Expert horse racing betting tips for w/c Saturday, February 7th 2026

There is plenty to look forward to this weekend, with the Denman Chase and Game Spirit Chase from Newbury, and some racing action coming from Warwick and beyond.

It's also that time of the year when we start looking towards the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. You can be part of our build-up by joining us for our Races Now Cheltenham Preview Night. The event is scheduled to take place at 7:30pm GMT at The Owls at Standish in Wigan on Friday, 6th March 2026. Tickets cost £12.50 each, and you can get yours HERE!

Our Punters Panel are here to give their tips on what is certain to be another enthralling weekend of racing. The tipsters have also shared their views on the latest current affairs in the world of racing.

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.

Joe O'Donnell - Racing lover and long-time Races Now viewer and supporter.

Will Platts - Racing lover and expert horse racing tipster for The Daily Nag.

Grade Two action at Newbury with the Denman Chase. Who wins?

SD: Haiti Couleurs won the Welsh National under a good ride from Bowen, but is 0-2 in graded company, and in L'Homme Presse, he faces a worthy opponent. The stable form is a worry, but he ran well enough 2 weeks back and will relish conditions. He’s a bet at north or equal to 7/4.

AS: Another Saturday Grade 2 with four runners, who'd have thought it. L'Homme Presse is pretty consistent at this level, and I think the gap in the betting between Venetia's horse and favourite Haiti Couleurs is too big at the moment - 11/10 vs 11/4.

HF: I fancy L’Homme Presse. I am not the biggest fan of Haiti Couleurs as he is unproven out of handicap company. L’Homme Presse has run two very solid races this season, and I am somewhat surprised you can get 7/4 about him.

JO: A poor turnout for such a prestigious race. Haiti Coleurs to win.

WP: This looks very much a match between the top two in the market. On heavy ground, value and proven class are key. L’Homme Presse has shown he’s back in form, finishing second to Spillane’s Tower in a Grade 2 and beating Grey Dawning — strong top-level form. His speed figures on soft/heavy ground are excellent, which is crucial in these conditions. By contrast, Haiti Coleurs was pulled up in a Grade 1 at Haydock (won by Grey Dawning). While his Chepstow Grade 3 win was impressive, he now drops back in trip, which is a concern in testing ground. He’s also only 2 lbs better off with L’Homme Presse, which doesn’t look enough. L’Homme Presse looks the better value.

Another Grade Two in the Game Spirit. Who do you fancy?

SD: It’s price-dependent. I half expected Lulamba to be 4/7-1/2. At that, I’d have taken him on, with concerns about his jumping. But he isn’t. Any drift to 6-7-1 about Saint Segal would probably see me play.

AS: Seven in this Grade 2, great stuff. This is a big race for Lulamba and his career generally. Yes, he's unbeaten in two starts over fences, but question marks still remain. He's a five-year-old against older horses here. He may well win, but we'll learn a lot in the process.

HF: If Lulamba were to run, which apparently is the plan, I think he could take some beating. He’s top class, and it’s exciting to see him running again. The ground, I think, may help him rather than hinder him, as in truth he is probably more of a 2 and a half miler.

JO: I tipped up Lulamba in the Punters Panel's 8th of November edition at 9/2 for the Arkle. A safe round of jumping and a win here at Newbury will likely see Lulamba shorten to odds-on for the Arkle.

WP: Lulamba sets the standard. He’s in strong form, proven at this level, and suited by conditions. Saint Segal looks vulnerable off his current mark and may struggle with this much cut in the ground. Liberty Hunter appeals most at the prices. He was a close second in this race last year, now enjoys a 3lb swing, and conditions suit again. With Sean Bowen booked, a big run looks likely. Liberty Hunter is the standout value.

A cracking card at Warwick, including the Kingmaker and Veterans' Chase. Any bets lined up?

SD: It’s an abominable card. Grandeur d’Ame should have a good chance in the Veterans'.

AS: The third and final Grade 2 on Saturday (1:50) has three runners. So that's an amazing 14 in total across the three races. Albeit it could be a good match-up between Steel Ally and Mambonumberfive. Jubilee Alpha looks banker material in the Mares' Hurdle (1:15), one for a multiple bet.

HF: Veterans' chases aren’t usually my type of races to have a bet in, but looking through, I thought Grandeur d’Ame was interesting. First go in a veterans' race, returning to softer conditions, I think, should go very close.

JO: I really like the chances of Dream Shadow in the 3.00 at Warwick. A half sister to the 2008 Champion Bumper runner-up Corskeagh Royal. This mare has winning course form and seems a typical Fergal O'Brien improver. Still very lightly raced, I'm expecting a big run.

WP: Steel Ally looks the most reliable in the field. Proven in the conditions and in solid form.

Any other bets on Saturday?

SD: Let It Rain is certainly well named and looks a plot job to me in the Schweppes, but Bucephalus, also behind a subsequent winner at Haydock last time, is well suited by conditions.

AS: A nice Listed mile race at Southwell (7:30) where I expect Storm Star to go close. A somewhat strange performance at Newcastle last time, where he was well backed and went out like a light.

HF: In the 3:55 at Newbury, I think Jig’s Forge will take some beating. Has put in two good efforts over fences so far, first in what’s looking a decent enough handicap at Cheltenham before beating Lucky Place last time. He looks like a nice horse, and there is plenty more to come over this trip.

JO: At the time of writing no other bets for Saturday.

WP: Fugitive appeals at the price in the Veterans' Chase (2:25). 8lbs below last winning mark, second run after wind-op, conditions to suit and Gavin Sheehan booked. At around 10/1, he’s a solid each-way play. King of Chaos (2:20). Strong in a maiden, but only of interest if not odds-on.

Have you had any Cheltenham ante-post bets as a result of the action at Leopardstown last weekend?

SD: I threw a dart at Poniros on the assumption that he would come on bundles for his amble around Dublin. Whilst he will need to, the Champion Hurdle has holes in it like Swiss cheese.

AS: I am convinced the Leopardstown form on very heavy ground will not easily translate to the Cheltenham Festival in March. Could quite easily see horses like Marine Nationale, Lossiemouth, and others who underperformed at the Dublin Racing Festival get back to winning ways at Cheltenham. Talk The Talk impressed me. Connections were adamant that he was a good horse despite falling at Christmas. And he swooped past over half the field round the final bend at Leopardstown to win on the line. He's the one to beat in the Supreme for me.

HF: On Tuesday, in mine and Smido’s Cheltenham chat, I put up Thedeviluno in the Albert Bartlett at 10/1, which is still available on Bet365. He didn’t run this weekend, but the form was certainly boosted with Doctor Steinberg winning and now probably Turners bound.

JO: In the 10th of January Punters Panel edition, I tipped up Kazansky at 40/1 each-way for the Albert Bartlett, and Narciso Has at about a general 7/2 for the Triumph. I was delighted with both of their runs at the Dublin Racing Festival. The one horse that caught my eye in relation to the handicaps at Cheltenham was Jacob's Ladder, which won the Listed 2m 1f hcap chase on the Monday. It travelled and jumped well in a competitive field under a good weight. It will be interesting to see the weight it gets for Cheltenham. It is 12/1 for the Grand Annual and also 12/1 for the Jack Richards. I will wait until NRNB for these races and the weights, but it is likely to be one of my main bets. Nothing else really caught my eye, which reinforced my feeling that Jagwar is a good bet in whichever handicap he turns up in. Again, wait for NRNB, currently 6/1 for the Ultima and 12/1 for the plate.

WP: I've backed Poniros at 40/1 before Leopardstown and am happy with the position. He looks like one being kept fresh for the Festival. In general, I remain cautious with ante-post betting, as ground and conditions play such a big role. Most of the time, you’re betting blind.

Best piece of punting advice you've ever been given?

SD: Never trust slow horses and fast women.

AS: "Don't be put off by the price." Plenty of people say a staking plan is very important, but I don't take much notice of that personally, probably to my detriment.

HF: There are two that do stick out. I would say I am still early in my time of punting. If you don’t know it, don’t bet on it. And then of course, as SD always say - you don’t have to bet on every race.

JO: Barney Curley once said, "It's hard enough to find one winner, never mind three or four. So the shop punter has no chance with backing trebles and yankees". Wise words heeded by me, and I now only ever back in singles.

WP: You don't win long-term backing favourites. Never increase your stakes when value betting — stick to your process. Losing runs are inevitable. Discipline and consistency matter far more than chasing short-term results. If you have an edge, then use it - Stay on-piste.