Expert horse racing betting tips for w/c Saturday, April 25th 2026

Sandown Park hosts this weekend's key meeting with the jumps season finale card looking somewhat weaker than recent seasons. Willie Mullins' battalion of top-class horses will instead keep their powder dry for Punchestown Festival, due to Dan Skelton having already tied up the UK trainers championship in emphatic fashion.

Still, there's ample value to be found in the Saturday markets. Our Punters Panel, featuring a collection of sharp racing minds, are on hand to answer the key questions ahead of the action.

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.

Rio Bryant - Punter and Races Now viewer who featured on this Monday's betting show.

Steve Mullington - Races Now follower who has worked in the industry for many years as a freelance journalist.

Saturday will be an emotional occasion for jumps fans as Jonbon lines up for his final outing in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase. Who wins?

SD: Thistle Ask will have him in trouble from the get go and this setup looks particularly optimal.

AS: The old boy has won it twice and might well win it again. But its a poor renewal lets have it right. Thistle Ask looks the most likely winner to me.

HF: What a brilliant career Jonbon has had! But on decent ground back to 2m, I’d want to take him on. Solness doesn’t have the best record right handed so I think it may not quite be the burn up front between him and Thistle Ask that many are anticipating. It’s the latter that I fancy. From the front, he should like going that way around on decent ground and I think they will leave Jonbon behind early for him to stay on and pick up second behind my selection.

RB: Thistle Ask has to have a huge chance and should be favourite providing he beats Solness to the lead. Jonbon is a million for me in this. No price I’d be interested. JPR One should also run well as he will travel and jump.

SM:

A fourth major staying chase handicap in 19 days is on the menu with the Whitbread Gold Cup. Who do you fancy?

SD: In D’Or has been lightly campaigned, possibly by design and the handicap upside is notable. Road to Home is totally unexposed over staying trips and completes the double dip.

AS: With the ground being so unusually quick for a jumps card, we could see a funny result for sure. Favourite Havaila is clearly the one to beat though and has good ground form.

HF: I like the Kim Muir form and I am going to take the second that day, Road to Home. This horse only had his fifth start over fences in that race, so I think there is more to come and the way he ran last time gives optimism that he will stay here. Willie Mullins hasn’t sent many to Sandown with the Irish championship chase still on, yet Patrick comes over to ride this and it looks an each way bet.

RB: I think In D’or will have a squeak. I also thought Henry’s Friend may run well at 16/1. However, 3m4f chases often have a lot of variables so I won’t be playing heavy here.

SM:

Is there anything else taking your eye on Sandown's season finale card?

SD: Dutching Matterhorn and Mahons Glory to get Blow Your Wad at it from a long way out might pay dividends

AS: The race of the day in Esher isn't even on ITV! Kabral Du Mathan vs Jinko Blue. The former looks like a proper Grade 1 horse to me – they just need to find his ideal trip.

HF: Kadastral looks a horse we haven’t quite seen the best of this season to my eye. He didn’t stay last time up to 2m4f at Uttoxeter. I think this has been the target and we know the Skeltons know how to have a handicapper ready for their big day. A mark of 125 I think will be soon left behind by this lad.

RB: In the novice champion handicap, I fancy Secret Sniper to run well at 16/1. That looks overpriced to me – the yard targeted the race with the Squirrel a few years back and this horse was very eye-catching last time. I also give French Ship a great chance in the Grade 2 Hurdle (4:02pm). Back on better ground, the selection is getting weight from the others and I can see this son of French Navy going well at an each-way price.

SM:

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We've also got flat action from Haydock and Leicester live on ITV on Saturday. Any angles there?

SD: I thought both Prince of India and Dark Cloud Rising might just have conditions to suit at Leicester, where several won’t.

AS: I like Zoulu Chief (2:05pm) and I think Leicester will really suit him. Up in the north west, that seven furlong race at Haydock looks a difficult puzzle to solve.

HF: In the 2:35pm at Haydock, Sarab Star is the one for me. This horse ran a good race on reappearance despite being too free that day. Dropped back to 6f last time, it all happened a bit quick from a tough draw. Now back up to 7f, I think he will go from the front with cheekpieces applied and should go well.

RB: The flat for me is my time to rest and enjoy the holidays. There’s nothing better than National Hunt equine flying through the air. That’s the game I was brought up in, as is often the case when you come from humble beginnings.

SM:

The trials are in the bag and our first two Classics of the season are just a week away now. Who wins the 2,000 Guineas?

SD: They’ve been dropping like flies. I know Smido likes to prophecise about these races but that’s futile. Distant Storm is probably the form horse.

AS: The trials were pretty underwhelming. Alparslan (Greenham) is now 20/1 and Oxagon (Craven) is 12/1. I tipped Bow Echo on our YouTube channel way back in December at 12/1. He hasn't had to leave his box to find himself at 11/4 now. It's turning into a poor renewal to be honest. You'd have to respect anything Charlie Appleby is running without a trial - Distant Storm and Kings Trail.

HF: I like Distant Storm. The yard have a great record in the race. The form of that Dewhurst – for all I was disappointed he didn’t win that day – looks strong. Recent Appleby comments of him being better fresh like he was in the Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket and him coming here as a result, I thought were notable. I think he will be William Buick’s pick, he likes the track and the trip isn’t a problem either. I can really see him going off favourite over Bow Echo.

RB: Ask SD!

SM:

And with the ladies, what is your take on the 1,000 Guineas?

SD: No idea. Not even considered it!

AS: Precise was easily the best filly last year and I have long fancied her for this. But a recent minor setback has put me off big time. You can see it now – Precise runs a nice fourth and connections say she wasn't 100% and will be all guns blazing for the Oaks. I've tipped Touleen ante post but she could only manage second in her trial. I've not quite given up hope. I will be taking a closer look at The Prettiest Star next week.

HF: This looks to be turning out to be a weak renewal. Precise I have no doubt is the best filly in the race but I do worry about the way Aidan has had his horses for the Guineas asterisked with the 'she wasn’t right and missed a period of time's work' tag historically. Venetian Sun did look a good one last season but with question marks over the trip, I want to look at one at a bigger price. Inis Mor notched two comfortable victories on the Newmarket July course then went to France, where she ran a solid race in second on very soft ground. This horse will reportedly prefer a quicker surface, which looks likely to be the case come race day. Fourth on reappearance in the Nell Gwyn when given an easy time, she will come on for that run and ticks a lot of boxes with track, trip and ground.

RB: Ask Smido!

SM:

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