Expect Rum to pack a punch before King is crowned Sport SATURDAY features the first British Classic of the season, Newmarket’s 2000 Guineas (3.35pm), which also marks the first World Pool fixture of the year in the UK and Ireland. Much of the build-up has centred around Aidan O’Brien’s string of potential contenders, but his grip on the race has slipped since he last won it [...]
Fabre’s Highness looks a royally good bet in fillies’ first Classic Sport IT IS the turn of the fillies 24 hours later, with the 1000 Guineas (3.35pm, Sunday) taking centre stage. Precise is supposedly the apple of Aidan O’Brien’s eye for this contest but he hasn’t won this race since 2021, and it looks a wide-open renewal. In line with the 2000 Guineas, it is worth looking [...]
In Power we trust to take D’Or at Sandown Sport SANDOWN’s card this Saturday brings the curtain down on the 2025/26 National Hunt season, and while it might not have attracted such a star cast as 12 months ago, there are still plenty of quality races to pick through. The opening Graded contest on the card is the Grade Two Oaksey Chase (2.20pm) and it [...]
Back Nicholls’ Yoga to stretch his Sandown rivals April 21, 2026 AWAY from the headline action on Sandown’s Jumps Finale card, the Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (1.45pm) has attracted a competitive field of unexposed hurdlers. It looks unlikely that the race will fill up at this stage, so I’m dipping into the ante-post market with two selections for the two-mile contest now. The first of [...]
Ooh Betty a Cracking bet in Scottish Champion April 14, 2026 AFTER last weekend’s Grand National, attention over jumps switches to Ayr for the Scottish track’s biggest day of the season this Saturday, featuring the Scottish Grand National and Scottish Champion Hurdle. Last season, the race for the Trainers’ Championship between Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton saw Ayr become a key battleground, and while that’s not [...]
Burke to Converge on Newbury with winning double April 14, 2026 CITY AM are race sponsors at Newbury on Friday but it’s the Berkshire course’s Saturday card that provides the better betting opportunities. It offers an early look at potential Classic contenders, alongside the anticipated return of Constitution Hill. He hasn’t got an easy assignment in his first Group race on the level – the Group [...]
All points West to Grangeclare in Stellar Grand National April 8, 2026 FOLLOWING yesterday’s declarations for the 2026 Grand National (4.00pm), the time has come to offer up this year’s selections for the world’s most famous steeplechase. As ever, there will be a maximum field of 34 runners taking on this unique test. With 30 big fences to negotiate over the stamina-sapping four-mile -two-and-a-half-furlong trip of Aintree’s [...]
Strong feeling Leader will be in Aintree Cruz Control April 8, 2026 ONE mustn’t forget that Aintree is not just about the Grand National, with a host of top-class supporting action across the three days, such as Saturday’s Grade One Liverpool Hurdle (3.05pm). As ever, given its proximity to Cheltenham, we see many horses who starred at the Festival rock up to Merseyside looking to do the [...]
Fortune can Favour La brave on Friday with outsiders April 8, 2026 WHILE playing with a straight bat looks the strategy on Thursday, it could be worth swinging for the boundaries a little more on Friday. In the day’s opening race, the William Hill Handicap Hurdle (1.45pm), FAVOUR AND FORTUNE represents a bit of each-way value at around 12/1, lining up here off just a pound higher [...]
No need for form Study to see chance of Snow at Aintree April 8, 2026 AINTREE’s big three days of the year are here with the highlight of course being Saturday’s Grand National. Before that there is plenty of other top-class action to get stuck into, beginning with today’s card which includes four Grade One races. Many of the contests feature horses that ran at the Cheltenham Festival and several [...]
