Newmarket hosts the first Classics of the 2026 season this weekend (Credit: Newmarket Racecourse)

Expert horse racing betting tips for w/c Saturday, May 2nd 2026

It's one of the most exciting weekends on the British flat racing calendar as Newmarket hosts the first two Classics of the 2026 season – the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas.

As always, we have assembled our team of experts from Races Now to answer all the key questions ahead of a monster weekend of action in our latest Punters Panel.

Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters Panel

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

Lee Jones - Racing trader at a leading bookmaker and well-respected judge in betting circles.

Zac Castledine - Previous Punters Panel contributor and huge horse racing lover, currently working within the industry.

Easy one to start. Who wins the 2,000 Guineas?

SD: It’s not the best betting medium I’ve ever seen. I’d be confident enough Gstaad was 3-5lb clear, but the outcome is likely to rest on winter progression. You can endlessly speculate using word soup but that’s how it is.

AS: It looks a below par renewal. I'm on Bow Echo ante post so will be cheering him. I suspect Gstaad will go off favourite but find at least one too good. I'm now most worried about Distant Storm, having flip flopped on him in the last couple of weeks.

HF: I have been with Distant Storm and whilst I am now worried about it being Gstaad over Puerto Rico, I’m still with the boys in blue. This is his day and I think whilst he was behind the O’Brien horse in the Dewhurst, I’m not sure that was his absolute best.

LJ: I find it very hard to understand how you can have a bet in this race given most of them haven't ran for six months or more. But if I was forced, at about 16/1, it would be Avicenna, who ran well in the Craven.

ZC: Distant Storm for me. Godolphin are mustard at both Newmarket tracks, and having won three of the last four runnings, this race is no different. He’s Buick’s pick and Appleby sounds confident, so he’s the one to beat for me. I also fancy another Night of Thunder colt to run a good race, and no, it isn’t Bow Echo. Needle Match should enjoy the step up to 1m, having clocked the fastest final furlong in the Greenham. I’d give him an each-way shout.

Sprinters are back on the agenda in the Group 3 Palace House. Who do you fancy there?

SD: Rumstar. Winner of this last year, this is his Nunthorpe. His stable is on fire.

AS: I really like Ain't Nobody here. I think this is the perfect race for him – five furlong, stiff finish. Ran brilliantly in the Nunthorpe and anything close to that sees him go very close here. Line through his subsequent runs at Haydock (draw bias) and Ayr (too soft).

HF: I’m with Rumstar, who won this race last year first time up. He seems to love this kind of stiff finish over 5f. The trainer is in form and I think a lot of those around him in the market have big question marks surrounding them ahead of this particular clash.

LJ: Night Raider has now been gelded which should bring improvement. He is an out and out five furlong horse and now could be the time to catch him first time up. 8/1 is more than fair.

ZC: Like Godolphin, Rumstar also loves this track. He’s 2/2 at HQ, having won this race last year and the Cornwallis as a juvenile. His trainer Jonathan Portman is operating at a 27% strike rate, and I feel this is a key early season target for one of his stable stars

Anything else taking your eye from Newmarket's nine-race card on Saturday?

SD: It shouldn’t be nine races, I'll tell you that much.

AS: I've been drawn into Indian Run before but he was a very good sixth in this last year. And the five in front of him that day are now rated a combined 87lbs higher int the handicap – it is quite ridiculous. I'd have preferred him to have had a pipe opener before this, but that is factored into his massive price.

HF: In the 2:20 Suffolk Stakes, I’m with Bullet Point. He was a winner first time up last season at the Craven meeting. You can put a line through his run over this trip at York as he’d won well just two days before and I think he’s the potential group horse in this handicap.

LJ: Man Of La Mancha finally got the hang of things towards end of the season and he is still on a fair mark. He can win the 5.55pm.

ZC: Nine races, brilliant! One of my favourite horses last season was Bullet Point (who runs in the Suffolk Stakes). You’re looking for which horse could be potential group quality here, and this lad has every chance. He was just touched off by the shortest priced winner in Hunt Cup history, then won the valuable Clipper handicap at York, and, like Rumstar, is 2/2 from the track. Should go very close, you'd think.

The ITV cameras are also at Thirsk and Goodwood. Any selections taking your eye?

SD: Arisaig was desperately unlucky the Conqueror Stakes last year and granted clear sailing, she may be more forward than those ahead of her in the market.

AS: Concentrating my Saturday efforts at Newmarket, but I do have one in my tracker that runs Sunday. Semper Femina (4:20 Salisbury) is much better than she showed at Newbury two weeks ago, where she travelled pretty well into the race before losing a shoe, hanging as a result and the race was quickly over. She might go under the radar in the early prices. I'm keen to back her.

HF: In the 1:30 at Goodwood, I think Fitzella put in a good performance at the Craven meeting. The drop back to 6f doesn’t look a negative at all and I think she will win.

LJ: Startled (5.05pm Goodwood) did everything wrong at Newmarket last time and still won. I think he is still really well handicapped.

ZC: Fitzella should surely be too good for them in the Chlelmer Fillies’ stakes at Goodwood. She has the run under her belt and I feel she’s much the best in this field. Another filly I love is KON TIKI (runs in the 2.05 Goodwood). She looked top class before picking up a setback after being given a below-par Buick ride in the Coronation. I’m very excited to see how she does this season.

Back to Newmarket on Sunday, who will win this year's 1000 Guineas?

SD: Rain is forecast, which muddies the waters. I’ll take Rose Ghaiyyath to run a race at a price. She may well improve and has a lot less questions than the market would have you believe.

AS: I think Precise is head and shoulders above her rivals but I cannot get out my head this 'temperature setback' reported a few weeks ago. If 100% fit, she takes all the beating. I really like The Prettiest Star each way at double figure odds. I think that is way too big given those above her have question marks – Precise (fitness?), Venetian Sun (stamina?), True Love (stamina?), My Highness (form?).

HF: I’m sticking with Inis Mor, who ran some good races last season and was given an easy time on reappearance with this in mind. If the rain does come, she won’t mind it as she seems somewhat ground versatile.

LJ: Same as the 2,000 Guineas, I find it real hard to know how anyone can have strong opinion here and really wouldn't advise a bet.

ZC: This looks seriously exciting, and whatever wins it will be a serious filly. O’Brien sending all three of his Group 1-winning 2YOs, of which Precise would have to be the selection. The Champion 2YO filly and Fillies’ Mile winner seems to have everything going for her here, and any improvement on that aforementioned win could give her a scintillating victory. Like with the 2000, Rose Ghaiyyath would be an each-way play here. Rumours are she works with Nell Gwyn second America Queen, and does so very impressively. So, 33/1 seems a nice price if this is correct.

Finally, how underwhelmed were you by the end of the National Hunt season?

SD: Sandown was, yes. Races need to be culled. I’m not averse to the entire meeting going, truth be told. It was weak.

AS: It was pretty crap at Sandown, lets be honest!

HF: I think the lack of Willie Mullins runners made an impact to start with, both at Aintree and Sandown. Last year when the trainers championship battle was on, he was sending horses over and it just added to the general quality and intrigue of the fields. The ground has been a big talking point too but decent ground does seem to be a lot more common these days.

LJ: I think it's people making something out of nothing, personally.

ZC: It’s sad for sure – personally I’ve had minimal inspiration to follow it. The Grand National was great, and I enjoyed the whole Aintree meet, but since then I’ve totally shut off. I also think it’s becoming harder to compete with the start of the flat season, as it’s just so exciting. We have top quality action every week, it’s impossible for the National Hunt scene to follow.