Butty's Bets: Daily horse racing tips for Monday January 26th
Mon, 26 Jan 2026
Mon, 26 Jan 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!
Lucky Manifest comes into this affair off the back of a below-par run last time out. In my opinion, this horse doesn't stay 3m trips, so a stiff track like Cheltenham was certainly not the place to try and do so at.
He drops significantly back in distance today and if we put a line through that aforementioned last run, his two prior efforts were both rock solid.
On his seasonal reappearance, he won a slightly weaker race than this one today, making a mockery of his 109 mark when beating Let's Mingle with plenty in hand despite carrying 12st in weight. He then stepped up in grade and ran a stormer in a competitive Group 3 affair at Cheltenham, finishing second to A Pai De Nom, going down a length. He was gaining up the hill and nearly got up, despite giving 8lbs away to the winner.
Considering A Pai De Nom went on to win a novice hurdle next time out, before finishing a decent third in the Lanzarote behind Iberico Lord off an 8lbs higher mark, it makes you think Lucky Manifest only went down to a well handicapped rival.
Trainer Tom Lacey does well with his hurdlers at Plumpton, boasting a 29% win rate and proving profitable to a level stake. His runners are going well at the moment and I definitely want to be with Lucky Manifest here.
It's no surprise to see Royal Mer at the head of the market here having been extremely consistent this term without managing to quite get his head in front.
Admittedly, this horse hasn't registered a chase win since April 2024 – now on a nine-race winless run. That last win did come off a mark of 116 though. He also managed to rack up five wins in his first nine chase outings. Clearly, he's been in the handicapper's grip for some time but has still put in some decent showings in defeat during that spell.
His two outings this season have been solid enough, bumping into a potential handicap blot in Noahgreatrainbow on seasonal reappearance. He went down eight lengths that day in second place. He then bumped into one again last time out, going very close in behind Bonza Boy. He was beaten 3/4 length at the line, battling on well in the finish.
The handicapper has nudged him up 2lbs for that effort which puts him on a mark of 114 – but I'd say that remains manageable on the evidence of those two recent outings. He has a capable 7lbs claimer on today in Rian Corcoran, who boasts a stunning win ratio when riding chasers for this stable (5/11).
This looks like a shrewd bit of placing and I'm expecting to see him snap that winless streak today.
Nowmelad goes up in grade today but with a much more manageable racing weight as a result. He's still searching for a first handicap win from six prior efforts, though recent outings suggest his turn is imminent.
His penultimate outing saw him go well in behind a possible handicap blot in the Venetia Williams trained Authodidacte. He went down five lengths there to a horse who is now 2/2 over hurdles, so no shame in that. He then bumped into a thriving rival last time out in Smart Decision. Beaten a length close home, it seemed like a 12st racing weight just caught up with him in the closing stages.
Smart Decision was an unlucky loser on his next outing, going down a length to the very capable Brentford Hope off a 5lb higher mark. Brentford Hope since finished a close third to the New Lion in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham at the weekend. So the form looks very solid.
The selection is now on a mark of 118, which looks workable – particularly when considering he beat Electric Mason by nine lengths in his maiden. That horse is now rated 130+ having won a strong handicap off 132 on his last outing.
This track suits Nowmelad, having won over this course and distance on his only previous visit. If he runs to the same level as his previous two runs, he should take all the beating here.
1pt win- 2.50pm Plumpton - Lucky Manifest - 11/4 (various)
2pt win - 3.00pm Hereford - Royal Mer - 2/1 (various)
1pt win -3.30pm Hereford - Nowmelad - 2/1 (various)
Total staked - 4pts
Prices correct as of 1:30pm on Monday, January 26th 2026.
Lee Butterworth, better known as Butty's Bets to his followers on X, has gained a following on social media for his horse racing betting tips which have yielded a strong profit over a number of years.
Now, Lee has joined team Odds Now to offer insight and tips throughout the 2025-26 National Hunt racing season. His daily column will be the home for all fancies Monday to Friday, while you may also see him contributing elsewhere across the site.
Away from the racetrack, Lee is also a big Stockport County fan.
Lee Butterworth, better known as Butty's Bets to his followers on X, has gained a following on social media for his horse racing betting tips which have yielded a strong profit over a number of years.
Now, Lee has joined team Odds Now to offer insight and tips throughout the 2025-26 National Hunt racing season. His daily column will be the home for all fancies Monday to Friday, while you may also see him contributing elsewhere across the site.
Away from the racetrack, Lee is also a big Stockport County fan.
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