Expert horse racing betting tips for w/c Saturday, December 6th 2025

The Tingle Creek Chase is the feature Grade 1 race from Sandown this coming weekend. We also have the Henry VIII Novices' Chase from Sandown and the Becher Handicap Chase from Aintree to look forward to. Not forgetting action on Sunday from Huntingdon, Kelso, and Cork.

Our Punters Panel are back to give their opinions on what is sure to be another brilliant weekend of racing.

Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters Panel

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.

Daniel Weatherill - Frequent Northern racegoer and passionate gambler. Stood in as Races Now's cameraman during Glorious Goodwood.

Dale Nicholls - Long-term friend of Races Now and all-weather lover who is a regular on the panel. Tipped the 25/1 winner of the Northumberland Plate this summer.

The feature race of the weekend, who wins the Tingle Creek at Sandown?

SD: I’ve a feeling Leau Du Sud improved at Cheltenham. Jonbon seems to be going backwards, and Il Etait Temps has leading claims. If forced, I'll take the former.

AS: I think Jonbon has been written off too soon. Is he good enough to beat Il Etait Temps? No. But he’s certainly got enough left in the tank to finish in front of L’Eau Du Sud, so I’ll be looking at the match betting markets.

HF: Not one I’ll be having a bet in, but Il Etait Temps will win. Not at all jumping on the L’eau Du Sud bandwagon, as I'm not sure he beat the Jonbon we all know. For all Jonbon isn’t at his best at Cheltenham, and on seasonal reappearance, he’s not as bad as he was last month. He may just be a horse on a downward curve.

DW: I don’t think this will be easy for II Etait Temps at all. L’Eau du Sud will enjoy the conditions, and the Skelton partnership are a powerhouse. Jonbon has had a wind op and was at a track he does not like last time out, so he is bound to put in an improved showing, and I still think Libberty Hunter could pick up pieces in this division. At the prices, I’d lay the favourite and put a strong word in for the Skelton horse.

DN: It’s not original, but Il Etait Temps is the best this division has to offer. I fully expect him to do the business and go on to eventually become a Champion Chaser.

Then we've got a Grade 1 for the novice chasers in the Henry VIII. Who do you fancy?

SD: I’d be more a layer of Lulamba, with the added proviso that I’m not sure which one wins. Maybe Be Aware, but it’s a good race.

AS: A small but select field. Lulamba is surely too short at odds on. I’d be a layer and happily have Lump Sum and Be Aware running for me, who aren’t too far away on form we’ve seen from them so far, albeit Lulamba has the sexier profile.

HF: Again, I would love to be imaginative and have a betting angle, but I do think Lulamba will win this. He may not be an out-and-out two-miler, but I have similar feelings about big danger Be Aware. I thought he put in a very solid chase debut and should only come on for that experience over fences.

DW: Lulamba was impressive on chasing debut, but looked potentially like a step up in trip might be beneficial. Jax Junior has emphatically boosted the form of Lump Sum's chasing debut, and Be Aware might have the speed to challenge, so I’d be against the favourite again, with the main bet being Lump Sum.

DN: Again, nothing fancy, but Lulamba is a superstar. Many naturally compared both he and Kopek Des Bordes' first go over fences a few weeks back, but let’s save that argument for until they clash. For now, Lulamba will prove he is the best novice chaser in Britain.

The National fences are in action at Aintree with just the 19 runners to pick from in the Becher Chase. Who are you backing?

SD: Gaboriot ran so well in the Grand Sefton and conditions suit. Westerninthepark is also half interesting, but stamina and rain is a concern.

AS: Wet weather in the north this week can only play into the hands of Mr Vango although he is 17lbs higher in the handicap than when running on this day last year at Sandown.

HF: I liked the look of all three of White Rhino, Gaboriot and Bioluminescence, but their stables are not firing in the slightest. There has been plenty of rain in the Aintree area, and it doesn’t look like stopping before the racing. This is music to Mr Vango’s ears – he will love it. I know the plan is Aintree in the spring, but is he going to even get genuine soft ground then? Probably not.

DW: Not the most creative angle, but I think this test and particularly the conditions with plenty of rain here suit Mr Vango. Admittedly, 12st is a fair whack to carry, but if he takes to the national fences, it will be some sight, and he will take some passing! This is a proper staying chaser who will hopefully put a bold bid in from a prominent position.

DN: I think Val Dancer is a lovely each-way angle into the race as things stand.

Anything else on the Aintree or Sandown cards for you?

SD: Oh, plenty. Maybe the pick is Bibe Mus in the 2.05 at Aintree. The British juveniles have been crap hitherto this season, and this one's form has some substance.

AS: Treasure Planet (2:05 Aintree) is a short price, but looked really useful at Ludlow last time and could step up here for Paul Nicholls. Irish raider Bibe Mus looks the danger.

HF: In the 12:58 at Aintree, I like Pleasington for Olly Murphy. He was impressive over hurdles in his maiden and novice runs before finding a graded race in Ireland too much of an ask. He was a good third on seasonal reappearance and chase debut last time, though, beaten by two nice prospects. I think he will come on for that and run a very good race. He’s around 4/1.

DW: Margaret’s Legacy in the handicap chase at Aintree (1.30pm), O’Connell in Sandown's London National (3.35pm) and then I thought Honky Tonk Highway (2.35pm) and Brewinupastorm (3.15pm) both had each-way chances in their respective handicap hurdles.

DN: I’d chance Rivers Corner in the London National. Joe Tizzard has been dipping in and out of the winners' circle recently, and this one could be worth a play with those bookmakers offering extra places.

More ITV action on Sunday from Huntingdon, Kelso and Cork - any bets lined up there?

SD: Gold Claremont stays longer than the mother-in-law, and surely Olly Murphy can improve her a few pounds. Conditions favour her in the Borders National.

AS: SD will be in his element at Kelso on what looks like a proper card. Writing pre-decs, the Peterborough Chase looks a decent renewal, although a couple are currently double-engaged.

HF: In the 2:37pm at Kelso, last year's winner Nells Son returns on the same mark as when winning this 12 months ago. He’s had a spin over hurdles last month to prime him ready for Sunday, and should go very close.

DW: Break My Soul (1.40pm) will like the ground at Cork, and a match-fit Found A Fifty can beat Majborough in the 2.50pm. If Not For Dylan looks an each-way bet in the Borders National (12.17pm), while Traprain Law in the Richard Landale (2.37pm) also takes my eye. Djelo will probably win the Peterborough too, but I won’t be backing at the price available.

DN: The Peterborough Chase could cut up. Saint Segal will give his running, and I’d expect to line up, so he's worth a poke.

What would you do with Constitution Hill after his latest fall?

SD: Not run over obstacles again. The risk for the horse and the sport as a whole is too great.

AS: I would retire him. But I think connections will plug on. Imagine him running at Royal Ascot? The coverage would be unbearable. It’s tricky, as at his best he was obviously exceptional, but that was a long time ago, and the column inches and hype far outweigh the on-track achievements nowadays.

HF: He wouldn’t line up in another National Hunt race, that’s for sure. Give him a couple of spins on the flat, see how he does, and maybe have a season there before a well-deserved retirement.

DW: Personally, I think I’d go for a spin on the flat. It’s a huge risk sending the horse over hurdles again, and they have nothing to lose now. It would be a dignified ending to see Conny back in the winners' enclosure. If they do run him in the Christmas Hurdle again, I think cheekpieces definitely need to be applied; otherwise, I fear a very similar outcome. I do wonder how many more attempts can be justified, especially with animal welfare creeping around.

DN: Many will say he’s never taken his hurdles well, but for me, the problems started on his last win. He bundled the last badly and almost paid the price. Since then, he’s only managed to get around once, and he looked totally spent in doing so. So it’s not even a valid argument to say that jumping is the sole issue. I think once the dust settles, he will be retired. And that is the right call.