Expert horse racing betting tips for w/c Saturday, February 14th 2026

Love is in the air for racing fans this Saturday as Valentine's Day brings intriguing jumps cards from Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton.

As always, our Punters Panel are here to mark your card ahead of another busy weekend of action.

Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters Panel

Before we get stuck in, here’s a little bit more on the four 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.

Liam Hedgecock- North-east-based racing fan who has been working in the sport since 2021. Regular Races Now contributor.

Sean Tasker-Brown - Assistant Manager at Britain's Most Scenic Racecourse (Hexham) and racing lover.

Grade 1 action this weekend with the Ascot Chase. Odds on Jonbon, two-time winner Pic D'Orhy and other familiar names in here. Who wins?

SD: Jonbon has lost a bit of speed but ability remains. He really should be winning this, for all this is Pic D’Orhy’s ideal. It’s not a betting race.

AS: Pic D'orhy should be respected given he's won the last two but Jonbon is a better horse than him on all known form. I'd back the second favourite if you forced me to have a bet.

HF: This looks a race between the top two in the market. However, I think Jonbon should just win. Pic D’orhy didn’t particularly perform well last time at this track and think at 11 he is on a decline and shouldn’t have enough to beat Jonbon up in trip.

LH: This is a pretty poor renewal of this race and a poor excuse of a Grade 1. We know Jonbon loves Ascot and the way he stayed on over 2m1f to win the Clarence House Chase last time means he will be even better suited by this 2m5f trip. He can win this and add yet another victory at the highest level to his glittering CV.

STB: Jonbon should be far too good and the step up in trip will help him. He’s been a legend of a horse and it would be great to see him win another Grade 1.

Any other bets taking your eye at Ascot?

SD: Plenty. I’ve really got my eye on Lighningupourdays in the 2.25. The race at Hereford he ran in has worked out nicely and Alistair Ralph is mustard when a plan comes together. We got the value on Captain Teague at the start of the week.

AS: Threeunderthrufive's top three career best runs have all come at Ascot so is worthy of each way support in the 3:00. You have to be prepared to forgive his poor effort over course and distance last time, but that is factored into his price at 14/1. Beaten a nose in this race last year.

HF: I am very sweet on Mondoui’boy in the first. I was impressed with him at Ludlow beating what I think is a decent horse. Think will come on a chunk for that run and win in style.

LH: In the second race on the card, I can’t work out the discrepancy in price between Thomas Mor and The Jukebox Kid. Yes, the former was runner-up to Kitzbuhel on Boxing Day. However, the latter is a thoroughly unexposed horse firmly on an upward curve who holds course-and-distance winning form and represents a yard who are on course to record their best ever season. The Jukebox Kid is a confident selection.

STB: The Kayley Woollacott/Josh Newman horses are absolutely flying, and I think Diamatiste could run well at a decent price in the 4:10, he’s a consistent sort, handles cut in the ground and Josh takes off a handy 5 pounds.

Haydock's Grand National Trial will be a testing affair. Any fancies?

SD: Not that testing, it’s only soft. I think Deafening Silence ran really well at Chepstow in the Welsh National and for all its unoriginal, he looks the most likely victor. Myretown has so much ability but concerns exist on stable form, jockey and jumping.

AS: I'm still in the camp of thinking Myretown is a good horse but he is becoming unreliable now. Richmond Lake was a cracking second in the Peter Marsh at this course last month and is sure to give a good account of himself once again.

HF: In the big race, I do think Deafening Silence will take some knocking. A lot of these horses do have question marks going into the race and he looks a solid favourite. However, I do also like the look of Monbeg Genius at an each way price. Ran a decent race in the Welsh National into fifth on ground probably on the quicker side for him. He was dropped 2lbs for that and returning to softer conditions, it could see him run well at a double figure price.

LH: This is a bit of a left-field pick but I am going for Neo King here. I always like horses who aren’t carrying a heap of weight on their backs in these marathon slugfests which puts me off the likes of Myretown. Neo King is set to carry just 10st 2lbs, and although he has a little bit to find on ratings with some of his opposition, he won over this trip in similar conditions at Windsor last time. That was a first win under rules and he is still relatively lightly raced for a horse of his age. The selection is currently 16/1 and looks a good each-way bet.

STB: I remember being at Alnwick in 2021 when Deafening Silence beat Sine Nomine, what a race that turned out to be. He’s always looked an out-and-out stayer and this race should be ideal for him.

The supporting card in the North West includes the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle, where recent impressive course winner Kabral Du Mathan is back in action. Any other bets at Haydock?

SD: Ludor each way in that in case Kabral doesn’t stay and without the jolly might be a cute way to play it.

AS: Hard to see past Kabral Du Mathan in the Rendlesham (2:05) and Reckless Spending looks solid in the Prestige (2:40). A favourites double for me.

HF: In the 1:28pm, I liked Throatlash – a winner at the track last time. The second has since gone in and won and he was given a 5lb rise in the weights for that victory, which I think could look lenient. Clearly on the up and I like him at 4/1.

LH: I actually think connections of Kabral Du Mathan will enjoy a double at Haydock on Saturday. They are represented by The Bluesman earlier on the card in the preceding contest, and he can return to winning ways. The front two drew well clear of the third when The Bluesman came off second best at Leicester over Christmas and he should still have plenty of improvement left in him. He was winning form on soft ground too which is another positive. I also think Olly Murphy’s Ubatuba will win the Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices' Hurdle. Murphy has a strong hand in this wide open looking contest, but Ben Sutton’s mount has looked above average in winning both his hurdle starts emphatically in testing conditions.

STB: I think Brian Hughes could have a good start to the day, I fancy the chances of both his rides in the first two races. Manlaga had to give 5 pounds away to the very tough Manganese last time and should come on for that run. Throatlash could get his own way out in front in a race where most the field prefer to come from behind. I’m slightly worried about the step up in trip for Kabral Du Mathan and at the prices I would take him on with French Ship, again there’s a question mark on stamina but out of the two he looks more ready to go up in trip. The biggest race of the day is of course the Walrus Hunters’ Chase. Unexpected Party should take this, I’d imagine the Aintree Foxhunters’ is the plan.

A good card also at Wincanton, where the Kingwell Hurdle takes centre stage. What do you fancy, if anything?

SD: I think there are legitimate doubts about Alexei and Rubaud in the Somerset quagmire, so I’ll chance Secret Squirral to usurp them both.

AS: I've followed SD in backing Alexei for the Champion Hurdle at a big price. He's odds on here but the ground might be a concern. Rubaud is someway off a Grade 1 performer but does love it round Wincanton and is a threat the the favourite for sure.

HF: No prices at the time of writing t but in the 4:00pm, I thought Saladins Son was interesting. Returns to Wincanton which was the venue for his last two victories, the most recent off 2lbs higher than this. Has run decent enough in better races the last twice at Haydock, too.

LH: Another odds-on shot in a feature race on Saturday is a little uninspiring but Alexei should really take the beating here. He failed to lump 12st to victory at Ascot last time but that was still a fair effort and he is still an improving, young horse who is destined to be running at this level for the foreseeable future. He has one genuine rival in this four-runner affair in the shape of Rubaud but he could be vulnerable to the up and coming Alexei.

STB: Not very original but I think Bluey will win the 1:05, she looks best equipped to cope with the very testing ground. The heavier the ground the better for Coolenymore, she has a nice racing weight and should take the beating in the 4:00

The international flat action is starting to hot up and it won't be long until the Lincoln on these shores. Which horse are you most looking forward to seeing on the flat in 2026?

SD: Blakefell is pretty left field. But I wouldn’t give up on him. The ground was too soft at Musselburgh on his last start and his run at Doncaster on his second start might just be the conduit to show us that 79 underestimates him. I’m sure others will give bland answers about the Guineas but it’s a long time till May.

AS: I think Precise is very good and will win the 1,000 Guineas. I can see her going off somewhat shorter than the current 3/1 on offer. Also in the Aidan O'Brien yard, Opera Singer is set to make a comeback having missed the whole of 2025. By my reckoning the winners of 30 of the 38 UK Group 1s in 2025 are returning to training in 2026 so there is much to look forward to.

HF: Precise is the one that jumps out at me. I was at Newmarket for her Fillies Mile victory and wow, she was impressive. Really excited to see her 3 year old campaign. One slightly left field I’m looking forward to seeing is Italy. I think a year older should see this horse offer a lot more. Was often too keen in races during 2025 and threw away his chances.

LH: Bow Echo went from strength to strength as a 2-year-old last year, and his win in the Royal Lodge Stakes when taking his record to 3-3 was pretty impressive. I think he can maintain his unbeaten record in the 2000 Guineas and give George Boughey a first win in the opening Classic of the British flat season.

STB: It’s very early to be thinking about the flat. However, a horse that springs to mind is Figjam for Katie Scott, it would be fantastic to see her progress as a 3yo and take a small yard to some big days.