Ayr hosts the Scottish Grand National this weekend (Credit: Ayr Racecourse)

Expert horse racing betting tips for w/c Saturday, April 18th 2026

The Scottish Grand National takes centre stage in the racing world this weekend as attentions turn to Ayr. Meanwhile, there is also some high-quality flat racing from Newbury coming our way, so plenty for punters to think about.

Our expert team of racing tipsters are here to give their thoughts on the action coming our way, along with some thoughts on the latest current affairs impacting the sport of kings.

Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters Panel

Before we get stuck in, here’s a little bit more on the experts answering our key questions this week:

SD - Races Now's tipster extraordinaire who has shot to prominence over the last year with his engaging content and stellar betting record.

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.

Dan Lotinga - Big Races Now fan who offers up his thoughts as this week's guest contributor.

Lee Jones - Racing trader at a leading bookmaker and well-respected judge in betting circles.

Firstly, looking backwards, what did you make of the Grand National?

SD: It was a great performance from I Am Maximus. A borderline Gold Cup standard of performance. Jordans was ridden inefficiently, while several jockeys went too wide.

AS: It just acted as another reminder of how much the race has changed for the worse. It's now pretty much a Grade 1 handicap rather than a chaotic spectacle. Some would argue the new lack of chaos is a good thing, I suppose. Fair enough.

HF: The winner was incredible really, given how many lengths down he was after the last. To show that kind of turn of foot was immense. Ben Jones got a little bit excited on Jordans, didn't he? Dashing clear miles from home... but I think the result feels like it was inevitable, and I'm sure I Am Maximus will back next year for another good go. For all that has been made of the race and how much easier it now is, only 16 of the 34 completed, and only five of those who did not complete, were pulled up. The race is far from my favourite, but Aintree (more than even Cheltenham) puts the sport in the public eye. The sport is always under threat, and the once gruelling test would be a huge threat to National Hunt racing in its entirety nowadays.

DL: It’s not the race it once was. It's effectively become the Gold Cup for horses who aren’t good enough for a Gold Cup. Gone are the days of a feel-good story, and it’s going to be dominated by the ‘mega yards’ for the foreseeable future, sadly.

LJ: It is what it is now. It’s not the race I grew up watching, but that's the way they want it. I've no doubt I Am Maximus will go close again next year as he is made for that race.

It’s the Scottish National this Saturday. Who do you fancy?

SD: Chasingouttheblues remains well handicapped and has potential on soft ground. It would be lovely for Ursa if he could win. Promontory is capable of better still and should also go well.

AS: Isaac Des Obeaux proved his stamina in the Midlands National and won easily there. I see no reason why he can't go well again here.

HF: I looked at this earlier in the week, and Kim Roque was as big as 12’s, so seeing him the 5/1 favourite now has put me off. I do like one at a bigger price – Herakles Westwood. I have zero doubts about his stamina, given he won a handicap at Cheltenham off 1lb lower on New Year’s Day over 3m2f, so this step up could bring out even more from him.

DL: One that’s way overpriced in my opinion is Collectors Item. The horse boasts the highest RPR in the field, and his form earlier on in the season I’m putting a line through, due to the poor form of the stable at the time. If Jonjo gets him into a rhythm, I think he’ll be bang there at the finish.

LJ: Road To Home has a really progressive profile, and the distance of this race should bring out more improvement.

Any other bets lined up on the Ayr card?

SD: Traprain Law should go well at a price in the first, with the soft ground a notable plus, given how much it will inconvenience many of the horse's rivals.

AS: Unfortunately, I came round to agreeing wholeheartedly with SD and the two picks he gave for the Scottish Champion Hurdle (2:20) on our weekly Races Now YouTube show.

HF: In the Mares' Handicap Hurdle prior to the Scottish National, I like Love Of Neymore. Some of her early season form reads well, including when 5lbs lower than today in beating Champagne Chic off 114 – a horse now rated 131. Then off the same mark as today, she finished only four lengths behind Ma Shantou off 138 who is now 154. She ran a cracker at Windsor in a big handicap, while last time at Ludlow I think she didn’t like the track. Cheekpieces go on today and think there’s a huge run in her at 11/2.

DL: I like the look of Milcree in the 1.45pm. His stable are in fantastic form and always get the most out of there chasers and at 12/1 at time of writing, this is the one I’m keeping onside.

LJ: Not for me, but I expect SD will find something in a novice hurdle...

Newbury’s feature for older horses is the John Porter. Who wins?

SD: I've no idea, I'm afraid!

AS: I really like Pride Of Arras. Winner of a really good renewal of the Voltiguer when last seen on these shores. Looks like a reformed horse since having his crown jewels removed.

HF: I fancy Pride Of Arras. Flat tracks seem essential for him – he showed that when he hated both the Curragh and Epsom. However, he ran brilliant races at York and on debut at Sandown as a 2-year-old. Newbury should suit him and he gets 5lbs from Convergent here. I think at this stage of Al Aasy’s career, he should have too much quality.

DL: It's probably silly to take on the top two in the market, but another at a price I’m going to take a chance on is Tenability. This one has form behind Al Qareem, who came out and won on seasonal reappearance. A certain Stoke firm going three places as well on this race, which sweetens the deal.

LJ: Pride Of Arras for me, I think he can be trusted now as a four-year-old, and he should go very close.

Plenty of other good action at Newbury. What are you backing?

SD: I suspect we may see an improved model in Albert Einstein in the Greenham and will be watching with interest.

AS: I think Touleen will win the Fred Darling (1:25pm). Yes, she's favourite, but 2/1 isn't short enough to my eye. Anything but Albert Einstein in the Greenham (2:00pm), as I thought he was crap last time. Zavateri clearly sets the standard and could be a hindsight price; i.e., he wins, and we all say, "How did they let a Group 1 winner, 9lbs clear on ratings, go off 2/1 here?" Then in the big handicap at 3:10pm, I like Stem, who has form from the backend of last year around some really nice types. SD has put up Shout in that race, and he could be right.

HF: The Greenham looks a fascinating race, and I am backing Albert Einstein to bounce back. He didn’t settle that well last time, and after almost a year off, and over a furlong further on bottomless ground, that result last time was inevitable. The hood goes on and back on here, and with better ground, I think we will see a huge performance from him.

DL: I’ll be having a play on Touleen in the first, returning to Newbury where she won so nicely on debut. This horse didn’t handle Newmarket at all last time out, so I'm keen to forgive that run and see where its ceiling is.

LJ: Back To Black (3.10pm Newbury) won here first time up last year and ran some real nice races at the back end of the season. He had been gelded, and that should bring a lot more improvement. I can see him running in group races by the summer.

With the flat season in full swing, what is your favourite meeting of the year?

SD: I love Glorious Goodwood and Great St Wilfrid Day at Ripon.

AS: Five years ago, I would have been all in for the Guineas meeting. But they've recently made it three days (Friday pointless) and the Saturday is too long at nine races now. So the answer is Royal Ascot. Even though they have too many races there now as well. Less is more, sometimes!

HF: It has to be Royal Ascot. Prior to last year, I would have probably said the Guineas with the flat racing properly getting started. But I went to the Royal meeting last year for the first time, and there’s nothing really that gets close.

DL: My favourite flat meeting of the year is the Arc weekend, as it signals that the National Hunt season is nearly back!

LJ: Pretty simple, this. The best five days of the year are in June at Royal Ascot. No debate.