Horse racing betting tips for Saturday, September 20th 2025

The Ayr Gold Cup is the standout race this coming weekend as the Scottish course hosts its premier meeting of the season, while there is also the Mill Reef Stakes taking place at Newbury.

Our Punters Panel are on demand once again to answer the big questions and deliver their best 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:

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 few months.

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.

Dale Nicholls - Long-term friend of Races Now and all-weather lover who tipped a 25/1 winner of the Northumberland Plate on this column recently.

Sir Philip Davies - Former Conservative MP, serving for just shy of two decades and a staunch supporter of horse racing.

Nice and easy start, who wins the Ayr Gold Cup?

SD: Strike Red, for whom conditions look ideal, must go close. The times were commensurate with slow ground on Thursday. Purosangue, whose trainer had won this race and, on Thursday’s evidence, is well drawn, will love any juice. They’re my two in a proper race.

AS: I’ve basically had enough of sprint handicaps at this time of year, and my record has been shocking recently. Ain’t Nobody is 13lbs well in after his 2nd in the Nunthorpe. With that ‘well handicapped’ headline to his name, I’m half surprised he’s as big as 9/1 actually.

HF: Two Tribes is in here, but I can’t go back now after those two wins. I'm going to have a couple of small each-way bets, the first being Twilight Calls. I thought he ran an absolute cracker in the Stewards Cup and has Warren Fentiman now taking over for the ride. The other is Strike Red. The more rain, the better for this lad and I expect it to be soft ground by the start of the race. He ran a great race in the stewards cup before a ninth last time on ground too quick.

DN: I quite like the look of Milford, I think you can put a line through the recent York race where it all seemed to go wrong from the start, and compared to some of these may be reasonably treated. Won’t mind soft of any kind and 28/1 6 places appeals.

SPD: ⁠I could have 20 goes at this and still not get the winner. I will take one drawn low - Ain’t Nobody - and one drawn high - Alfa Kellenic. Someone with a pin to choose their selection will have a better chance than me of getting the winner!

Anything else on the Ayr card?

SD: Yes. Mr King is tantalisingly well handicapped and hasn’t had the rub of the green the last twice. Saturday could be his day.

AS: I think both Hi Royal in the one-mile handicap (1:15) and Liberty Lane in the Doonside Cup (1:50) are overpriced and possibly for similar reasons. Some back class and certainly bang if reproducing their respective best form of 2025. Liberty Lane loves this time of year, particularly.

HF: Impartiality in the first, I think, looks a good bet. Was unlucky at Goodwood when second, and that form has worked out well with the third, fourth and fifth going in since. Disappointed last time on ground too quick, but back on a slower surface, can go very well

DN: I’m not sure Tuscan Hills should be the outsider of the bunch in the 1:50. Showed bags of promise in his juvenile campaign. A change of trainer and comes here fresh, I think he is worth chancing.

SPD: ⁠⁠Uninspiring, but I like Coming Attraction in the Firth of Clyde. I was really impressed with her last time out.

Mill Reef day over at Newbury, who wins the two-year-old feature?

SD: Into the Sky had them all looking like blots on the landscape on debut here. It must be said, the time was very good indeed. In a field of exposed or those with plenty to find, he should be equal to the task.

AS: 80/1 debut winner Into The Sky was borderline bonkers at Newbury last month. We have no idea how good that form will turn out to be, and he’ll make the market. As usual with two-year-old Group races at this time of year, it’s the unexposed vs the form in the book. And I think Rock On Thunder is the one to beat on form. 2nd in the Gimcrack when well backed and miles clear of the 3rd that day.

HF: I’m siding with the Godolphin horse, Words Of Truth. He has won convincingly the last twice and the only defeat came in that Newbury Maiden I have referred to on a few occasions. I’m a tad sceptical about the Into The Sky debut form, especially to go off at 80/1.

DN: Words Of Truth should be clear of these based on its last run and form figures.

SPD: Rock On Thunder. I think the Gimcrack form is the best piece of form in this field.

Any other bets at Newbury?

SD: No. It’s not my sort of racing whatsoever. I find these Newbury staying handicaps monotonous, and some long-haired weirdo is on after racing.

AS: Defiance is the best bet of the weekend for me in the 2:40. Didn’t stay last time at Hamilton, where the ground might have been too quick. Back down to ten furlongs here with juice in the ground. I think he will win, and win well.

HF: In the second last, I’m all over Linwood. Has run two crackers at Goodwood this season, most recently behind two horses that have great chances in the Cambridgeshire. Drop back to 7f I think, won’t be an issue and could take some beating here.

DN: I think Rage Of Bamby rates a decent wager in the opener, ran a huge race in the Sprint Cup at 6/1. I also think Boatswain will go well in the 2.05.

SPD: King Of Thunder at what I very much expect to be a good each-way price in the 2yo Novice Stakes on Saturday. He is definitely better than he has shown so far.

Seven Group 1s in the UK and Ireland last weekend, who impressed you most?

SD: Christophe [Soumillon]. His ride on Delacroix was top drawer. Equine-wise, for Group 1 level, nothing in particular.

AS: I went into the weekend being a doubter of how good Delacroix was, and he proved me bang wrong when winning an up the scratch Irish Champion Stakes in good fashion. Gstaad was an agonising defeat for me, tipped at 7/2, beaten by the barest of margins at 10/11 SP. Of the horses that didn’t win, Stay True in the St Leger was one for the notebook - travelled really well again before being outstayed late on. That was only his fourth start, and he could be a real player at the top table next year.

HF: Have to mention Delacroix, who beat some very good horses and that move from 2.5f out was amazing to watch. The most impressive for me – and it does hurt to say as, like Smido, I was on Gstaad – was Zavateri. Going over to Ireland with a field of six and Aidan having three of them, it’s always tough. I thought with about a hundred yards to go Gstaad had pulled out more, but Zavateri showed serious attitude and desire to win. It was an unbelievable race and they look like two very hot prospects to look forward to.

DN: Delacroix was announced as the highest-rated horse in the world this week by some boffins. I simply can’t have that, given he’s been beaten in his two biggest races this season emphatically. I really enjoyed Al Riffa's performance, and I think it can be upgraded too; it was emphatic. He gave City Of Troy an almighty scare in last year's Eclipse, and at the time the doubters were out in force, but City Of Troy’s form looks every bit better on paper day by day. Calandagan, Bluestocking, Al Riffa, Los Angeles, to name some, who captured G1 honours post defeat.

SPD: ⁠Al Riffa - I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if he defied top weight in the Melbourne Cup.

Are you one of these people who look forward to the return of the National Hunt season this far out?

SD: I don’t look at specific horses, but I long for the early morning starts, cold wind and character of some charming racecourses like Hexham, Kelso and Fakenham. The NH crowd are hardy souls, appreciative of jump racing. That’s what I miss in the summer.

AS: Absolutely not. I’ve seen a channel out there doing a one-hour “handicappers to follow video” in the middle of September! We still have ELEVEN UK Group 1s, god knows how many on Arc weekend, then the Breeders’ Cup.

HF: With so much flat action left to go, and preferring the flat myself, I would say I’m not ready for the jumps yet, no. Especially as the only thing that seems to matter is March. Talking about horses for March that haven’t even jumped a fence yet.

DN: Any race of a competitive nature, I look forward to. Why flat has always appealed more to me is that the best face the best much more often. But there is no reason why you cannot enjoy the spectacle of both codes. The UK flat season should be finished up by the end of September; nonetheless, Champions Day, including the Dewhurst, all ran at Newmarket.

SPD: ⁠Yep! Can’t wait for the jumps proper to start - which I consider to be Chepstow next month. National Hunt racing is better than flat racing, and flat racing is better than no racing is my maxim.