Punters Panel: Horse racing betting tips for this weekend

The curtain comes down on another memorable Ebor Festival at York on Saturday, with one of the biggest betting races of the Flat season taking centre stage on the Knavesmire.

The Ebor Handicap headlines a cracking final-day card, while the newly-upgraded Group 1 City Of York Stakes provides another fascinating puzzle for punters.

As always, our racing experts are here to mark your card ahead of all the action via our weekly Punters Panel!

This week, the panel also cast their eye over the ITV action from Chester, reflect on a dramatic Juddmonte International and give their early thoughts on who could win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

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. If you would like to get involved in our Punters Panel in a future week, be sure to DM Races Now on X!

Adam Smith - A betting industry veteran, Flat lover and one half of our Races Now double act.

Sean Tasker-Brown - Racing fan and punter who can be found on X at @SeanTB_.

Harry Fowler - Another of Odds Now’s regular racing contributors, currently working in the industry.

Zac Castledine - Regular Races Now viewer and Punters Panel contributor with a keen eye for the big racing action.

Stephen Darbyshire - The self-proclaimed ‘star of the show’ on Races Now, who has been going viral with his daily tips and betting ring for some time now.

Who wins the Ebor?

AS - Really not a race for me. It's a very high-quality handicap. For starters, Willie Mullins has the second favourite who has three runs to his name; Germany, Germany and 299 days ago in France.

STB - I think Paddy The Squire is a huge price. He has rock-solid top handicap form and he’s unexposed at the trip. If he can settle better early, he could run a big race. Of the more fancied runners, Klassleader looks the obvious one. He’ll appreciate any ease in the ground and it looks like there’s more improvement left in him.

HF - I have backed Emit. Joseph O’Brien can do no wrong and this lad being his only runner, with Ryan jocked up, is a huge plus. I think this has been the aim for the season. Last time at Royal Ascot he ran a good race in fourth down in trip but looked like the step up would only benefit. Ground won’t be an issue either, having posted two seconds in a Group 2 and Group 3 at the end of last season.

ZC - This is a proper 7/1 the field race! I've landed on Hopewell Rock for Wathnan and Boughey. The way he travelled into the race at Goodwood, stepping up to 1m6f for the first time, struck me as the performance of a horse who's putting it all together at exactly the right time. But honestly, you can make a case for any of these!

SD - Well, it's as usual a very, very competitive renewal but the eye is very much drawn to the Willie Mullins-trained horse in this contest. Love Me Tender is very unexposed, with one run in France and two runs in Germany, and may just have been laid out for this contest.

Who wins the City Of York Stakes?

AS - I really fancy Ten Bob Tony, who will love the juice in the ground and the seven furlongs. And his form over a mile this year isn't bad, is it? I'm bang against current favourite Notable Speech and think Lake Forest needs quick ground.

STB - Zavateri has progressed with each start this season and I expect him to take another step forward here. Seven furlongs is ideal and he’s a proven Group 1 performer.

HF - Looks a brilliant race this. I fancy Zavateri. He was brilliant last season, only losing his undefeated streak at Newmarket, a track he didn’t look too comfortable on. This year hasn’t quite gone to plan. He was second in the Greenham and should’ve won, then had a setback and missed all the Guineas. He came back straight into the Sussex Stakes, where he was a good fifth, and I expect him to take a big step forward from that.

ZC - I've got two at prices. I never thought I'd be looking at the Chipchase as a guide for this race, but here we are! The first and second that day, Marvelman and Paborus, both really interest me at 16/1. Marvelman would be the main selection. Balding is winning everything at the moment and this lad's best form came on soft ground when winning a Group 2 at Doncaster last year. That said, if I'm putting him up, I have to give Paborus a mention, as he was very impressive when defeating the main selection after a long break.

SD - It's a very interesting contest in the shape of the ground not being ideal for several contenders, including Notable Speech and Lake Forest, who drifted like a barge on Friday morning. Maybe we should just go left-field. Powerful Glory is of course a Group 1 winner and seven furlongs could be the conduit to some improvement.

READ MORE: Saturday football betting tips: Five fancies from around the leagues

Any other bets at York?

AS - I cannot believe Persica is still available at 6/1 and bigger given the rain has come. He is a good horse on quick ground and an even better one on slower ground, for all that this is a deep Group 3.

STB - Infraad in the Melrose, with the step up in trip set to suit for a trainer who targets the race. Adonius should have too much class and speed for his rivals, the track should suit and he seems to handle any ground. In the last race, Salam Dubawi will be a big price but could run well. He was fifth in the John Smith's Cup and suffered interference that day. He’s attempted to make all on fast ground the last twice, but the return to York and more patient tactics could see him bounce back.

HF - In the Melrose I fancy Into The Light, who has been progressing well this season. On handicap debut he was beaten only by Lost Boys, who has since won the London Gold Cup and at Royal Ascot. The selection disappointed at Royal Ascot, like all the trainer's horses have done there in recent years, but put that right last time at Goodwood, winning well and looking like this step up in trip will only aid him.

ZC - I'm turning into a Balding groupie this week! In the 2:25, I'll be backing Mythical Bay, while I've also had a go on Into The Light. I liked the prices of both. Then, in the 4:10, it's back to Balding with Dance In The Storm. I've been waiting to see her dropped back to a sprint distance and she's drawn right by the pace. She could simply be too classy for these.

SD - King Of Light is fancied to go very well. I thought the horse was interesting last time out at Windsor, a heavily-backed 7/2 favourite from 8/1, when finishing sixth. I expect a much better showing here.

Two ITV races from Chester, any fancies?

AS - Nothing for me at Chester, so I'll go for a double dip in the City Of York. Puerto Rico hasn't been trying to win on his last two starts and is a dual soft-ground Group 1 winner as a juvenile. I can see him running much better here at a double-figure price, hopefully second behind Tony.

STB - It looks like there’s plenty of horses that will want to make the running in the first race and they could set it up for Collecting Coin. He improved on his first start for the very shrewd Jennie Candlish and there could still be some improvement from this handicap mark.

HF - I like Lazy Griff in the 2:40. He didn’t perform in the Goodwood Cup but was an easy winner beforehand in a Listed race at Sandown. The rain we have had this week will only help his case and I think he can get back on track at Chester.

ZC - I'll just be focusing on the excellent York card, so nothing for me at Chester.

SD - Ah, Chester. What a place. I thought in the opener Yanifir could go well at a nice price, while Vixey, at an even bigger price, has an excellent record around Chester. So I will dutch that pair.

What did you make of the Juddmonte?

AS - I thought it was a cracker. The four best horses finished one, two, three, four – just not in the order the betting market was expecting. Credit to Item, who didn't get a clear run himself and still won. One thing I will predict – the conversation on pacemakers is going to heat up in the coming days and weeks. It is getting a bit silly for me.

STB - It was slightly disappointing in the end but the two favourites had excuses. Ombudsman didn’t like the ground and I am sure William Buick wouldn’t mind another go. He didn’t enjoy the smoothest trip and made his way up the inside rail, which wasn’t really the place to be. Constitution River was lit up early and didn’t get home. Almaqam enjoyed the easier ground compared to Ascot and Item looks a top-class horse who has gone under the radar slightly.

HF - The race didn’t go to plan in the slightest. Two pacemakers in the race and neither made the pace. Constitution River was too close to the pace because he was keen. Ombudsman had the ground as an excuse, yes, but that’s all. A lot will blame William Buick because that’s the easiest thing to do. Ombudsman had every chance to win and I’d say had less interference than the winner. I feel for Almaqam because I think he’s another who paid for being up with the pace, but take nothing away from the winner. It wasn’t plain sailing for him either and he’s stayed on well to win.

ZC - Well, we got the clash of the generations we craved – just not the particular battle we all expected! There isn't enough space in this column to relay my true thoughts, so let's just say: disappointed. That said, take nothing away from the winner, a true course specialist. What a season Juddmonte are having, along with their excellent jockey and superb trainer.

SD - It brought as many questions as answers. I didn't quite take John Gosden's Ombudsman comments seriously, as that was not based on the overall time.

VIDEO: Watch this week's EFL Betting Show!

Early doors, but who wins the Arc?

AS - I have tipped Kalpana in my Odds Now column and she has done nothing to put me off since, winning the Yorkshire Oaks. Maltese Cross could be a player but I'd prefer him to go to the St Leger. Last year's winner Daryz is a top contender, of course. One thing I will say – Diamond Necklace won't be staying a mile and a half in my opinion.

STB - It’s a long way out but Kalpana and Bay City Roller would be two on the shortlist at the moment.

HF - Tough picture at this stage. Maltese Cross is an absolutely bonkers price. Diamond Necklace I'm not sure will stay, while Thundering On hasn’t done anything to suggest she can win this – the Oaks was terrible. At this stage I’m making the assumption we will probably have soft ground and, in that case, I think Bay City Roller has to have a chance at 20s. He absolutely loved the Coronation Cup at Epsom, winning easily. It’s been hard to get his conditions with the heatwaves but I think connections could be rewarded for their patience.

ZC - Assuming it's going to be soft, two take my eye at the current prices: Bay City Roller and Estrange. Of the two, I'd love to see Estrange win it. She's like a fine wine, getting better with age. I vividly remember another grey mare winning this at the age of five and, if history repeats itself, I'd be a very happy man.

SD - I don't know. My focus that day will be on the Handicap Chase at Kelso.

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