Punters Panel: Horse racing betting tips for this weekend

Another memorable Glorious Goodwood Festival draws to a conclusion on Saturday, with the Stewards' Cup topping the bill alongside plenty more racing action from around the UK.

This week's Odds Now Punters' Panel sees our experts look back on the biggest talking points from the Festival so far before turning their attention to Saturday's racing. Our contributors also share their best bets from around the country, reflect on last weekend's King George and reminisce about their very first bets at the racecourse.

Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters' Panel

Before we get stuck in, here's a little more on the experts answering this week's key questions. Fancy getting involved in a future Punters' Panel? Be sure to drop Races Now a DM on X!

Adam Smith – A betting industry veteran, Flat racing enthusiast and one half of our Races Now double act.

Harry Fowler – Another of Odds Now's regular racing contributors, currently working within the industry.

Lewis Beaty – A regular Races Now viewer making his Punters' Panel debut. Lewis is a big fan of horses, Chelsea FC and, of course, SD's Daily Tips!

Joe O'Donnell – Racing lover and long-time Races Now viewer, supporter and contributor. Better known to many as the 'Scot of the Channel'.

What has been your highlight of Glorious Goodwood so far?

AS – It has to be Bow Echo winning the Sussex Stakes. It had everything you could want from a Group 1: a deep field, a clash of the generations, recent top-level winners locking horns and a fantastic finish. Some race.

HF – It has to be Bow Echo. I still can't quite believe he managed to get up. Aidan O'Brien has thrown everything at him this season and he still keeps finding a way to win. Ryan Moore must have thought he was home aboard Gstaad, but Bow Echo's turn of foot was electric.

LB – Scandinavia got the job done in the Goodwood Cup, making it two big victories on the bounce and providing the perfect finish to a terrific opening day of the meeting.

JO – Bow Echo is simply a magnificent horse, while young George Boughey – who appears to love an SD selfie – is proving himself to be a genius trainer.

Looking ahead now, who wins the Stewards' Cup at 3.35pm?

AS – I've seen stronger renewals, but I think Mitbaahy has spent 2026 quietly heading in the right direction after two injury-hit seasons. He's drawn high, close to the pace, and this former Group winner could easily outrun his double-figure odds.

HF – I like Two Tribes, who won this race 12 months ago. He arrives 7lb higher in the weights this time around, but he produced a career-best effort when finishing second at Ascot last time - the same race he won last year - after flying home from miles back. He's effectively 2lb ahead of the handicapper based on that run and I think he'll go very close again.

LB – I'm with Two Tribes. He won this race last year, clearly loves Goodwood and arrives in decent form. He's got a massive chance of defending his crown.

JO – I'll be backing Mitbaahy. The owners love having winners at Goodwood and, after two pipe-openers this season, I think he'll be spot on for the big race.

Anything else catching your eye on the final day at Glorious Goodwood?

AS – I think Wathnan Racing could enjoy a very good afternoon. Sing Us A Song (1.50pm) has been knocking on the door and looks ready to strike in the opener, while Opportunity (2.35pm) impressed me enormously at Royal Ascot and still looks a horse with plenty more to come. I'll also be backing Waardah (3.00pm) to successfully defend her Lillie Langtry crown.

HF – Al Wathba (4.45pm) caught my eye on debut at Newmarket on July Cup day behind Haffner, and that form has already been boosted by subsequent results in the Vintage Stakes. Some of Charlie Appleby's horses improve dramatically for their first outing and, with natural progression expected, I think this colt could prove very hard to beat.

LB – I'm interested in Danielle (3.00pm) at around 5/1 in the Lillie Langtry Stakes. She won nicely at York last time for the Gosdens and still looks open to improvement. At the prices, she appeals as a solid alternative to the favourite.

JO – I'll be backing Valedictory (1:50pm) in the opener. He won well at Newmarket's July Festival over a mile and six furlongs and another victory here should be enough to earn a place in the Ebor. The booking of William Buick certainly doesn't hurt either.

READ MORE: Bow Echo's sublime Sussex win prompts lofty comparisons

Any other bets planned elsewhere on Saturday?

AS – I tipped Mirsky (2.08pm Thirsk) for Friday's card at Goodwood, but connections have opted to head north to Scotland isntead. He's already won there this season and I'll be sticking with him.

HF – Mirsky (2.08pm Thirsk). I think there's a big run in him. He shaped really well when seventh in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot over seven furlongs, a trip he's now 0-5 over. He's back to a mark of 93 - the same rating from which he won the Thirsk Hunt Cup in May - and boasts a 2-3 record over this course and distance. I think he can add another victory here.

LB – There's a really good-quality Fillies and Mares race elsewhere on Saturday featuring Francophone (1.33pm Newmarket), who chased home Danielle at Goodwood, along with several progressive rivals. It looks one of the best contests away from the Festival.

JO – I'll also be heading to Hamilton in the evening. Purosangue (7.30pm) catches my eye there after a string of solid efforts in defeat and the stiff finish should suit him well. Then, in the next race, I'll be backing local favourite Iris Dancer (8.00pm) – Hamilton's most successful course specialist.

What did you make of last weekend's King George?

AS – It was every bit as good as we'd hoped. Kalpana produced a career-best performance and deserves enormous credit. Calandagan just hasn't quite reached the heights he hit in 2025, while Benvenuto Cellini ran better than I expected. Minnie Hauk had the race run to suit and was disappointing, while it was also a shame to see the Japanese challenge never really materialise.

HF – It was a brilliant race, although it was disappointing not to see the Japanese challenger show their true form. I think Calandagan is probably best over a mile and a quarter and was just stretched late on. As for Kalpana, what a performance. She absolutely loves Ascot and seems to be getting even better with age, especially on quicker ground. It was a proper King George.

LB – I thought it was a cracking renewal. There were no excuses for anyone, they went a proper gallop and Kalpana was simply the best horse on the day. Calandagan ran his race too; he just bumped into one better.

JO – I watched the race with SD and "the richest man in Renfrewshire" after we'd seen Kalpana finish second in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot. SD said she'd hit the front too soon that day, so I was delighted to see the Glasgow Stakes winner go one better in the King George.

Can you remember your first ever bet at the racecourse? How did it go?

AS – I came to racing later than most. It was the July Meeting at Newmarket in 2010 and we'd been tipped off about an Ed Dunlop debutant called Native Khan. I went up to have my first-ever bet - £20 win - only to realise I'd backed the wrong horse! So I had to go back and place another £20 win bet on the right one. Suddenly my first bet had become a £40 investment, but thankfully Native Khan bolted up at 20/1 under Kieron Fallon before later finishing third behind Frankel in the 2,000 Guineas. I was hooked from that moment on.

HF – Truth be told, I can't remember my very first bet - there were probably one or two before I officially turned 18! My first real racecourse memory is from Newmarket, where I used to go as a kid, watching Frankel win the 2,000 Guineas when I was nine years old. That was one race where there definitely wasn't a bet to be had.

LB – I was 16 and, like plenty of people on their first day, I picked a horse purely because I liked its name. From what I remember, it finished either last or second-last!

JO – It was at Hamilton in the mid-1980s. I backed One For The Pot, trained by Peter Ramsden, at 13/2 early in the day. The horse was absolutely smashed in the betting before hacking up. That was enough to get me hooked for life.

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