he ran okay on his last spin at Hereford, despite being a well-beaten third. It was a big step forward from his seasonal reappearance where he was a tailed-off last of seven over hurdles.

If he is returning to form, this is a mark and racing weight that is very exploitable. Tabitha Worsley, who rode him in that short-head second, returns to the saddle and I'm expecting a bold bid here at a double-figure price.

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2:30pm Hereford - Pepe Le Moko -11/2 (various)

Pepe Le Moko goes up 1lb in the weights for his last run, where he went down by a neck to Followcato just before Christmas.

That was a fantastic effort at Ludlow, given he's not had his preferred ground once this term yet. I thought he was an unlucky loser too, given he absolutely belted the fourth-last fence. Without that error, the race was his. So, the fact the handicapper has taken a rather dim view of that effort is a bonus for today's terms. Particularly when you consider the winner has gone in again since when up in grade – a cosy win, too.

This is his first spin at Hereford but he goes well right-handed and little nippy tracks like this tend to suit perfectly. Add in the slightly softer ground and trainer Jane Williams' fine record at this venue and I believe he's a bet off a mark of 112 today.

2:30pm Exeter - I Ain't Your Mate - 9/1 (various)

The other one I like in the race is I Ain't Your Mate, who the Christian Williams yard wasted little time with in sending over larger obstacles following an extended break off the track.

In three runs over hurdles, he was set some stiff enough tasks. On his debut in that sphere, he was a 30-length ninth to the impressive French Ship. He was then pitched into another competitive novice affair next time out, going down 15 lengths to another handy operator in Meetmebythesea.

Last time out was his best effort to date though, pitched into a maiden hurdle and beaten just nine lengths into fourth place by the eventual winner The Sainted Canary.

Today, a handicap bow over fences awaits, off a 331-day break. He's up in trip, too. Looking at his two point-to-point outings, he was placed on both occasions – one of which saw him finish runner-up to current Supreme Novice Hurdle market leader El Cairos.

A repeat of that form here would give him leading claims and crucially, the price looks attractive enough to chance despite the long period off the track.

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Butty's best horse racing bets for Monday January 12th 2026

1pt win- 1.00pm Hereford - Martalmix'jac - 11/1 (Various)

1pt win - 2:30pm Hereford - Pepe Le Moko -11/2 (various)

1pt win - 2:30pm Exeter - I Ain't Your Mate - 9/1 (various)

Total staked - 3pts

Prices correct as of 11am on Monday, January 12th 2026.