Expert horse racing betting tips for Saturday, November 29th 2025

The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is the main focus on UK shores this weekend, with Constitution Hill being the centre of attention once again. It's also Coral Gold Cup Day (or Hennessy Day for old school punters!) at Newbury.

Our Punters Panel are back to give their opinions on what is sure to be a brilliant weekend of 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.

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

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

Grade 1 action at Newcastle with Constitution Hill in action. Who do you think wins the Fighting Fifth?

SD: Some races you don’t need to bet in, and this is one of them. Imponderables about class, distance and wellbeing render it a damp squib for punting. Just sit back and enjoy it.

AS: The Constitution Hill saga continues. I hope he can get back to his best – I just doubt he will. The New Lion has questions to answer back down in trip. Anzadam has never been in deep waters like this. A really intriguing race, but is it a betting race? Not for me.

HF: I won’t be having a bet here. I’d love to see Constitution Hill win and will be cheering him on. I can’t get behind The New Lion, personally. Thus far, he's beaten horses over 2m4f that are 3 milers. I guess I’m left with a tentative vote for Anzadam. He could be the flag bearer for the Mullins yard with no State Man.

JO: I think The New Lion is a very strong bet here. Constitution Hill would be a very risky proposition given his latest runs. Willie Mullins generally struggles in England with his pre-Cheltenham Festival runners. So, I'll be roaring on The New Lion up the Newcastle home straight.

LJ: I can't back him, but I do think Constitution Hill will win. Nico should get him out in front so that he can see every hurdle and play a game of 'catch me if you can'.

Anything else on a strong Gosforth Park card?

SD: You’d think Deafening Silence, brought along quietly by Dan Skelton in recent times, can win the Rehearsal.

AS: Jasmin De Grugy stands out in the 3:15pm. Unexposed and an upwardly mobile profile. Won first time up in November last season. Ground and trip fine. A lot to like.

HF: In the 12:50pm, I want to take on the short favourite Zanndabad with Just Golden. The selection made his hurdle debut last month when second behind a race-fit rival who had already beaten his stablemate Fortune De Mer. Dan Skelton said around that time that his novices will need the runs. I expect a good bit of improvement from this bumper winner here, and I'm happy to take the favourite on at 11/4.

JO: Yes. I really like Deafening Silence in the in the 3:15pm Rehearsal chase. Little needs to be said about the form of the Skelton stable, and I'd rate this a strong bet too.

LJ: For Anthony Honeyball to send one to Newcastle is unusual, so they must really fancy Jasmin De Grugy. He improved a lot last year and should progress again. The long layoff shouldn’t be an issue either, as he's won first time up before.

Down at Newbury, it's Hennessy Day. Who do you fancy for the feature handicap of the weekend?

SD: It’s highly invigorating to see so many runners here. Headgear might be the making of The Changing Man. He oozes ability, and this looks good for him. As many will know, I love a double dip. The Doyen Chief is going the right way – his reappearance at Bangor was fine – and he can outrun his generous price.

AS: I suspect Myretown is a very good horse, but he is 15lbs up in the handicap since his impressive win at the Festival. I can see Three Card Brag going well here, and can’t work out why his price is so big. That was a career-best effort last time out at Cheltenham.

HF: The case is obvious for Myretown, and I do like him. But at a bigger price, I fancy Inch House. Had a pretty awful season last year, but has now dropped down to a mark of 131. He was in the process of running a great race last month at Cheltenham before fading late and probably needed the run, as a lot of Paul Nicholls' horses have. I think 16/1 looks a fair price for an each-way poke.

JO: In the Hennessy, I'm double-dipping with Hyland and Myretown. Hyland ran close to The Jukebox Man in the Kauto Star last year. I think this race has long been the plan for him, given he has thrived and won in October/ November time the last two years running. He could be sitting on a top performance here. Myretown, meanwhile, comes in on a low weight and is a progressive, lightly raced horse who could be involved in some high-class affairs throughout the season. One to follow.

LJ: My big fancy is the reserve, unfortunately. Ask Brewster, if he got in, would have a massive chance. But if he doesn’t, Myretown is still well handicapped and should go very close

Plenty of other action at Newbury to enjoy. Any more bets taking your eye?

SD: Yes. I'm dutching General Medrano, who showed considerable promise on reappearance at Ascot, and Javairt Allen, who jumps like a stag, in the Jim Joel Trophy.

AS: Nothing else for me on UK shores, but I will be up at 6:40am on Sunday to watch Calandagan hopefully win the Japan Cup.

HF: In the 2:15pm, I’m excited to see Viyanni. Rated 124, I think he is surely generous enough. That third at Ascot does read well, with some horses who were a good way behind now rated in the 120s themselves. I'm expecting a good bit more improvement as he continues to develop.

JO: I quite like Lumious Light in the 3.35pm. An interesting Irish raider lurking on a decent mark, this horse won in the mud at Punchestown last time and if the heavens open as forecast, this could turn into a great each-way play.

LJ: Not a lot, but my main fancy is Hunter Legend in the 12.30, who ran a really nice race first time out. Now up in trip, he should go very close.

Who impressed you most on what was a cracking two days of National Hunt action last weekend?

SD: Jango Baie. He jumped like a stag and whipped round in a very quick time. I think he’s a King George winner in waiting.

AS: Grey Dawning looked visually great, but it was a poor renewal in truth. Jango Baie won well, but his opposition fell apart. So the answer might be Kabral Du Mathan, who properly wazzed up first time out for Dan Skelton.

HF: The obvious answers are Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie, but I do think I was most impressed by Kabral Du Mathan. He looked seriously good, and I’m even questioning whether 20/1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle is worth a punt if he keeps improving like he probably will.

JO: Grey Dawning, who Smido was very strong on on last week's horse racing Punters Panel and Races Now weekend preview show. Harry Skelton has really improved as a jockey over the past two years. I thought the horse did it in great style and looks like a genuine Gold Cup contender now.

LJ: Kabral Du Mathan looks to have improved massively and can win on New Year's Day at Cheltenham before going close in the Stayers' Hurdle.

How do you think the sport of horse racing was treated in the much-anticipated Budget on Wednesday?

SD: Well, if it exists, that idiot will tax it. The one thing I will say is, unanimous incredulity about it from bookmakers was 1/100. It’s another methodology to increase margin. The level of sympathy after treating punters with such disdain for years is muted from these quarters.

AS: The budget certainly was not positive for racing. It was just less worse than it could have been. 'Headwinds' is very cliché but true in the case of UK horseracing currently - many headwinds.

HF: It is obviously a positive that racing has 'got away with it' on this occasion. But sadly, some of these big bookmakers aren’t all that interested in horse racing anyway and are still abandoning the sport because they’d rather have casino players instead. BetGoodwin announcing they were pulling all their racing sponsorship hours after the announcement sums up how 'good' the result really is.

JO: I couldn't give a Scooby Doo about politics. My dad always said that MPs are all crooks in suits. Hear, hear from me!

LJ: As someone who works in the industry, I can say with confidence that racing played it all wrong. They should have been in line with bookmakers to say how badly any tax rises for the sector would impact them. Now, racing is going to be hit hard through less sponsorship, less levy, less media rights and so on. Racing is already way too expensive a product to bet. Now things like free bets, best odds guaranteed, and extra places will slowly disappear.