Expert horse racing betting tips for Saturday, November 22nd 2025

The Cheltenham November Meeting stole all the headlines last week, and there's no rest for horse racing punters as the action relentlessly continues this week.

Haydock hosts the first Grade 1 race of the jump season in the form of the Betfair Chase, the 1965 Chase takes place at Ascot, and we also have two Grade 1 races in the Morgiana H

Our Punters Panel are back to give their thoughts on what is certain to be a superb weekend of horse racing!

Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters Panel

Before we get stuck in, here’s a little bit more on the five experts answering our key questions this week:

SD - The self-proclaimed ‘star of the show’ on Races Now, who has been going viral with his daily tips and betting ring analysis over the past year.

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.

Dan Lotinga - Big Races Now fan who offers up his thoughts as this week's guest contributor.

Steve Mullington - Races Now follower who has worked in the industry for many years as a freelance journalist.

The first Grade 1 of the British jump season is upon us. Who wins the Betfair Chase?

SD: The outcome largely rests on whether Haiti Couleurs is as good as I think he is. He’ll need to run between 168-170 to win, which is a stone or more improvement, but he may be equal to the task. Grey Dawning should win if he isn’t.

AS: I think Grey Dawning is clear of this lot. He probably should have won it last year, and this is by no means a vintage renewal. He boasts fair form behind Gaelic Warrior at Aintree, and I have no concerns about him staying the trip.

HF: I think Grey Dawning is the most likely winner. The race here last year was on horrendous ground, and it basically ruined most of his season. He felt the effects of this race when trying the King George, being pulled up. Then ran a good race at Aintree when just 3L behind the King George favourite, Gaelic Warrior. That is good form. Everything looks perfect for him, and he will have no excuses. At the prices, though, I am drawn to Handstands at 13/2. His seasonal reappearance wasn't great, but he did the same last year, before improving massively at Sandown when beating Jango Baie – a horse I think has a good chance in the King George – and this trip is ultimately what he wants. It probably says a lot about the race to fancy him, to be honest.

DL: Dan Skelton is really gunning for that trainers title more than ever this year – evidenced by performances such as that from Panic Attack last week. I think it’ll be more of the same this weekend with Grey Dawning. Royale Pagaille will probably run another stormer, but age may finally catch up with him on this occasion.

SM: Royale Pagaille. Many will be of the view that the going won’t be attritional enough for the veteran chaser on Saturday, but believe you me, that water table at Haydock Park will have taken a hammering over the course of Storm Claudia and from the subsequent rain thereafter. The eleven-year-old cannot be ruled out and is a tasty price in the betting.

We've got a cracking supporting card at Haydock on Saturday, too. Is there anything you fancy?

SD: Oh, yes. My favourite horse, Famous Bridge, goes in the last and is attractively weighted. He needs to go up to get in the Grand National - a race that is surely his target, and he can take this as he did two years back.

AS: Hartington in the 2:25 pm. Already has one win under his belt this season. Trainer Joe Tizzard is in flying form and champion elect Sean Bowen picks up the ride, so there's a lot to like.

HF: In the 2m3f handicap hurdle at 1:15 pm, I like Andashan. This horse was hammered in the betting on seasonal reappearance at Newbury, ran a good race, but just looked to be crying out for this trip, and I think off just 1lb higher, can go well at 4/1.

DL: The inevitable jockey booking will put me off slightly, but I’m really excited to see Masked Man take the step up into graded company. The horse falls into the 'could be anything' category, but I’ve always had a soft spot for the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard and the way he bolted up on rules debut made you sit up and take note.

SM: The 3.35 pm is a race that the Sue Smith yard has targeted several times down the years, and the yard arrives with some decent ammo again with the imposing stamp of a horse in Konfusion. The seven-year-old was almost foot-perfect at Wetherby last time, and a repeat performance would give him an outstanding chance here.

Ascot’s feature is the Grade 2 1965 Chase, where Il Est Francais tops the market. Who wins?

SD: I wasn’t going to play, but 2/1 is very fair for one of Il Est Francais’s considerable ability. If on his A game, he’s better than these, and those odds are appealing enough.

AS: Gidleigh Park for me. Has some really nice form when second in the Manifesto Chase and should take this step up in trip in his stride. Il Est Francais is as likely to bomb out as he is to win. Jango Baie was behind my selection when we last saw him, and we all know about ten-year-old Pic D'ohry's limitations around here.

HF: I found this very tough, but I have come down on Gidleigh Park. I want to be against the favourite as you never really know what you’ll get with him, especially now with a new trainer. I like Jango Baie, but just feel the King George is his aim, and Nicky Henderson's horses have generally needed the run. Gidleigh Park finished last season very well, giving Caldwell Potter a beating and only getting beaten by a very good Impaire Et Passe. I think he will be ready for this race, and this will be his early-season aim, as opposed to the King George.

DL: I wouldn’t back Il Est Francais with stolen money! If Heart Wood shows up, he wins. The horse ran some stormers last year, and with another season of experience on his back, I'm hoping he kicks on even more in the coming months.

SM: Being the new custodian of Il Est Francais has really given Tom George something to get his teeth into, and he'll be keen to show everyone – especially his own son – that he's still got the magic touch. He's worth a bet, but I'd be loath to take 9/4 - I'd like a touch bigger price.

Anything else taking your eye at Ascot?

SD: Yes, Rock My Way is relatively new to the all-conquering Tizzard yard and should take care of these in the Berkshire National, the latest edition to the roster of nationals.

AS: In a race full of nutters, my tentative selection goes to Altobelli in the 2:40 pm, who absolutely loves Ascot.

HF: Martator is of interest in the handicap chase at 3:15. He was thrown in at the deep end a bit on seasonal reappearance and ran no race at all. However, he has now dropped to a mark of 139 with Ned Fox taking a useful 5lbs off once again. He won this race last year by 11 lengths off 140 with the same jockey taking off 5lbs then. Stable form is a bit of a worry, admittedly, but they haven’t got going yet. I'm hoping the run under his belt can really help, and he should be well handicapped. 13/2 looks fair.

DL: If Nemean Lion takes up this entry instead of his others over the weekend, I'd like to think he could carry on his excellent progress from last season.

SM: Some friends of mine run Regarde in the Berkshire National, so I would love to see him win on Saturday for Frank McAleavy and his family. He ran well at Cheltenham last time after a wind surgery op, so I'm expecting him to build upon that effort.

We have two Grade 1s in Ireland this weekend. The Morgiana Hurdle on Saturday and then the John Durkan Chase on Sunday. Any bets on the big races across the water?

SD: No.

AS: Four runners in the Morgiana isn't ideal, so that looks like a Lossiemouth penalty kick. Awaiting final declarations at the time of writing for the John Durkan, but it could be a cracker.

HF: Can’t call either bets given the prices, but I’d be surprised if Lossiemouth and Fact To File don’t win.

DL: I would like to see Fastorslow back to his best after injury last year, but Lossiemouth and Fact To File look fine for a scummy favs double.

SM: Lossiemouth is the one they all have to beat in the Morgiana Hurdle. The two-time Mares' Hurdle winner was a surprise inclusion at the declaration stage, with many expecting to see Anzadam in the lineup, but Mullins has shifted his plans around somewhat. Meanwhile, if Fact To File is going to be throwing his hat into the ring for the Cheltenham Gold Cup this season, then he needs to be winning a Grade 1 like this. He should have enough firepower on Sunday to do the job.

Are you hopeful the Racing League will return in 2026, despite ITV and ARC pulling the plug?

SD: They are wise to do so. It is a very simple concept of racing, not being a team sport. I would dread its return. It’s a shit concept, with a shitter set of accounts, a shit set of colours, utterly shit egos, and is shit.

AS: Absolutely not. As SD has told us many times, "racing isn't a team sport". Although I think ARC's new Friday Night Live initiative will more resemble the Racing League than a run-of-the-mill all-weather fixture at Newcastle. At least Premier Racing has been a roaring success...

HF: I’m sure SD will have some strong opinions on this. However, I wouldn’t say anyone is particularly hopeful of its return!

DL: Absolutely not. A concept that, for me, never made any sense from the outset, and I would have much rather seen the prize money distributed further down the chain instead.

SM: Thank heavens that charade is over. Racing is not a team sport - END OF DISCUSSION.