Expert horse racing betting tips for Saturday, October 11th 2025

The main focus this weekend comes from Newmarket, where the Cesarewitch is the feature race. There is also Group 1 action there in the form of the Dewhurst, along with racing from York, Chepstow, and Hexham.

Our Punters Panel are here once again to answer the big questions and deliver their expert insights and horse racing betting tips.

Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters Panel

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

Alfie Bennett - SD enjoyer, regular racegoer, punter and horse owner. Works within the industry.

The Cesarewitch tops the bill at Newmarket this weekend. Any angles for the big race?

SD: Yes, I think Alphonse Le Grande, trained by Tony Martin will be pitch perfect for this. With a featherweight, Belgravian might just run well too at a double-figure quote.

AS: Just 21 in here with a max field of 32. And 24 (35 max) in the Cambridgeshire two weeks ago. The game is in rude health. Dylan Cunha's Fireblade has taken his form to a new level since stepping up in trip and gets to go off the same mark as last time at York, where he did everything but win. I'll take him at a big price against a load of National Hunt horses.

HF: I like last year's first past the post, Alphonse Le Grande, who was the winner, then not and then the winner again. Three runs this season – the Curragh run has a big enquiry message on the Racing Post, he was unlucky at Ascot and finally York was just miles too far back. The handicapper hasn’t fell for it dropping him in the weights but I don’t think that’s a problem and can win here again. Also want to give a mention to one at an each way price, Surrey Belle. A horse I feel could be on the up, beat a decent horse who has won since last time by 8 lengths, she stays all day and is officially 5lbs well in. 33/1 each way.

JO: I'm doing an SD special here and double dipping! I like Caprelo each way at 22/1 and Reverend Hubert, also each way, at 6/1. Years ago, this was a race for the proper old-fashioned English stables. However, its been dominated by the leading Irish jumping stables in more recent times. Hughie Morrison has had three decent places in the last five years. Charles Byrnes and Silvestre De Sousa have a good record in this race too.

AB: No three-year-old has won the Cesarewitch in the past decade, but Belgravian could be the one to break the trend. He’s unexposed, progressive and I think he reverses the form with Charlie’s progressive one. Would love Winter Fog but his unexposed flat form and the fact he’s an old bastard does throw me off.

Group 1 action in the form of the Dewhurst. Who is your pick?

SD: Keeping it simple, I think Distant Storm could be very good indeed and prefer him to the rest.

AS: I've had my eye on Italy since his cracking effort in the Group One National Stakes last month. Way too far back at the Curragh there, travelled really well and the jockey downed tools late when the race was gone. He's a double figure price here and I can see him going very well.

HF: It looks an absolute cracker of a race, Zavateri looks to hold his unbeaten record. He’s been impressive this season but for me I think he’s yet to face any kind of superstar. I think he will Saturday and that being Distant Storm. Last time out couldn’t have been more impressive.

JO: I'll be backing Gstadd to win, available at around 10/3. This seems straightforward enough to preview, O'Brien and Appleby have had eight of the last 10 winners. Gstaad won on fast ground at Ascot. The main danger is Zavareti. The Appleby horse only won a poor Group 3 last time.

AB: Distant Storm is some animal — powerful, progressive, and improving with every run. On form alone, he’s the one everyone has to beat. That said, Zavateri is very appealing at the prices. With Eve arguably the best pound-for-pound trainer in the country, this £35,000 purchase has turned out to be a proper bargain — a horse who simply refuses to lose. Often overlooked in the betting against the big stables, he becomes even more intriguing. For his connections, he could easily be a horse of a lifetime, and I’m happy to side with Zavateri to upset the favourite.

Does anything else take your eye on the Newmarket card?

SD: Yes, I think Gladius should be somewhere near favourite for the opener. He looks attractive given the money for the current market leader, Damysus.

AS: Mr Rizz in the opener is definitely on the up after his mid-season break. Didn't get the chance to show how good he was last time (see replay) and I think he's overpriced. Albeit I wouldn't argue too much with Gladius and Damysus but they are much shorter prices in a six runner field. Mr Rizz for me.

HF: I like Damysus in the first. The Dante form looked rather weak earlier in the year but I do think it’s turned around of late somewhat. The Derby was all wrong, track and trip just didn’t look a fit which we’ve seen happen to many. Bounced back in brilliant style last time, the ground Saturday will be perfect and I think he can continue to progress.

JO: At 1.50pm in the Zetland Stakes, I'll be backing Look To The Stars to win at 9/4. Charlie Appleby has a terrific record in this race. Then, at 4.15pm, Blue To Blue at a similar price. Karl Burke and Clifford Lee on a Saturday – say no more!

AB: I’m on Spyce in the 1:50 — backed him in his last two runs and he always runs his race. Going up against the two big racing operations, he looks overpriced given the horses he’s finished behind. 14/1 ante-post with three places looks fantastic value. He might not win, but expect him to come flying late and give the favourites a scare.

Action elsewhere from the likes of York, Chepstow and Hexham. Can you give another you like the look of on Saturday?

SD: Be sure to tune in on X at 8am for Hexham as there’s a few I like. Erzindjan should arguably be shorter than the 7/2 he is in the 2.05pm at York after a huge run in the Cambridgeshire.

AS: Not for me. So I'll stick at Newmarket where I think Hankelow should be favourite in the Autumn Stakes and isn't. Best form in the book running against recent maiden winners who need to prove it in better company.

HF: I’m staying disciplined, Champions Day is next weekend so it’s still flat season. So over to the 3:15 at York where I like Blue Storm. Progressive getting from 81 all the way up to 104. Has had two runs this season and dropped back to a mark of 98 (1lb below last winning mark). Step up to 6f I don’t see as being a problem and will therefore have a few quid each way at 22/1.

JO: In the 3.45 Hexham, King Of Answers. There's no prices at the time of writing but I'd be expecting around 5/1. Looked a real dark horse when making his handicap debut over the fences. Has decent Irish point to point form with a horse called Wendigo, who was second in the Challow and fifth in the Albert Barlett. Off his current mark of 128, he could be well in. Current jockey bookings suggest he could be the second string. Good – we will get a better price then!

AB: I might be overthinking this and it could all fall apart, but I’m intrigued by Bouquet de Paris in the first at Chepstow. He was recently acquired and caught the eye on the flat — previously owned in the royal colours, he finished 3rd to an O’Callaghan runner who usually plots them over here. That day’s sixth, Man of la Mancha, has since gone on to win a Group 3 last weekend. Now in Balding’s hands (who trained him on the flat) and sent over to Rebecca Curtis, it’s clear he’s thought of in some regard. Of course, he’s a three-year-old and a first-time hurdler, so it’s a lottery, but the profile is interesting — a flat performer beating decent opposition, now in a new setup. I haven’t seen a price yet, but happy to take a chance based on the theory.

With the season approaching its conclusion, what has been your favourite flat performance of 2025?

SD: Copper Knight winning three races at the grand old age of 11 takes some beating.

AS: I love the three year olds so Field Of Gold in the St James's Palace and Lake Victoria in the Irish 1,000 Guineas were my two standouts. Shame neither have backed it up for differing reasons. I generally enjoy chaos, so the Sussex Stakes and Juddmonte made me smile with the pacemaker mayhem.

HF: Field of Gold is one that immediately jumps out as one of the best. Personally, my favourite is Whirl in the Group 1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh. One I really fancied following her brilliant Classic second and I thought she was a top drawer filly. Being over in Ireland to see her battle to the line was some buzz.

JO: American Affair in the King Charles. Tipped by both Smido and SD. I lumped on and its just a pity he is not running in the Breeders Cup.

AB: Ombudsman was something else at Ascot — I was there all week, and that performance blew me away. The way he quickened past the well-backed Los Angeles was a shock; we didn’t realise the monster we had on our hands. He went on to win the Juddmonte and was unlucky in defeat in the Eclipse. A very talented animal, and hopefully we’ll see more of him next year.

Give us one horse you’re looking forward to seeing at Champions Day next week.

SD: Fifth Column back to a mile looks really interesting for the Balmoral. Plenty more of that chat to follow next week over on YouTube.

AS: Weather dependent as usual – hopefully it stays dry. I'll be hoping for a real slim Thady and John Gosden treble for my champion trainer bet that I'm still clinging on to (it's very unlikely). So hopefully Trawlerman, Field Of Gold and Ombudsman might do the business. Delacroix possibly running in the QEII would be fascinating.

HF: Very similarly to the last question, I am very excited to see Field Of Gold and hoping he is back to his brilliant best like when last at the track in June. Do have to mention Whirl again, one of my favourites for the year. She could lineup in the Champion Stakes which will be interesting but at this stage we are not 100% sure on her participation.

JO: I'll be a runner at Champions Day for the very first time. So mainly, I'm really looking forward to the experience and seeing Field of Gold up close!

AB: Calandagan and an easy answer for me. I watched a video of him cantering alongside Daryz before Daryz went on to win the Arc last weekend — it just confirmed what a machine he is. Hopefully he can add to his Group 1 triumphs and cement his place as one of those “nearly” horses in history who arguably should have won a lot more group 1s at the top level.