Punters Panel: Weekend horse racing betting advice from our experts
Fri, 12 Dec 2025
Fri, 12 Dec 2025
The December Gold Cup is coming our way from Cheltenham Racecourse this weekend. There is some more action from Cheltenham and Doncaster to preview.
Our Punters Panel are back to give their opinions on what is sure to be another brilliant weekend of racing.
Before we get stuck in, here’s a little bit more on the five experts answering our key questions this week:
SD - The self-proclaimed ‘star of the show’ on Races Now, who has been going viral with his daily tips and betting ring analysis over the past year.
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.
Zac Castledine - Previous Punters Panel contributor, huge horse racing lover, currently working within the industry.
Liam Hedgecock - North-east-based racing fan who has been working in the sport since 2021. First-time Races Now contributor.
SD: I have no idea. The race is complicated – how fit is Jagwar? One of the front fur in the market will win, but in which order, make your own mind up.
AS: Vincenzo has been threatening to win a race like this for a while, but he's short enough in the market. Likewise, Il Ridoto loves races like this, particularly at Cheltenham and was inconvenienced more than most when they ran round the penultimate fence in the Paddy Power last month. He prefers to be jumping than slaloming.
HF: Holy Joly Smoke ran a cracker here last month to 3rd, behind reopposing Vincenzo and since Hennessy winner Panic Attack. He was kept quite far back in that race, but looked to be cruising into the race, was short of room before the last and didn’t jump it great. Harry Skelton takes over, and off the same mark is the one to beat for me.
ZC: This is all about Jagwar. For me, he’s a horse who we’ll see running in graded races come the spring festivals, and he should be much the best on the day. I’ll be playing Kim Roque to chase him home on course. He’s attractively treated off 12,8 and I think his reappearance run at the November meeting will have him spot on to be best of the rest here on Saturday.
LH: I love Jagwar, but the form of the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero stable has to be a concern at present, and he hasn’t been missed in the betting either, so I will go for Colonel Harry. He has only been raised 4lb for a comfortable success on his seasonal return in the Grand Sefton at Aintree and is a very fair price at 8/1 to give the Snowden yard a first win in the December Gold Cup.
SD: Plenty. Jubilee Alpha was desperately unlucky last time and should win the lucky last for starters. Then there’s Conman John, a rancid price at 11/8. I’ll be backing They Call Me Hugo and Reckless Spending against him. The latter looks nailed on to improve for a stamina test.
AS: SD and I say every week it's all about price. So with that in mind, Intosomethinggood in the Novices' Hurdle (3:00pm) is of interest at a current 33/1. Since September, he's been decent, crap, decent, crap. So safe to say an in and out profile. But when he's been on a going day, he has been good enough to not be 33/1 here.
HF: In the 12:40, I like First Confession, who has had two runs over fences. The first when beaten by The Jukebox Kid on reappearance. He then went to Kempton, where he was hammered into even money up in trip, jumped well before late on, but seemingly it all happened a bit quickly on quick ground. Up further in trip and on softer ground, I’d be shocked if he couldn’t win races off this kind of mark.
ZC: I couldn’t believe One Horse Town opened at 3/1. He is still available at a very backable price now. A reproduction of his run in November should have him bang there.
LH: I do believe it to be significant that up-and-coming Northern trainer Adam Nicol has decided to send his first-ever runner to Cheltenham courtesy of his promising juvenile Minella Study in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle. He wouldn’t be one to send a runner this far down the country for the fun of it, and in an open-looking affair, he could be one to have a wager on after doing well to win last time out.
SD: Docpickedme was suggested ante post, and we are in a good position. In the concluding race, there was more than a hint that Williethebuilder was about to cement some form together at Windsor last time.
AS: Erne River (2:05) has good form around Doncaster and finished last season in really good form. You'll have to put a line through his only start this season so far, but you don't have to go too far back to make a good case for him here, and he's the outsider of the field of seven.
HF: In the 2:05, I’m going to chance the chasing debutant Prince Zaltar. Has been running well over hurdles; the last two runs at Cheltenham have been encouraging, most particularly when behind Kikijo, who has since won again. Tristan Durrell takes the 3lbs off, and I'm expecting another big Skelton weekend.
ZC: I fancy Bowmore in the 3.17pm. I spoke to Charlie Longsdon at an owners' day at the end of August, and he mentioned how he was looking forward to running this lad through the season after he summered well. He’s been in my tracker ever since and has rewarded me twice – hopefully he can make this 3/3 on Saturday.
LH: Obviously Kateira will prove difficult to beat in the Bet365 Doncaster Mares’ Hurdle (2.40pm), but perhaps Molto Bene could follow her home. She has been a revelation since undergoing wind surgery, and this hat-trick seeking, front-running mare could be the one to side with in the ‘Without Kateira’ market.
SD: We will be up bright and early for daily selections over on the Races Now X feed and Races Now YouTube channel as per usual.
AS: I'd happily lay Kateira in the 2:40pm at Doncaster. She's odds on and is regressing rather than progressing to my eye. Happy to have the field running for me at odds against.
HF: In the first at Cheltenham, I think One Horse Town will win again. He’s on a serious roll at the moment, and I think he has the best form in the race, beating Precious Man last time at this track.
ZC: I’m very excited to see Califet En Vol run in the 12:40pm on Friday. This instantly caught my eye as Nicky has previously been hesitant to send novice chasers to Cheltenham first time out. Furthermore, he sent Jango Baie to win this one last year, and he isn’t too bad, is he! I’m hoping we see another lovely novice chasing prospect for the legend, who celebrated his 75th birthday this week.
LH: I am very sweet on the Nicky Martin-trained French Emperor, who has thrived since going handicapping (unbeaten in two runs). He is only a 5-year-old, and despite a 7lb rise for his latest success, to have the services of jockey Sean Bowen is a big plus, and he should go extremely close back at the scene of his latest success.
SD: The time was good on the latter, wasn’t it? But the jumping left something to be desired. I suppose Ill Etait Temps did what he had to do, but Sandown is very different to Cheltenham.
AS: Both won with ease, didn't they? The clock says Lulamba was the most impressive. Shout out to Jonbon, too, who ran well once again, as I expected.
HF: I think Il Etait Temps was the most impressive, no faults in his performance at all and did it easily. Lulamba is a clear talent, but his jumping wasn’t completely slick, if being majorly critical, but certainly looks a top draw horse.
ZC: They’re both just very good, aren’t they? If I had to choose, it would be Lulamba, solely on the time figures that came out, 5 seconds quicker than IET’s time in the Tingle Creek, which surely means something! Hopefully, Kopek Des Bordes’ setback isn’t a sign of things to come, and we get the mouthwatering clash we all crave in the Arkle come March.
LH: I absolutely loved the way Lulamba went about his business in the Henry VIII. He has always been well regarded, and I still find it hard to believe he was beaten in the Triumph Hurdle at the Festival. I am yet to see any chink in his armour over fences, and I am firmly in the Lulamba camp over the Kopek Des Bordes one!
SD: Jango Baie, Jango Baie, Jango all the way. I was impressed at Ascot, and my opinion has not changed in the interim.
AS: I very much hope they all turn up, particularly the newer kids on the block in Jango Baie and The Jukebox Man. As usual with our big races, it'll depend on what Mr Mullins decides to run.
HF: I do think it’s firmly between Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie. I’m a big fan of Djelo and The Jukebox Man, and they are both classy, but I think these two are top-class. I edge it towards Gaelic Warrior. That win last time out, I think, is the best form on show here. A track like Kempton over this trip looks to be perfect for him to show just how talented he is.
ZC: Gaelic Warrior is a classy animal, and I will forever be questioning how he didn’t win the Fred Winter off 129 (cost me stacks!). However, I am a true racing romantic, so it is The Jukebox Man who would be carrying my hopes at this stage. I would love for Mr Redknapp to win this one; he is a proper jumps fan and a terrific supporter of the sport. You feel this lad owes him one of these historic races considering how unlucky he has been not to land one thus far, and I have a feeling that, come jumps racing fans’ actual Christmas day, we will see great scenes and celebrations from Redknapp/Pauling camp at Kempton.
LH: I have loved watching The Jukebox Man progress over fences and thought he looked good as ever when making a winning seasonal reappearance at Haydock last month. He was breathtaking in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at this venue 12 months ago, and I am surprised he isn’t closer in the betting to the two at the head of the market. He might not hold the strongest form out of these, but he can only beat what has been put in front of him, and he will be difficult to beat if he gets into his usual good jumping rhythm off the front of proceedings.
The Odds Now Editorial team are the people who make OddsNow.com tick, publishing all the crucial content that helps you become a better bettor.
The Odds Now Editorial team are the people who make OddsNow.com tick, publishing all the crucial content that helps you become a better bettor.
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