York hosts a typically tricky-looking card for punters on Saturday (Credit: York Racecourse)

Expert horse racing betting tips for w/c Saturday, June 13th 2026

It's the calm before the storm in the world of racing this weekend, with cards from York and Sandown leading the way ahead of Royal Ascot next week.

Our horse racing Punters Panel are on hand to cover the big talking points from the last week and offer up their best bets for this weekend's action.

Introducing the Odds Now Horse Racing Punters Panel

Before we get stuck in, here’s a little bit more on the experts answering our key questions this week:

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.

Zac Castledine - Previous Punters Panel contributor and huge horse racing lover, currently working within the industry.

GK (@GKxlsi on X)- Anonymous flat fanatic with a soft spot for the biggest flat races.

Starting with the story of the week. Benvenuto Cellini - runner or non runner?

SD: Of course he was a runner. Stevie Wonder could’ve seen he was a runner. Everybody knows he was a runner apart from the BHA. It is a total own goal and the rule needs binning.

AS: I have actually changed my mind as the week has gone on, and it's SD's fault. My first thought was shock but within their rules. I now think it probably didn't sit wholly in their rules – though without doubt open to interpretation. Would anyone have batted an eyelid if it was deemed a runner? Not really, no.I was surprised at the outrage from the hardcore racing fans though. Thousands and thousands of people have had their money back for backing the losing favourite of the Derby. And thousands of others have avoided a 25p rule 4 on the winner.

HF: For the life of me, I can’t understand the outrage. The BHA enforces the rules and it’s the world ending and if they hadn’t then there would be outrage that they didn’t, so there was no winning as per with racing fans. Most people that had a bet on Saturday were online, where the majority of bookies waived the R4, so if you backed the fav you got your money back and if you backed the winner you get a 9/1 return. What's not to like?

ZC: The regulatory authority declared him a non-runner, therefore he is a non-runner. We love a moan in this industry and this is yet another example. The rules are the rules at the end of the day, and maybe there needs to be an alteration to this specific rule, because I don’t understand that if he did go on to win he wouldn’t have been a non-runner. It is also unfair for backers of Christmas Day that their horse won fair and square, yet they got hit with a heavy rule 4. I congratulate Entain on waiving the R4, a positive gesture. Carnage!

GK: The funny part is the in-running market had him matched at 3.9 2f out and only nudged from 4.5 to 5.0 at the off. The moment the stalls opened I was 100% certain his chance was cooked, and just as certain I'd never see a penny back. I only found out via a text after I'd switched off. Delighted to be a non-runner obviously, but voiding a horse who actually finished? Slippery slope, and they'll regret where it leads.

What did you make of the Derby and its winner, Christmas Day?

SD: It was a race shaped by the ground. Bother Maltese Cross and Alderman are interesting for the Leger. I expect that the favourite who didn’t run but did may be very good on better ground but the winner handled the unique test best.

AS: I thought Saturday was ugly. The ground was much worse than reported and the horses were spread all across the track and a fair few virtually pulled up.I am basically ignoring the Derby as a form reference. I'll wait until they all run again. Pierre Bonnard ran with credit in my opinion. Raaheeb is the best three year old colt in training anyway.

HF: I think Saturday was a bit of a mess. They were turning fanning across the track, no one really knew where to be and the ground was hard work. If it came up good ground at the Curragh for the Irish derby I’d still fancy Benvenuto Cellini, with a fair start of course, to overturn the form.

ZC: A weak renewal, unfortunate ground, brilliant ride. A great shame really.

GK: He's the rightful winner and tough, but let's be honest, he's the best of a bad lot. It was the slowest Derby this century by nearly 4 seconds, basically a snorkelling contest, and the soft ground grinders did over anything with a bit of class. Credit where it's due, he clearly loves a swamp, he's never even run on ground quicker than good, so it was tailor-made for him. Aidan's 12th and 4th on the bounce is just taking the mick. But you'd take little form out of it, and the one I'd nick from the race on a decent surface is the favourite who never got going.

Thundering On. A fantastic Oaks winner, or a poor renewal?

SD: It was average and I don’t see her being Arc class.

AS: Probably a bit of both. Thundering On was wildly impressive and definitely the most exciting three year old filly in training.

HF: I am leaning towards fantastic Oaks winner – she couldn’t have done it any easier. On Friday, I don’t particularly think the ground was that bad to make it into a slog like the Derby. I think the front two are both nice horses and to win that easily she must be good. I can see her going down in trip for a Pretty Polly tilt next.

ZC: In complete contrast to the Derby, I thought this was breathtaking. Legacy Link is no average opponent, I would not be surprised to see her win the Arc next year, she is a tank of a filly. The winner, just wow. What a cool ride from the 23-year-old. Both he and his beauty of a filly were superb. The rest of the field were very disappointing.

GK: She was different class, travelled, quickened, stayed, and the clock has her rubbing shoulders with Enable, Sariska and Ouija Board, which is frankly absurd company for a filly only five runs into her life. I'd have slapped "the next Enable" on her, but for one nagging memory: the last Oaks winner to arrive via that same trial was Ezeliya, and we all spent a summer waiting on an encore that never showed. So, potentially special, but we've been mugged by flashy Oaks winners before, so I'll let her prove it before I start measuring her for Enable's old headcollar.

What are your best bets on York's card this Saturday?

SD: It’s a horrid card. Rancid. There’s one good race. Red Spells Danger is a horse I want to keep on side in the old William Hill Trophy.

AS: I've come around to agreeing with SD, Red Spells Danger (3:35pm) is the best bet at York. A horse bang on the up this year and the latest 10lbs rise in the weights might not be enough to stop him. Hopefully he's drawn on the right side.

HF: In the second race, I like Recency Bias. This is a horse with clear potential but I don’t think has fully put it all together yet. Last time over 6f he ran on well and this step up to 7f looks sure to suit.

ZC: Mount Atlas should be favourite, no? He was 14 lengths ahead of Al Qareem in the Ormonde off 2lb worse terms. Whilst the current fav is 5-5 at listed level, and won this last year, in Mount Atlas I feel we have a horse still on the up vs one who has already achieved his peak.

GK: None, I'm afraid. Betting York for the sake of it is just handing chips back, and my head is already at Royal Ascot next week, where the real work is. No shame in a quiet Saturday,

Any fancies over at Sandown?

SD: It might be that Sirius A - who will surely go forward- is a 5f horse. He doesn’t have much to find here, in all honesty. There’s a lot more to come from High Degree this year too and he may make a mockery of his mark in the 3.17pm.

AS: The Joker in the 1:32pm looks to have a good chance in a race full of well matched rivals. I tipped Argentine Tango (2:42pm) on Monday in the hope that one or maybe both of the Godolphin horses wouldn't run. Both Words Of Truth and Military Code have been declared, but worth taking on given they have been off 155 and 294 days respectively.

HF: The 3:17pm looks a great race but I like Raammee, who was very well backed on seasonal reappearance and too fresh after all that time off. With that under his belt, I think he’ll win this and go onto bigger races.

ZC: I’d be happy to give Manatee Mehmas another chance in the Scurry stakes. I think he’ll relish Sandown’s 5f track. The short priced fav has never ran over 5 and has to carry a 5lb penalty on the day. Furthermore, looking at breeding, I am surprised that he is coming back in trip here, being a son of Lope de Vega out of an Australia mare. The selection is very quick and, with this only being his third run, he should still be improving.

GK: Same answer, nothing's jumping at me and I'm not about to force one.

Any bets lined up elsewhere this weekend?

SD: Les’s Legacy was not ridden efficiently at all last time at Kelso, and the blinkers showed more spark. A hunting approach to Malangen before taking it up at the last seems the most likely tactical outcome. He looks to have a great chance in the first at Hexham.

AS: All my guns will be pointed at Ascot as the entries continue to come through. Tuesday of Royal Ascot is the best day in the racing calendar.

HF: In the 1:35pm at Chester, I fancy Miraculous. He was a unlucky there at the May meeting when denied a clear run. Has since disappointed but the key is Chester and he’s come down a few pounds, which will only help back at his favourite venue.

ZC: Bolo Neighs in the opener at Chester. Out of stall 3, miles better than these, just wins.

GK: I've taken some 8s about Lilt in the Prix de Diane on Sunday. She won going away at York last week, only getting properly involved inside the final furlong and quickening clear through beaten horses late, she looked to need every yard of that and she's bred to relish the extra couple of furlongs at Chantilly. So I'm convinced there's more to come over a trip, and 8s each-way in a French Oaks for a filly with that profile is exactly the sort of play I'll take. She's not going for the day out,