Punters Panel: Horse racing betting tips for this weekend

Ascot takes centre stage this weekend with the prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes topping the bill, while York also serves up a high-quality supporting card featuring the Group 2 York Stakes.

As always, our racing experts are on hand to mark your card ahead of all the action in this week's Punters Panel. Alongside their best bets from Ascot and York, the panel also look ahead to Glorious Goodwood and give their verdict on the ever-divisive topic of summer jumps racing.

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.

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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.

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.

Alfie Bennett – Regular racegoer, punter, horse shareholder and racing industry professional.

Lee Jones – Lifelong racing fan and shrewd judge with a keen eye for value. Racing trader for a leading high-street bookmaker.

A cracking King George from Ascot on Saturday. Who wins?

AS – A properly good race. Love it. I think Calandagan wins. I backed Goliath ante-post at 12/1 and he's still around that sort of price, so I'll certainly be cheering him on.

HF – It's not the most original selection, but I think Calandagan wins this. For me, he's the best horse in Europe and I can't wait to see him on Saturday. He beat Masquerade Ball on his own patch in the Japan Cup while conceding 5lb, so this is effectively a home game for Calandagan and I can't see that form being reversed. The only concern would be his Epsom run, but he has since won a Group 1 in France and I suspect that was all part of the preparation for this race, which has clearly been the target.

SD – I'm going to side with Masquerade Ball. Calandagan sets the standard, but I just wonder whether he's already shown us his very best. If that's the case, Masquerade Ball has every chance of reversing the form. Either way, it promises to be one of the races of the season.

AB – Nice and simple for me – Calandagan. He's a completely different beast on fast ground to what we saw when he produced a below-par effort on bottomless conditions on his last visit to these shores. The only thing that could beat him is the man doing the steering.

LJ – I think Kalpana, ridden a little more patiently this time, can go very close. Around the 8/1 mark, she also looks the value play in the place markets.

Any other bets for you on the Ascot card?

AS – I've been waiting for Velozee ever since she ran a cracker in the Queen Mary, where she was virtually the last horse off the bridle. She returns in the 1:45pm and looks a cracking each-way bet at double-figure odds.

HF – In the final race at 5:20pm I fancy Getreadytorumble. I backed him at Sandown last time, where he ran well enough, and he'd already caught the eye on his seasonal return at Naas. Things simply haven't fallen his way at Ascot or Haydock since, but he's back in handicap company off a mark of 100 and I think this is a great opportunity for him to get his head back in front.

SD – Kon Tiki each-way in the 4:00pm. He looks the type to outrun his odds and should give you a decent run for your money. Whether he wins or merely keeps bookmakers awake for a few minutes remains to be seen.

AB – I'm a really big fan of Extremely Zain in the Moët. He's short enough in a competitive handicap, but I think he's a Group horse and showed that when blowing the field away at York last time. I'll also happily back Alta Regina in the Princess Margaret. The Ascot form has worked out really well, with the second and fifth both winning Group races since, and the previous experience around the track is another positive.

LJ – Nothing else for me at Ascot. I actually thought the supporting card looked really tricky from a betting perspective.

READ MORE: Focus On The Flat: Ascot feature looks fit for a King

Over at York we may get some early Juddmonte clues via the York Stakes. Who is your idea of the winner there?

AS – An intriguing renewal despite only attracting five runners. Item is the sexy one, Royal Champion won the race last year and Damysus stepping back up to ten furlongs is interesting too. It's a fascinating contest, but probably no bet for me.

HF – I'm with Pride Of Arras. He's a quirky customer, but he clearly loves York, having won twice there last season including the Dante, where he finished ahead of Damysus. I'd put a line through his run in France as he almost certainly needed it, and I'd imagine this race has been the target ever since.

SD – I wish I had one! For me, this is one of those races where you could make a compelling case for several runners. Sometimes the smartest bet is admitting you haven't got a strong opinion.

AB – Item will be a different beast back on good ground and clearly likes York. He beat the Derby winner earlier in the season, albeit under conditions that suited him more than his rival, and should take plenty of beating here.

LJ – I'm a big fan of Item. Better ground, course and distance, plus receiving weight from his elders, all make him very appealing. Around 9/4 looks a fair bet to me.

Anything else appealing for you at York?

AS – There aren't many prices available yet, but I'm really interested in Hout Bay in the 3:42pm novice. I thought she shaped exceptionally well on debut at Newmarket despite suffering significant interference in what looked a strong race. She went off at 50/1 that day and I'm hoping she flies under the radar again.

HF – I like Stratusnine in the Dash. He ran an excellent second over this course and distance back in May behind a horse who has since finished placed in a Group 3 and won a Group 2. His seven-furlong experiment at Royal Ascot was perfectly respectable, while a wide draw counted against him at Chester last time. Back over this trip at a track he clearly enjoys, he looks to have plenty in his favour.

SD – Evening Blues in the 2:00pm. Proven course form counts for plenty on the Knavesmire and that's enough to put him firmly on my shortlist.

AB – York isn't one of my favourite betting tracks and those big-field handicaps can be absolute minefields. I'll have another go with Getreadytorumble, provided he gets a favourable draw. If not, I'll side with my old mate Fivethousandtoone, who always seems to find trouble in running. Hopefully the more expansive York track gives him a bit more room to operate.

LJ – Evening Blues catches my eye at around 20/1 in the Dash. He went very close over this course and distance last time behind a horse who still looks well handicapped, so I think he's overpriced.

Glorious Goodwood arrives next week. Which race are you most looking forward to?

AS – The rematch between Scandinavia and Trawlerman should be fantastic viewing if it materialises after their tremendous battle at Ascot. I'm also really looking forward to seeing Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes. I think he could announce himself as a genuine superstar miler.

HF – The Goodwood Cup just edges it for me. The rematch between Scandinavia and Trawlerman promises to be a classic, while Rahiebb could also have a bigger say now dropping back in trip. It just shades what should also be a brilliant Sussex Stakes featuring Bow Echo, Gstaad and the older horses like Opera Ballo.

SD – The Goodwood Cup. It's one of my favourite races of the entire season. Goodwood is a brilliant place to spend a week anyway, but top-class stayers thundering down that unique track is hard to beat.

AB – The Sussex Stakes, without question. I can't wait to see Bow Echo again. He's an absolute machine and, at this stage, I can't see him getting beaten.

LJ – The Sussex Stakes looks an absolute cracker already. If everything stands their ground, we should be in for a proper spectacle.

Summer jumping in 2026 – good, bad or don't care?

AS – Like plenty of topics that divide opinion in racing, I think the sport has simply moved on. Summer jumping was far stronger when trainers were more willing to run horses on quicker ground. Nowadays, many aren't, and the result is too many small fields. It's similar to what we've seen with races like the Eclipse. Trainers used to run at Royal Ascot, the Eclipse and then the King George. Now they rarely do. It's a shame, but it's the reality.

HF – I'm firmly in the "don't care" camp. We're in the middle of the Flat season with Group 1 racing most weekends, so low-grade summer jumping doesn't really interest me. That said, I'm certainly not in the camp that thinks it should disappear altogether.

SD – Good? It's fantastic. I've made my feelings pretty clear already. Summer jumping adds variety, keeps racecourses alive and gives fans more quality racing to enjoy. The idea that it somehow has no place in the sport is complete poppycock.

AB – Honestly, I'm not a fan. The number of abandonments alone makes it feel a bit pointless. Give the jump jockeys a proper break and let everyone enjoy the Flat season. I love National Hunt racing as much as anyone, but I don't really start getting excited until October rolls around and Chepstow gets us underway again.

LJ – It is what it is. I'd simply like to see fewer meetings and more competitive racing, although that probably applies across British racing rather than just the summer jumps. The quality would improve if we concentrated the programme a little more.

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