Horse racing betting tips for Saturday, September 6th 2025

The Sprint Cup is the feature race of this upcoming weekend, with action also taking place at Haydock, Kempton, and Ascot. There is also the Arc trials at Longchamp, so plenty to consider this week.

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.

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

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.

The Sprint Cup has a maximum field of 17. Who wins the feature race of the weekend?

SD: The draw is all-important. Indeed, who’d have thought that a 6f handicap four weeks ago would have been a clue? Well, it is. Let me explain. There was a huge stands side bias in that race, the last time a C&D race was run on the outer track. In the circumstances, it is worth thinking lightning will strike twice. Flora of Bermuda, so unlucky in this last year, may be the way to go on the assumption she will get the rub of the green. My Mate Alfie, in front of Kind of Blue latest but inexplicably now 4x the price is worth a saver. It could be Lazzat is not drawn high enough, and 2/1 is short enough given the mitigating factors outlined.

AS: Lazzat is the one to beat for sure. I think No Half Measures won the July Cup fair and square and may be the best of the rest. At a massive price, I think James's Delight might be the forgotten horse here.

HF: I’m with Lazzat here, a division that has been rather open all season. He had excuses last time. The rain won’t bother him, and I think he is the best horse in the race and a worthy favourite. One at a price for an each-way play, Beauvatier, interests me.

LJ: I think they left Lazzat a bit undercooked for his latest run, and with that run to bring him forward, he is going to take the world of beating here, and I wouldn't want to lay 2/1.

DN: Lazzat offers the class angle in the race, but I’m prepared to take on the Wathnan raider with Rage Of Bamby. 25/1 and five places on offer for a Group winner who just didn’t quite stay seven furlongs last time out, this is more to suit with a bit of juice in the ground. I have been saying for some time, Flora Of Bermuda will land a big one, most likely this represents the best chance, seeing as though my money isn’t on for the first time this campaign.

Any other bets on a cracking Haydock card?

SD: Yes. Dramatic Star may be second string on jockey bookings, but he is entitled to come on for his reappearance effort, where he ran against a pace bias in a steadily run affair. He can take the Old Borough Cup, which should be run to suit.

AS: It's about time Contacto showed himself to be a good horse in the Old Borough Cup (3:00).

HF: In the 2:25, I like Fantasy World. Tried at this trip for the first time last time out and ran a respectable race to 5th. That effort to me looked like the trip wasn’t the issue, and more the ground being too quick, won’t have to worry about that this time. Off the same mark as that 5th, I think it can go well at around 7/1.

LJ: I think Valiancy is the best bet on the card around 7/2. He is now wearing cheekpieces, which will help him as he hasn't been concentrating in the last couple of runs and is open to a lot more than he has shown.

DN: I think in the Old Borough Cup, Dancing In Paris has been a bit unlucky recently, running behind some smart sorts or just not getting the breaks when required. I think this is the optimum trip and rates a fair each-way wager at 7/1 five places. I’d be astonished if he wasn’t thereabouts again.

Two races on ITV from Kempton. Any bets for you on the all-weather?

SD: I backed Local Hero at the start of the week in the London Mile and remain confident. He is a potent weapon around Kempton and looks realistically weighted. Kalpana will probably win the September Stakes with aplomb, but it will be a poor Arc if she wins it.

AS: I've put up Sky Safari ante post on our YouTube channel at 8/1, so happy with that in the 2:05.

HF: In the 2:05, I like the look of Local Hero, who saves his best runs for Kempton, and since he hasn’t run here for a few months, his handicap mark has dropped 2lb lower than when last winning here. Looks set for a big run at 8/1.

LJ: Nothing in the September stakes, but in the London Mile, I have it between Sky Safari and Local Hero at 4/1 and 8/1. They look more than fair prices in what looks to be not the strongest of races.

DN: I think in the 2:05, Racingbreaks Ryder is well overpriced at 16/1, although a tough one to get right. If the penny drops, this is the best handicapped horse in the race.

Ascot also have a couple of ITV races, any fancies there?

SD: Yes, a 7f handicap, sponsored by Schweppes. Schweppes is an underrated tonic water as it doesn’t taste of cat piss, like its artisan contemporaries. In said race, Tarkhan, with the aid of side burns and under what looks like ideal conditions, might go one better with Sandown last week. It is hard to be dogmatic as there may be an unfathomable bias, though.

AS: Nothing for me at Ascot, so I'll go back to Haydock. I like the three-year-olds in the 1:15, where Zeus Olympios is the most interesting.

HF: In the 2:40, Telemark is the one for me. Likes soft ground, which he gets for the first time this season, has been running well enough, and mark is now down to 95. Warren Fentimen takes over, taking off 5, and as I’ve said before, I think he is well worth that. At 14/1 is the play in the race for me.

LJ: There aren't any prices yet, but Rohaan has to have a big chance in the 4:25. Mark down to 81 with the ground in his favour.

DN: King's Lynn could have a say in the Schweppes at 2:40, beaten only half a length last time out on turf behind Great Acclaim and form ties with Mister Bluebird and Tarkan, who both reoppose, and has the pull at the weights with 7lb taken off.

It's Arc trials day at Longchamp on Sunday. With that in mind, who do you fancy for the Arc on October 5th?

SD: I’ve no doubt Ann Hamilton will lay one out for the Simply Ned Handicap Chase at Kelso, or maybe Malystic can go well again now he is better weighted. That race for me is the most interesting contest on October 5th.

AS: I've tipped Kalpana on Races Now, so hoping she wins well at Kempton this Saturday before a tilt at the Arc. I thought her run in the King George was the perfect run for an Arc contender.

HF: I am a huge fan of the three fillies at the top: Kalpana, Whirl, and Minnie Hauk. I just about think Minnie Hauk is the best of them and my idea of the winner. She’s been brilliant this season, and with it confirmed, she goes straight there with all being well. I think she will take some knocking.

LJ: All depends on the ground. If it's nice, decent ground, Minnie Hauk, but if it's soft, I think Almaqam will go very close.

DN: Not Kalpana. Maybe I am a little narrow-minded, but I like my horses to win. However, this time last year, the way Bluestocking was hammered in the Juddmonte, I would have said the same. I think Minnie Hauk is getting better and better and can cap off a faultless campaign with the biggest of them all.

Just the seven Group 1s in the UK and Ireland next weekend. What are you most looking forward to?

SD: Silly question. The romance of the Leger, first run in 1776, is something that gets the juices flowing. Hopefully, rumours of Scandinavia being sold to foreign climes are unfounded. It remains a magnificent test of the thoroughbred and should be celebrated with the volume amplified to a fever pitch.

AS: The Irish Champion Stakes is always a belter. I'm still not convinced by Delacroix, even though he does have the home advantage. A Moyglare clash between Composing and Venetian Sun could be a cracker on the Sunday.

HF: Has to be the Irish Champion still despite no ombudsman. Looking at the lineup with Shin Emperor coming over once again, Zahrann, who has been going up the ranks and horses like White Birch and Anmaat. It will be some race, and while I do like Delacroix, I think 4/5 in places underestimates the task at hand.

LJ: Gstaad, hopefully showing how good he is in the National Stakes.

DN: Last year's Irish Champion Stakes was a cracker with Auguste Rodin, Economics and Shin Emperor playing out a blanket finish. It’s a shame neither Ombudsman nor Field Of Gold are going to be part of this. The Flying Five is always a cracking race and probably one I’ll enjoy the most.