Punters Panel: Weekend horse racing betting advice from our experts
Fri, 30 Jan 2026
Fri, 30 Jan 2026
The racing action this weekend will see the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown, Scottish Trials Day at Musselburgh, and a fascinating Grade 1 at Sandown.
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.
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.
Daniel Weatherill - Frequent Northern racegoer and passionate gambler. Stood in as Races Now's cameraman during Glorious Goodwood.
Jake (@y2jam123) - Lifelong horse racing fan and northern-based punter.
SD: The receipt of the mares' allowance edges preference to Kala Conti, who will relish conditions.
AS: Even on Dublin Racing Festival weekend, Irish trainers still have the first and second favourite in a four-runner British Grade 1! I was impressed with Kitzhubel at Christmas, when he never looked like losing. He looks tough to beat here, albeit he's a short price.
HF: I quite fancy Kala Conti to beat Mullins’s Kitzbuhel. She’s been a revelation since switching to fences and is 2 from 2. Most recently beating Kargese by 16 lengths over a trip shorter than today’s ideal, that rival has since gone out and won by 14 lengths. I think that with her 7lb allowance, she can beat the short-priced Kitzbuhel.
DW: Kitzbuhel was impressive on Boxing Day. However, at the current prices, I’d prefer to side with Kala Conti, given she is getting 7lb from the boys, and the softer ground may be of assistance!
Jake: This looks to be a match between the Irish pair. I think Kala Conti has been more visually impressive and beaten more than Kitzbuhel based on each of their two chase runs to date. Furthermore, 9/4 probably represents a smidge of value.
SD: Plenty. What a lovely day's racing. Sole Solution, in cloying mud, might surprise a few in the 310.
AS: Mon Champion (1:25) looked as if the penny dropped last time in his fourth UK start since November. Jay Tidball is a good claimer of 5lbs, and he's a nice price.
HF: In the first race, Crackerjacque back down in trip after not getting home over 2 1/2 last time, I expect to resume progress from hurdle debut and win at around 11/4. He was a winner on this card last year in the bumper on heavy ground, which has turned out to be good form, beating horses like Hurricane Pat.
DW: Crackerjacque (12:20) is down in grade in a poor race and has course form on soft ground, so I think he will win the opener. On French form and with softer ground I think Lylian is overpriced and a good each-way bet, Freddie claiming helps as well and the moores have a sensational record at this track (1:25). Drawing a line through the last run, I think the conditions and a step back in trip will suit Hartington (3:10). Although short I’m convinced Mr Vango has a big race in him this season and with testing ground I think will be very hard to beat (3:42).
Jake: Dr T J Eckleburg was pretty unlucky in the same race last year on similarly testing ground and has a mark only 1lb higher this year. This looks like a very winnable race, and perhaps they will have him ready for it. 15/2 is a good price to find out. 14:02 Sandown.
SD: I think Welsh Charger was a silly price at the start of the week and can win at this meeting for a third year running.
AS: I can't see Absolutely Doyen (3:00) being beaten, but he's a short price. I'll be keeping my eye on the price of JPR One (2:20). He gives weight all round but is in career best form to be fair, and this is against easier opposition than his two most recent runs.
HF: In the Scottish County Hurdle, Afadil is 1lb higher in the ratings than last year when second in this race, plus this year Freddie Keighley takes off 7lbs, where Freddie Gingell took off 3lbs last year. He’s been running well this season and could’ve been closer than 4th if not making a big mistake at the last, last time.
DW: Paul Nicholls does well at this meeting, and I think Insurrection will win the Scottish Champion Chase (2:20). Gemini Man has a favourable weight swing with Magna Victor and ran well in defeat last time here. Could be an each-way price (3:37).
Jake: Insurrection can be filed in the category of ‘bad beat’ last time over C&D in the Auld Reekie when taking a chunk out of the second last. He also won on this card last year in very impressive fashion. He has an unchanged mark from his most recent effort, but claimer Freddie Keighley takes off a very valuable 7lbs. Insurrection in the Scottish Champion Chase.
SD: No. It’s a bit more competitive. I’ll throw a dart at Grangeclere West, who isn’t as far behind as the betting suggests.
AS: An incredible horse. But this is a very deep renewal. I'd rather have his twelve opponents at 8/13 than Galopin at 13/8 in what is an absolutely fantastic renewal.
HF: I would love to see it, but couldn’t back him to do so. Gaelic Warrior, I’m surprised runs because he hates Leopardstown. Fact To File, I expect to get to the last and weaken. Inothewayurthinkin, we will see what the market tells us. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him backed and magically run like a Gold Cup winner. I think at an each-way price, I Am Maximus ran a huge race in the Savills, and he is certainly one that’ll stay on the line well. Again, the main issue is whether they are trying or still looking at the National.
DW: It’s not the most exciting, but I believe he will. This is his backyard and will likely get the ground. However, the king is no price at all, and I think I Am Maximus is a serious player in this division this year, so I would back that each way if I were to have a bet, but I am likely to sit back and enjoy what is destined to be a fantastic race again!
Jake: First of all, this line-up is an absolute treat, and I can't wait to see how it unfolds. I think the king will retain his crown, but he represents very little value. I am Maximus, and Spindleberry are pretty solid each-way bets with a generous 4 places readily available.
SD: Kargese might just turn over that boat, Romeo Coolio. Just waiting for Jim Bowen to hand over the latter at the end of bullseye.
AS: It's a shame Kopek Des Bordes isn't running in the Novice Chase. I'm looking at the 4:05 Handicap for a bet. This is the worst field handicap of the weekend, and Jacob's Ladder is unexposed (still a novice), and the form of his run 20 days ago has already been boosted. He's 6/1 now; he'll go off half that.
HF: With backing Kala Conti in mind, I also want to take on Romeo Coolio with Kargese. He isn’t a 2-miler, and this could turn quite tactical with only 3 runners, which plays into the hands of Kargese. Could see a real shake-up in the Arkle market. However, I still think Romeo Coolio should run in the Arkle, as it seems skipping Cheltenham is off the table. He’s a novice, so talk of him in the Ryanair is nonsense. He is 7, there is no rush, run in the Arkle, finish 3rd/4th, and step him up to his trip next year.
DW: Prepared to look foolish here as some potential superstars lining up, but I think Blake is a good each-way bet in the Novice (Sunday - 1:40). Has a soft ground win at Leopardstown, and I have trip and jumping reservations over the front 2. I'm not sure Marine runs, and I think Maj is a failed experiment over fences, so I’d be keen to take him on, and I think found a fifty is a massive price against a weak field (Sunday- 2:10). I'd have Kargese over Romeo Coolio, but could not recommend a bet at the available prices.
Jake: Contrary to the Irish Gold Cup, the Nathaniel Lacy is one of the weakest Grade 1s you’ll ever see. I think Doctor Steinberg beating Thedeviluno is solid enough form considering the two he beat in his maiden have both won graded races since, and he himself won the River Don impressively last weekend. He could win by default. I also expect Narciso Has to reverse form with Mange Tout comprehensively, but the price is slightly stingy. Lossiemouth should be the clear favourite for the Irish Champion Hurdle, but I think it's worth waiting until declarations on that one.
SD: No, at a time with headwinds from the antis and a general tolerance level reducing on NH racing in particular, it was neither sensible nor safe. There was neither adequate time nor light to ensure safety. It is not “snowflake” behaviour not to pour petrol to fuel the fire of bastards who want us banned.
AS: No. But my answer is on the basis of the lack of light. That photo finish looked horrible, albeit the TV pictures were nowhere near as bad. They found a hole, dolled it off and ran round it - fine by me. Bang lucky a horse didn't fall in it in one of the previous seven races.
HF: For starters, even if they thought it was 100% safe, it took far too long to come to this conclusion, and it was dark by the time they ran. Of course, there had to be a photo then, and well, if it was closer, it could’ve been very interesting. We can’t run races and say if it is a photo, we are in trouble, as we can’t see. The other thing is, yes, they railed off the hole, but there was nothing to say there weren’t more holes. I don’t particularly get why they were so desperate to get the race on when it looked so not ideal.
DW: No, and I think it was an absolute disgrace. If it were a class 6 handicap around Catterick, the race would never have gone ahead, and the photo finish was a farce as well. Unfortunately, racing is under immense scrutiny, and if, god forbid, the worst happened, I think the consequences would have been catastrophic!!
Jake: On any normal day, the race should’ve been abandoned. On a day that saw the sport's brightest star break down just two hours earlier, the race certainly should’ve been abandoned. How can it be said with certainty that the course was safe from further holes? Mr Pullin said they will spend the next six weeks looking for the cause of the hole and ensuring the track is safe for the festival. How can you race in the meantime? Furthermore, surely the decision should be taken out of the hands of stakeholders. How can the trainer of the second favourite and course representatives have any say in the matter?
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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