Lingfield Park hosts its Trials Day meeting this Saturday (Credit: Lingfield Racecourse)

Expert horse racing betting tips for w/c Saturday, May 8th 2026

After the drama of the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket last weekend, the flat racing season continues to deliver the goods with a string of high-quality cards across Saturday and Sunday.

As always, our Punters Panel are on hand to mark your card ahead of the action with insight and best bets on all the key races.

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.

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

A mix of jumps and flat racing comes at Haydock, including the Swinton Handicap Hurdle. What's your best bet?

SD: I think Gibbs Island has become well treated through not running under ideal conditions. That may be the factor that wins the Swinton.

AS: The 3:40pm 7f Listed race is a cracker. Lake Forest is the class angle but first run of the season. Ten Bob Tony might want it softer. Audience is very difficult to get right. But he’s too big at 33/1 here. Clearly didn’t like his Dubai holiday this winter. But fast ground, seven furlongs and down at this level, he can go well.

HF: Sticking with all things flat, the listed race at 3:40pm, I thought Ten Bob Tony looked a cracking bet at 9/2. Winner of the John Of Gaunt last year, had a recent run at the Curragh, where the ground was probably just a bit slow for him. Back to better ground here, I think can will be ready to go.

ZC: I fancy Dance And Glance to win the Swinton. Fresh off a quality win over C&D 34 days ago, he seems primed to have a great chance.

Ascot's first Saturday fixture of the flat season includes the Victoria Cup. Any fancies from that card?

SD: Yes. Humam and Mudbir both appeal as better than their marks.

AS: I’m backing Yorkshire in the Victoria Cup. Ran a blinder over course and distance at the Royal meeting when hampered. Has been off since last July. If he’s fit and ready to go, he’s a big player.

HF: I like Great Acclaim in the Victoria Cup. I think the Ascot 7f’s really suits him and he's only 1lb higher than when second behind Native Warrior – that rival was off 95 that day and is now rated 111. Last season, the selection found real form when blinkers were applied. Connections go to the visor today, which I think can eke out a bit more from him too.

ZC: Ahh, the Victoria Cup, my best punting race of last season. I landed an outrageous tricast last year, with Hickory taking top prize at 22/1, beating the subsequent Sussex winner by a nose. Horse racing, ey! Hickory goes again this year but is carrying a stone more, so instead it is Defence Minister who I like here. The selection was 1/2L behind the current priced up favourite at Sandown last season. For me, he can reverse these placings with the aid of the gelding operation he had over the winter. It looks to have settled him right down and I feel he’s one to keep onside when the Royal meet comes around.

It's Trials Day at Lingfield with some good supporting races on offer, too. Anything taking your eye?

SD: Yes. Twisting Physics looks well treated in the opener. I think he’ll bog in.

AS: I’m taking on the Charlie Appleby favourites in both the Oaks and Derby trials. Amora Queen in the Oaks is a bet for me. Charlie Johnston on form. She’s the best on official ratings of the British horses. And then Isaac Newton in the Derby tria,l on the basis that Aidan O’Brien is mopping up these trials and he’ll be fit and ready to go. 7/2 is too big.

HF: I fancy Maltese Cross in the Derby Trial. I remember watching this lad on debut and he was eyecatching. It was clear he wanted this kind of trip. Had his seasonal reappearance last month at Newbury where he just got up and again, that was over 10 furlongs. This step up will suit even more.

ZC: I really like Maltese Cross, who runs in the Derby trial. The way he knuckled down in his recent win at Newbury struck me as a horse with a serious will to win and, in a strong looking renewal, I think he can fair the best.

Does anything else interest you from across this weekend's cards?

SD: Oh Conquer The Breeze will breeze in at Hexham!

AS: Having looked, I tend to agree with SD on his YouTube tips. Twisting Physics in the opener at Lingfield and Valedictory in the 2:55. I’ll be backing both.

HF: Valedictory in the 2:55pm at Ascot should be winning. 2/1 around at the time of writing and I think he will take some beating.

ZC: I’ll just stick to a cross card trixie from those I’ve mentioned above!

What was your take on the drama that unfolded at Chester regarding the ground?

SD: Drama it certainly was. I don’t think any party could win, to be frank.

AS: It just adds to a long list of unsatisfactory incidents in 2026. Chester. Cheltenham. Chelmsford. Worcester. Epsom. Brighton. It’s not good enough.

HF: I don’t think it should have continued. The jockeys clearly were not happy about it. On this occasion, it doesn’t seem as if anything has gone wrong but jockeys going live on TV saying they aren’t happy and then carrying on anyway isn’t a great look. If something was to have happened, it would’ve been chaos for the sport. I’m not groundsman but this does feel like it was avoidable.

ZC: I can’t say I have much of an opinion here. However, on your second biggest fixture of the season, surely you play out every different scenario in your head before making a decision? Being a clerk is an impossible job, so Eloise Quayle has my sympathy.

Finally, how do you reflect on last weekend's Guineas outcomes?

SD: Abashiri will win the Oaks if she runs.

AS: I got one right and one wrong. I was banging on about Bow Echo for months and thought he won in great style. Are the ones he beat any good? We will find out. Precise wasn’t fit for the Oaks as predicted. I thought True Love wouldn’t stay and she did. So all in all, the 2,000 was great for me and the 1,000 a betting disaster.

HF: It was amazing to see the scenes after the 2000 Guineas. He certainly looked good, Bow Echo. The trainer never kept it quiet how much he thought of this horse. I do slightly wonder just how strong the race was, with many not making it to the race and the way nothing really got involved off the pace, the front two are either top top drawer or this is a below par renewal. Time will tell. In the 1,000, the winner was brilliant and never looked in doubt. Having said that, they went slow-ish early and in turned into more of a dash. It all makes complete sense as she was classy as a 2 y/o over sprinting trips.

ZC: Hats off to the George Boughey team – they absolutely smashed it. I was lucky enough to go and see Bow Echo in February, and even then every single detail was being monitored, and wasn’t he superb on the day? True Love was also brilliant, she’s just a very classy filly. It’s going to be exciting following these two through the season.