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Irish 2000 Guineas Tips 2026: Gstaad Tough To Oppose But British Raider Can Be Best Of The Rest

2026-05-22T14:48:34+01:00

The Irish 2000 Guineas takes centre stage at the Curragh on Saturday afternoon and this does look an excellent opportunity for Gstaad to land another major prize for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. His Newmarket 2000 Guineas second sets a clear standard and I would not be remotely shocked if he simply proves too good for these.

That said, he is not much of a betting proposition at the prices and I am not convinced this is quite the penalty kick the market makes it look. There is one colt in here with enough raw ability, tactical speed and upside to make this interesting if he gets home over the mile.

The most likely winner of the 2026 Irish 2000 Guineas is Gstaad.

He has the best form in the race, he represents the dominant stable and his Newmarket run was a rock-solid Classic effort. He travelled like a good horse, went clear with the winner and pulled nicely away from the pack, with the winner impressively pulling clear of him, so there is no great mystery as to why he is so short in the market here. If he repeats that form at the Curragh, most of these are probably running for second.

There is also a fair chance he improves again. He shaped at Newmarket as though the run would not be lost on him, he stays the mile, and he has already shown he can operate at the top level. Ryan Moore in the saddle is another obvious positive and this has clearly been mapped out as a very winnable Classic from the moment he crossed the line at Newmarket.

But that is also the issue from a betting perspective. Everyone can see it.

At odds-on, I want very few questions to answer, and while Gstaad is very much the right favourite, this is still a Classic on a different track, against a few rivals who have either got excuses, upside, or both. He can win, and probably should win, but I do not want to be taking a short price about him doing so.

Distant Storm is the obvious danger according to the betting, but he has to reverse Newmarket form with Gstaad and that will not beeasy to do. First-time cheekpieces could help, but he still has plenty to find.

Thesecretadversary is not impossible to forgive either because he did far too much too soon at Newmarket and is surely better than that bare run. If he relaxes, he can be involved, but that is a fairly big if in a Classic over a mile and I am not sure he is being missed by the market.

The one I keep coming back to is ALPARSIAN

He is not bombproof. Far from it. He has to prove he stays this mile and that is the obvious hole in the case. His best form has come over seven furlongs, including when making all in the Greenham at Newbury, and this final furlong at the Curragh could ask a very different question of him.

But I liked the way he won that race. He was professional, straightforward and decisive, and he looked like a colt with a proper engine rather than one who just nicked a weak trial from the front. He also has previous Curragh experience, having won at the track last season, and that is a useful little positive in a race where others are either trying to confirm Newmarket form or put a bad run behind them.

What I like most is that he brings a slightly different shape to the race. Gstaad is the proven Group 1 colt, Distant Storm is the solid yardstick and Thesecretadversary is the one who needs to settle better. Alparslan is the one who could still be better than we have seen, provided the mile is within range.

That is the angle.

If he does not stay, we probably know our fate fairly quickly. But if he does, I do not think he should be this sort of price. I fully accept Gstaad may simply win, but at the prices I would rather be with the Greenham winner to give him something to think about.

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ITV Racing Tips: Selections For Saturday 23rd May

2026-05-22T12:00:02+01:00

This Saturday on ITV Racing brings a feast for flat fans, with York, Goodwood and Haydock set to be broadcast as well as the feature race, the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh. Billy Grimshaw is back from a week in the sunshine for Britain's heatwave and has a couple of best bets he hopes will leave punters smiling in the sunshine at Haydock...

14:58 Haydock - Sandy Lane Stakes

I live less than ten miles from Haydock and it is currently cracking the flags here in the North West, so I am expecting all traces of soft in the going description to be a distant memory come Saturday afternoon. This race is often a good pointer for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot but is a big prize worth landing in its own right in a Group 2 and as we often see, the speed horses dropping back to this trip after a crack at the Guineas are the ones to side with.

It is often assumed at Haydock that a high draw is advantageous in these sprint contests, but with only eight runners taking their chance I am not about to discount those drawn low if I can find a pace setter amongst them who will drag the rest along. Brussels in stall one has made it before and Five Ways in two is another who doesn't like to wait around, so I am going to wager that pace is more important than draw in this contest and back VENETIAN SUN coming out of stall three.

Karl Burke is a master with this profile of horse and the yard have won two of the last ten renewals of this race. His Starman filly ran well enough for a long way in the 1000 Guineas before the petrol tank, predictably on breeding and run style, emptied. Six lengths was the distance she was beaten, which was no disgrace, but she travelled sweetly into the race and now back over her optimal trip I am expecting this Group 1 winner as a two-year-old to bounce back in style. Her main market rival Division is drawn next door in stall four, but I would have him much closer in price to Coppull, who beat him at Ascot last time, with both sitting nearer the 4/1 mark.

Division may have shaped like the best horse at Ascot, but I still struggle to see why he should be 5/2 here. He should be closer in the betting to Coppull, and his short price only makes Venetian Sun look more attractive at a similar price.

15:30 Haydock - Temple Stakes

Last year's winner MGHEERA has not quite hit the heights since that day, but with the ground set to be good once again and with the same favourable draw in 11 I think she is overpriced each-way to repeat the feat at around 9/1. Her win actually deserves marking up as she had an awkward start that day, which can prove fatal to a horse's chances over five furlongs at any track, and of the first five home she was the only horse who came from off the pace.

I mean no disrespect in claiming her jockey switch from 2025's William Buick to in 2026 Kieran Shoemark is a downgrade, but Shoemark is hardly an untried amateur and providing he can get the mare to break alertly she must have an outstanding chance of at the very least getting us some place returns with our friends at BOYLE Sports offering an extra place. Haydock is not a track with a notable need to be on the speed, but I do fear the favourite Night Raider the most to our chances given his gate speed. If he breaks as quickly as he has in the past and gets into an outright lead, he could be hard to peg back.

Asfoora often takes a run to come to herself and so off the back of her poor showing in the Palace House at Newmarket last time out I'd expect her to be markedly better, but her penalty won't help and the same goes for ten year old Khaadem who has 9st10 to lug around. The old boy runs well whenever he wants these days and is not without a chance if there is a real pace burn up and the race sets up for stalkers, but Mgheera is a standout bet to my eye and probably is my strongest fancy of the day.

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Racing Tips Today - Friday 22nd May 2026

2026-05-22T08:27:34+01:00

Friday brings a busy mix of Flat and jumps racing, with afternoon cards at Haydock, Goodwood and Bath before Worcester, Pontefract and Downpatrick take the action into the evening. Racing tips today, 22 May, are headed by the latest NAPs table leaders, with Haydock featuring prominently among the most interesting selections on the board.

Today’s NAPs Table – Top 3

The NAPs table has a familiar competitive look going into Friday’s action, with Matt Polley still leading the way after a profitable spell. His pick comes in the 5.15 at Haydock, while the second-placed Newmarket and third-placed Farringdon both have selections that could shake up the leaderboard if results go their way later today.

Tipster	NAP	Race/Time	Odds	P&L £
Matt Polley (Ipswich Star)	Alkumatic Jo Jo	Haydock - 17:15	12/1	£25.71
Newmarket (Racing Post)	Sky Majesty	Haydock - 14:55	14/5	£13.22
Farringdon (Morning Star)	Playful Fox	Worcester - 20:41	4/1	£12.38

NAPs Table

Templegate & Other Big-Name NAPs

The national newspaper tipsters also have their Friday selections in, with Templegate siding with a Haydock runner, Robin Goodfellow heading to Goodwood and Newsboy looking to Bath. Their NAPs add another layer of interest to a day where the afternoon Flat action leads into a busy evening programme.

Templegate - Sky Majesty, Haydock 14:55
Robin Goodfellow - Naqeeb, Goodwood 16:17
Newsboy - Tilani, Bath 18:15

Racing News Round-Up

Venetian Sun set for Sandy Lane Stakes test: Karl Burke says he retains “100% faith” in Venetian Sun as she drops back in trip for Saturday’s Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock. The Group 1-winning juvenile disappointed in the 1000 Guineas, but Burke believes the mile stretched her and expects sprinting to bring her back into her comfort zone, with the Commonwealth Cup still firmly on the radar.
Maltese Cross on course for Derby bid: William Haggas has confirmed Maltese Cross is likely to take his chance in the Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday 6 June. The Lingfield Derby Trial winner is unbeaten in two starts since stepping up to 10 furlongs, and Haggas says the colt “stays”, has a good mind and is “worth his place” in what he views as an open Classic.

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Racing Tips Today - Thursday 21st May 2026

2026-05-21T08:10:11+01:00

Thursday’s racing has a busy feel to it, with afternoon Flat action from Haydock, Catterick and Musselburgh before the evening cards at Southwell and Chepstow keep things rolling. We’ve picked out the leading NAPs from today’s table, plus the headline selections from Templegate, Robin Goodfellow and Newsboy, before rounding up the key racing angles to note.

Today’s NAPs Table – Top 3

The NAPs table has a clear shape heading into Thursday’s racing, with Matt Polley sitting top of the pile after a strong start to the current competition. His selection comes at Southwell this evening, while Newmarket and Farringdon also feature in the top three with runners at Southwell and Haydock respectively.

Tipster	NAP	Race/Time	Odds	P&L £
Matt Polley (Ipswich Star)	J Street	Southwell - 17:57	9/2	£26.71
Newmarket (Racing Post)	Royal Fanfare	Southwell - 19:00	4/5	£14.22
Farringdon (Morning Star)	Showtown	Haydock - 16:38	7/1	£13.38

NAPs Table

Templegate & Other Big-Name NAPs

There are also some familiar names to keep an eye on away from the main table, with Templegate, Robin Goodfellow and Newsboy all putting up their best bets for the day. Their selections are spread across Catterick, Haydock and Musselburgh, giving punters a decent mix of afternoon targets.

Templegate - Velvet Rhythm, 17:27 Catterick, 11/10
Robin Goodfellow - Trilby, 17:13 Haydock, 13/8
Newsboy - Spirit Catcher, 17:00 Musselburgh, 5/2

Racing News Round-Up

Haydock ground could be a major factor: Haydock’s afternoon card is being run on soft ground, which gives the meeting a different complexion and could put the emphasis on proven stamina rather than pure speed. The 15:30 handicap is one race where conditions and draw position may both be worth noting.
Irish Guineas weekend moves into focus: The Curragh’s Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas is now firmly on the horizon, with 13 runners listed for Saturday’s Group 1 over a mile. It adds a proper Classic backdrop to the end of the week as the Flat season continues to build momentum.

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Paddy Power Villa Offer: Get 50/1 for Aston Villa to beat Freiburg (in 90 mins)

2026-05-20T18:15:02+01:00

Paddy Power is offering brand new customers enhanced 50/1 odds on Aston Villa to beat Freiburg in Wednesday night’s Europa League final. The promotion is available on the Match Odds market and gives eligible users the opportunity to back Unai Emery’s side at significantly boosted odds with a maximum £1 stake before kick-off.

Regular winnings are paid in cash, while the enhanced portion of the return is awarded as Free Bet Builder credits. For football fans searching for bookmaker welcome offers, football betting promotions or enhanced odds specials, this deal is one of the standout offers available ahead of the final in Istanbul.

What Is The Paddy Power Freiburg vs Aston Villa 50/1 Offer?

The offer applies to the Match Odds market for Freiburg vs Aston Villa on Wednesday, May 20th. New customers can place up to £1 on Aston Villa to win the match at enhanced 50/1 odds rather than the normal market price.

For the bet to settle as a winner, Aston Villa must win during normal time. Extra time and penalty shootouts are not included for settlement purposes.

Paddy Power’s enhanced odds promotions split the payout into two separate parts:

Winnings at the standard market price are paid as cash
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How To Claim The Paddy Power Aston Villa Offer

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Freiburg vs Aston Villa Match Preview

Aston Villa are strong favourites to win tonight's final after a season where they are already guaranteed Champions League football for next year via their guaranteed fourth or fifth placed position in the Premier League. Freiburg - who finished seventh in the Bundesliga - arrive in Istanbul for the biggest match in their history having never won a major trophy in their 121 year existence.

Villa - who could end a 30 year wait for a major trophy - are 7/10 to win in 90 minutes making this 50/1 offer look extremely generous. They have scored four goals in four of their last eight matches and six of the last eight have featured more than three total goals. Freiburg meanwhile have been pretty free scoring in this competition themselves but have also leaked goals at the other end. Both teams have scored in eight of Freiburg's last nine matches.

This is set up to be an entertaining clash with Villa the side expected to triumph.

Paddy Power Free Bet Builders Explained

The enhanced portion of the winnings is paid as Free Bet Builder credits instead of withdrawable cash.

Bet Builders allow customers to combine multiple selections from the same game into a single wager. Examples include:

Aston Villa to win
Both teams to score
Over 8 match corners

As with most free bet promotions, the free stake itself is not included in the final payout.

For example, a successful £10 free bet at evens would return £10 profit rather than £20 in total returns.

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Racing Tips Today - Wednesday 20th May 2026

2026-05-20T08:24:38+01:00

Six meetings are scheduled for Wednesday with Scottish flat racing at Ayr, two afternoon jumps fixtures at Warwick and Ffos Las, and an evening of action across Kempton's all-weather, Yarmouth's turf and Gowran Park in Ireland. Forty-one races in all so lets run through what the tipsters are backing today.

Today’s NAPs Table – Top 3

The Ipswich Star's Matt Polley maintains his commanding lead in the season-long competition with +£27.71 to level stakes, going in today on Billy Mill in Kempton's 19:30. The Racing Post's Newmarket man sits second on +£15.22 thanks to an 11-8 record with four current non-runners, his pick today being the juvenile Easy Answer at Yarmouth. Farringdon of the Morning Star rounds out the top three on +£14.38 and a current two-NAP winning streak, opposing the favoured runners in the Ayr 15:42 with Degale.

Tipster	NAP	Race/Time	Odds	P&L £
Matt Polley (Ipswich Star)	Billy Mill	Kempton 19:30	10/1	£27.71
Newmarket (Racing Post)	Easy Answer	Yarmouth 18:10	17/2	£15.22
Farringdon (Morning Star)	Degale	Ayr 15:42	7/1	£14.38

NAPs Table

Templegate & Other Big-Name NAPs

The big-name tipsters are spread fairly evenly across all six meetings, with The Sun's Templegate joining a four-strong group on Pearl Eye in Ayr's mid-afternoon handicap. Newsboy goes evening on Solanna at Yarmouth, while Robin Goodfellow opens the Yarmouth juvenile card with Bassrah.

Templegate (The Sun) NAP: Pearl Eye, Ayr 14:42 (9/4)
Newsboy (Daily Mirror) NAP: Solanna, Yarmouth 18:40 (9/2)
Robin Goodfellow (Daily Mail) NAP: Bassrah, Yarmouth 18:10 (7/2)

Racing News Round-Up

Aidan O'Brien has revealed that his two star three-year old fillies - True Love and Precise - are set to clash in the Irish 1000 Guineas on Sunday giving Ryan Moore a difficult choice on which one to ride.
The Gambling Commission is expected to sign off on the introduction of controversial affordability checks for punters this week.
The BHA are calling for extra vigilence from trainers as the Equine Flu outbreak continues to spread around Britain. No cases have yet been found in a racing yard.

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Paddy Power Chelsea v Spurs Offer: Get 50/1 For A Goal Being Scored

2026-05-19T18:10:01+01:00

Paddy Power is giving new customers the chance to back Over 0.5 Goals at enhanced 50/1 odds for Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night.

The promotion is centred around one of the most straightforward football betting markets available, requiring just one goal to be scored during normal time for the selection to win.

Available to new customers only, the deal allows a maximum £1 stake before kick-off. Winnings at the standard market price are paid in cash, while the enhanced portion of the return is awarded as Free Bet Builder credits.

For punters searching for Premier League betting offers, football odds boosts or low-risk sportsbook promotions, this is one of the standout deals available ahead of the London derby.

What Is The Paddy Power Chelsea vs Spurs 50/1 Offer?

The offer applies to the “Over 0.5 Goals” market in Chelsea vs Spurs on Tuesday, May 19th.

Over 0.5 Goals is among the simplest football betting selections. The bet wins if at least one goal is scored during the 90 minutes plus injury time. Goals scored in extra time are not relevant.

Eligible new customers can place a maximum £1 single bet on the market at boosted odds of 50/1 instead of the regular price.

In practical terms, the wager is successful if either Chelsea or Tottenham score at any point during the match — whether from open play, penalties, set-pieces, deflections or own goals.

As with many Paddy Power enhanced odds promotions, the payout is split into two parts:

Standard market winnings are paid as cash
The additional enhanced winnings are paid as Free Bet Builder bets

That distinction is important because free bet stakes are not returned with winnings. It is a key detail many bettors miss when comparing bookmaker welcome offers and football betting promotions.

How To Claim The Paddy Power Chelsea v Spurs Offer

To qualify for the promotion, customers must:

Open a new Paddy Power account
Deposit using an eligible payment method
Place a pre-match £1 maximum single bet on Over 0.5 Goals

Eligible payment methods include:

Debit cards
Pay by Bank
Apple Pay

The promotion excludes:

In-play betting
Multiple bets and accumulators
Existing customers

Free Bet Builder credits remain valid for 30 days before expiring automatically if unused.

Chelsea vs Spurs Match Preview

A crucial London Derby for Tottenham as they fight for their Premier League future. A win would guarantee survival whilst a draw should be good enough given their superior goal difference compared to West Ham.

Chelsea arrive on the back of a narrow FA Cup final defeat to Man City but a win against London rivals, Spurs, would certainly go a long way towards putting a smile back on supporters faces.

New Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has certainly instilled some more fight into the Lilywhites who are unbeaten in four whilst Chelsea will need to wait until next season before their new manager Xabi Alonso is in the dugout. Chelsea have lost 9 of their last 12 matches and now sit tenth outside of the European places.

While predicting the exact outcome may prove difficult, a single goal is all that is needed for this Paddy Power promotion to land — making the enhanced 50/1 price particularly eye-catching for new customers.

Paddy Power Free Bet Builders Explained

The enhanced element of the payout is awarded as Free Bet Builder bets rather than withdrawable cash.

Bet Builders allow users to combine several selections from the same match into one wager. Examples include:

Chelsea to win
Both teams to score
Over 9 corners

Free bets operate differently from cash stakes because the original stake is not included in the return.

For example, a successful £10 free bet at evens would return £10 profit rather than £20 in total returns.

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What is a Clean Sheet in Football?

2026-05-19T09:22:33+01:00

A Clean Sheet refers to a team completing a match without conceding a single goal and, while good fortune will always play its part in that, it is a decent measure of a team's defensive prowess.

And inevitably, in these days of ever-growing sport books, it also adds up to a betting opportunity that seems to be popular.

How Does a Clean Sheet Work?

A Clean Sheet is defined by a team - and/or a goalkeeper - not conceding a goal in a game.

When is a Clean Sheet Officially Recorded?

Most bets are settled using 90-minute rule betting, which includes regulation time and any stoppage time plated. A Clean Sheet is officially recorded on the full-time whistle of any game.

Extra time and penalties are generally excluded so if you have backed Arsenal to keep a clean sheet in a Champions League tie against Inter Milan and the score finishes 0-0 at full-time, 1-1 after extra time and 5-4 on penalties to either side, the Clean Sheet bet is normally paid out as a win.

If Liverpool beat Everton 2-0, Liverpool have kept a Clean Sheet, Everton have not. If Liverpool win the game 2-1, neither side has kept a Clean Sheet.

Clean Sheet Betting Markets Explained

The simplest way to play a Clean Sheet market is to bet on a Team to Keep A Clean Sheet - Yes/No. In a match between Chelsea and Fulham, Chelsea might be 7/4 to Keep a Clean Sheet and 2/5 Not to Keep a Clean sheet.

A traditionally more popular - and more nuanced - bet is Both Teams to Score - Yes/No. In that same game between Chelsea and Fulham, Both Teams to Score might be a 1/2 chance, Both Teams Not to Score 6/4. Backing the latter - ie Both Teams Not to Score - in this market means only one team needs to keep a Clean Sheet.

Accumulators have become more and more popular and if bettors decide that they like, for example, three teams in three different matches to keep a Clean Sheet, they could back all three in a clean sheet accumulator, the upside being potentially higher returns, the downside if it's a straight three-fold is that only one team not keeping a Clean Sheet wrecks the bet.

Another specific market is Win to Nil or Team A (or B) To Win and Keep a Clean sheet. Clearly both eventualities - the win and the Clean Sheet, so 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 and so on - need to happen.

Strategic Factors for Clean Sheet Betting

As with all bets, sensible players will only bet on Clean Sheets if they have a strong view about a game or feel the sports book's odds are wrong.

There are many things to consider, with form clearly being significant. If a team has kept three successive shutouts in football, they are surely defending well.

Punters may also look at xGA (expected goals against), a blunt metric given the number of confounders, but an occasionally useful tool to understand how many decent chances teams restrict opponents to.

The stats will tell you home advantage is important in any football bet and Clean Sheets would be no different, though usually the prices will reflect that advantage.

It pays to understand the goalscoring weaponry of an opponent while gauging, for example, whether a match between a counter-attacking side against a team who press from the front throws up a possible bet. Is there previous form between two sides with those characteristics to help make a case either for or against a Clean Sheet?

And, of course, team news must be factored in. If Newcastle are shorn of their entire first-choice defence, they would in theory be less likely to keep a Clean Sheet.

Are There Any Drawbacks to Clean Sheet Betting?

There are drawbacks in Clean Sheet betting as much as any other bet because of the nature of football. Arsenal can be defending superbly against Crystal Palace and set for a Clean Sheet when one moment of brilliance from Palace, one error from Arsenal, and one goal undoes all the good work.

There is more added time in matches these days, as well, with referees under instruction to play on to prevent time wasting and again, that means more opportunities for goals.

How Do I Place a Clean Sheet Bet?

Under any match on a sports book there should be markets - usually under a 'goals' tab - along the lines of To Keep a Clean Sheet Yes/No. That is where you will also find Both Teams to Score Yes/No or Teams to Win to Nil, though those markets might also be on the front page of any match.

Simply tap the preferred option, indicate a stake, place the bet and wait for the game to start.

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Racing Tips Today - Tuesday 19th May 2026

2026-05-19T09:11:27+01:00

Six meetings take place on Tuesday with three afternoon flat fixtures at Lingfield, Nottingham and Newcastle, plus Cork's flat card across the Irish Sea. Hexham and Huntingdon take the evening jumps shift with 42 races in all taking place on a busy day of action. Here we round up the tips from the naps table, the most popular selections from the newspaper experts and give a round up of the key racing news.

Today’s NAPs Table – Top 3

The Ipswich Star's Matt Polley continues to dominate the season-long competition with +£28.71 to level stakes, going in on Capichera in the Nottingham 15:50. The Racing Post's Newmarket man sits second on +£15.22 thanks to a 11-8 record with three current non-runners, his pick today being Gold Digger in Newcastle's feature novice. The Guardian rounds out the top three on +£11.50, opposing the favoured Charlatan and Hengest crowd with No Gain in Lingfield's 15:40.

Tipster	NAP	Race/Time	Odds	P&L £
Matt Polley (Ipswich Star)	Capichera	Nottingham 15:50	5/2	£28.71
Newmarket (Racing Post)	Gold Digger	Newcastle 16:00	7/4	£15.22
The Guardian	No Gain	Lingfield 15:40	15/8	£11.50

NAPs Table

Templegate & Other Big-Name NAPs

The big-name tipsters have produced a striking consensus on Hengest in the Lingfield opener — seven of them are aligned there, including The Sun's Templegate, Racing TV's Dave Nevison, the Racing Post's RP Ratings, The Times' Rob Wright and the Yorkshire Evening Post's Lee Sobot (riding a 7-NAP current winning streak). Robin Goodfellow has a huge priced nap at Lingfield and the rest of the panel scatters across Newcastle and Nottingham.

Templegate (The Sun) NAP: Hengest, Lingfield 14:10 (4/7)
Newsboy (Daily Mirror) NAP: Lord Capulet, Newcastle 17:35 (11/4)
Robin Goodfellow (Daily Mail) NAP: Regal Guest, Lingfield 17:20 (50/1)

Racing News Round-Up

Hunter Chases have been cancelled across Britain as the BHA attempts to stop the spread of Equine Flu by preventing the mixing of horses from licensed and unlicensed yards.
Brian Meehan's filly, Esna, who won the Listed Fillies Trial at Newbury on Saturday will be aimed at the G1 Prix De Dianne at Chantilly rather than the Betfred Oaks.
Twilight Jet landed a monster gamble at Lingfield having been backed from 25/1 into 11/8.

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Sky Bet FA Cup Final Offer: Get 50/1 for Haaland to have a Shot on Target in Chelsea v Man City

2026-05-16T13:45:01+01:00

Sky Bet is offering brand new customers enhanced 50/1 odds on Erling Haaland to have at least one shot on target during Chelsea vs Manchester City in the FA Cup Final at Wembley.

The promotion is available on a maximum £1 qualifying stake and applies only to pre-match singles on the specified market. Standard winnings are paid normally, while the enhanced portion of the offer is awarded as Free Bets. For football bettors looking for FA Cup betting offers, player specials or enhanced odds promotions, this is one of the headline bookmaker deals available ahead of kick-off.

What Is The Sky Bet Haaland 50/1 Offer?

The offer applies to the “Haaland 1+ Shots on Target” market for Chelsea vs Manchester City. The selection wins if the Manchester City striker records at least one effort on target during normal time.

A shot on target is typically defined as any attempt that would have gone into the net if not stopped by the goalkeeper or blocked by a last-line defender. Shots that hit the woodwork generally do not count unless officially recorded as on target.

New customers can place a £1 qualifying single bet on the market at enhanced odds of 50/1 rather than the regular price.

Given Haaland’s role as City’s main attacking outlet and his tendency to average multiple efforts per game, the market is expected to attract strong interest from punters ahead of the final.

How To Claim The Sky Bet FA Cup Final Offer

To qualify for the promotion, customers must:

Register a new Sky Bet account
Deposit a minimum of £5
Place a £1 single bet on the “Haaland 1+ Shots on Target” market before kick-off

The offer is restricted to first qualifying bets only and is not available to existing customers.

Successful qualifying bets trigger the following reward:

5 x £10 Free Bet tokens

The free bets are valid exclusively on Football BuildABet markets.

Key terms include:

Free bet stakes are not returned with winnings
Free bets cannot be withdrawn as cash
Tokens expire after 14 days if unused
Eligibility restrictions and full terms apply

Chelsea vs Manchester City FA Cup Final Preview

Manchester City head into the FA Cup Final once again relying heavily on Erling Haaland’s goalscoring threat.

The Norwegian striker remains one of the most dangerous forwards in world football and rarely goes through a full match without testing the goalkeeper at least once. Even in tighter contests against elite opposition, City’s style of play consistently creates opportunities for their number nine inside the penalty area.

Chelsea, meanwhile, have improved defensively during the second half of the season but face a difficult challenge containing City’s movement and attacking quality over 90 minutes.

With Wembley expected to host an open and competitive final, Haaland should see opportunities to register an effort on target — whether from inside the box, set-pieces or fast attacking transitions.

Considering only a single shot on target is required, the enhanced 50/1 price is likely to appeal to both casual bettors and those looking to take advantage of bookmaker welcome offers for the final.

How Sky Bet Free Bets Work

The enhanced element of the promotion is paid as free bets rather than cash winnings.

In this case, qualifying customers receive five separate £10 Free Bet tokens that can be used on Football BuildABet wagers. BuildABets allow users to combine multiple selections from the same game into one bet slip.

For example:

Manchester City to win
Haaland to score anytime
Both teams to score

As with most sportsbook free bet promotions, the original free stake is not included in any returns. For instance, a successful £10 free bet at odds of evens would return £10 profit rather than £20 in total.

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Paddy Power FA Cup Final Offer: Get 50/1 For A Goal in Chelsea v Man City (90mins)

2026-05-16T13:32:00+01:00

Paddy Power has launched a new customer promotion for the FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester City, with enhanced 50/1 odds available on Over 0.5 Goals. The offer focuses on one of the simplest football betting selections available — requiring just a single goal to be scored during normal time.

New users can place a maximum £1 stake on the market before kick-off. Standard returns are paid in cash, while the additional boosted winnings are awarded as Free Bet Builder tokens. For anyone searching for FA Cup bookmaker offers, football odds boosts or beginner-friendly betting promotions, this deal is likely to attract plenty of attention ahead of Wembley’s showpiece event.

What Is Paddy Power’s Chelsea vs Man City 50/1 Promotion?

The enhanced odds apply to the “Over 0.5 Goals” market in Chelsea vs Manchester City in the FA Cup Final. This market wins if there is at least one goal scored during the 90 minutes plus added time. Goals scored in extra time or a penalty shootout are not included.

Eligible new customers can back the selection with stakes up to £1 at the special 50/1 price instead of the standard odds.

Effectively, the bet lands if either team scores at any point in normal time — whether from open play, a free-kick, penalty, corner, deflection or own goal.

The payout structure differs slightly from a standard cash-only promotion:

Winnings based on the regular market odds are paid as cash
The boosted portion of the return is credited as Free Bet Builder bonuses

This is worth noting because free bets generally return profit only, without including the original stake. It’s an important detail that many punters miss when comparing sportsbook welcome offers and football betting deals.

How To Claim The Paddy Power FA Cup Final Offer

To take advantage of the promotion, customers need to:

Register a new Paddy Power account
Make a deposit using a qualifying payment method
Place a pre-match bet of up to £1 on Over 0.5 Goals

Accepted payment methods include:

Debit Card
Pay by Bank
Apple Pay

The following are excluded from the promotion:

Live or in-play bets
Accumulators and multiples
Existing Paddy Power customers

Any Free Bet Builder rewards credited as part of the offer will remain active for 30 days before expiring if unused.

Chelsea vs Manchester City FA Cup Final Preview

Chelsea and Manchester City meet under the Wembley arch with silverware on the line in one of the biggest fixtures of the English football calendar.

Pep Guardiola’s side arrive as favourites after another impressive campaign where a domestic treble is still on the line after their victory in the League Cup and their position just behind Arsenal in the Premier League. The Citizens have the upper hand over Chelsea in recent years having won 10 and drawn 3 since Chelsea's last victory over them back in 2021. They have however lost the last two FA Cup finals with Palace upsetting the odds last year and Man Utd in 2024.

Chelsea haven't really experienced the upturn in fortunes they would have hoped when Liam Rosenior was sacked and they arrive here looking to salvage a disastrous campaign. It would be a brave punter to back them to win this one though and Man City certainly look very worthy favourites to lift the trophy they last won in 2023.

How Paddy Power Free Bet Builders Work

The boosted element of the winnings is paid as Free Bet Builder credits instead of cash that can immediately be withdrawn.

Bet Builders allow users to combine several selections from the same fixture into one wager. Examples include:

Manchester City to win
Both Teams To Score
Over 8 match corners

It is important to remember that free bets do not return the original stake as part of the payout. For example, a successful £10 free bet at evens would return £10 profit rather than £20 in total returns.

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ITV Racing Tips: Tips For Saturday 16th May At Newbury & Newmarket

2026-05-15T17:31:21+01:00

Saturday's ITV action comes from Newbury and Newmarket with the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes the highlight at 2:35pm. Joe Napier has studied the cards and found four bets including one in the feature.

14:35 Newbury - BOYLE Sports Lockinge Stakes (Group 1)

Charlie Appleby desperately needs a winner, meaning that Notable Speech is available at odds miles too big for the Lockinge. He is one of the more underrated talents in recent seasons. When the five-year-old puts it all together, he is very difficult to beat, as evidenced when he stormed away with the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar in November. He met too much trouble in running in Europe last season, which possibly cost him victory at Royal Ascot and Deauville. In this race, he was unlucky with the draw, ultimately losing to two horses down the centre when he was drawn closest to the near-side. As it happens, his greatest misfortune had not occurred yet, but did at Keeneland in April when completely luckless in the USA's Maker's Mark Mile Stakes. Nevertheless, he demonstrated he still has plenty of his 2000 Guineas winning ability and that run should have him more fit to fire in this contest. With a better draw in stall 3, he is overpriced to win and even returns each-way at current odds.

14:50 Newmarket - Read Meg Nicholls' Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap

Andrew Balding's horses are proving tricky to beat at present, but on their recent form here, Silver Ghost could well overturn running with Golden Redemption. There was only half-a-length between them when second and third to Billyjoh. Golden Redemption was slightly hampered by the winner, but the first two home raced up the more advantageous part of the track. Silver Ghost, meanwhile, was closer to the far rail, which may have blunted his finish slightly. He now meets the runner-up on 3lb better terms, which is substantial given how little ground was between them. The selection is only 4lb above his last winning mark from last summer now despite running consistent races the last thrice. In that time, he has dropped 4lb and with the handicapper giving him that chance, he may now strike.

15:10 Newbury - Highclere Castle Gin Carnarvon Stakes (Listed)

This is judgement day for Albert Einstein, but race conditions should ensure he passes the test. Well-held over 7f the last twice, the drop back to 6f has looked the move since the start of the campaign. He actually ran respectably here over 7f in the Greenham takes. The early shoots of that form are positive enough and he was only three-quarters-of-a-length behind Group 1 winner Zavateri that day. Given he is almost certainly a more natural sprinter, there are few excuses for him not to win here as he has a fitness edge over main market rival Royal Fixation and gets 5lb from out-of-form Charlie Appleby's Wise Approach. Anything but success is unacceptable. Fortunately, he should be accepted into the winners' enclosure.

15:45 Newbury - Trade Nation London Gold Cup Handicap

The absence of My Love Is King has opened the London Gold Cup up significantly. It is possible that even if the Gosden runner had competed that Al Azd may have proven too progressive. The son of Dubawi was too raw as a juvenile, but he began 2026 strongly. Three successive seconds did include a turnover at 30/100, but after getting off the mark at Southwell, he relished the return to turf at Doncaster, cruising through from the back of the field to win by a little under four lengths on handicap debut. He has gone up 7lb for that success, which came over 1m4f and he will have to cope with the drop back to 1m2f, over which he kept finishing as the runner-up. It looked like he had turned a corner at Doncaster though and he can keep improving to win this notoriously competitive contest.

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ITV Racing Tips: Best Bets For Day 3 Of York Dante Festival

2026-05-14T17:30:02+01:00

It's the third and final day of York's Dante Festival on Friday 15 May. The feature race of the day is the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup, which has attracted a strong field of stayers. Five races on the Knavesmire will take place in front of the ITV Racing cameras. Steve Chambers previews all the live action and picks out his best bets during the afternoon...

14:20 York - Sky Bet Fillies' Stakes

A cracking listed event kicks off the live action at York, with seven smart fillies bidding for glory in the 14.20 contest. Plenty line up with taking wins on their CV already, but the one that can improve the most and land victory here is Synchronicity for Ed Walker and Kieran Shoemark. The daughter of Night Of Thunder cost a whopping 900,000gns and is a sister to top-class, proven Group 1 winner Ombudsman.

She won impressively on debut at Newbury, where she stormed to a two-length success. That form has been franked with several of her beaten rivals going on to win following that contest and she certainly dealt with those contenders in style. This is a notable step up in class, but she's entitled to take her chance and could be the one that turns into a possible Coronation Stakes filly, which is a Group 1 contest run at Royal Ascot next month.

The likes of So Regal, Fashion People and Lilt all look exciting fillies, but it's the Walker filly that can shine brightest in this intriguing race.

14:55 York - Support Macmillan Charity Raceday On 13 June Handicap

Hugely impressive last time out at Newcastle, Warrant Holder looks to be a handicapper on a rapid incline and is entitled to be market leader for the 14.55 at York. However, the John & Thady Gosden-trained improver will need to defy a 10lbs rise in a hotter contest, so could be worth taking on. York form is often valued and the winner of this race 12 months ago Thunder Run can duly deliver the goods once again on Friday.

Karl Burke's charge edged out Tony Montana in this race in 2025, and that pair do battle again here. Thunder Run often struggled following his win here, but that does mean he's dropped back down the handicap for this contest. Now rated 100, he's back to last year's winning mark, so he has to be respected. He will have top weight in this contest, but it's often his second run of the season that brings about his best performance on the track.

He blew the cobwebs away last month at Kempton when last of seven, but this will certainly have been the target at the start of the campaign, and the five-year-old can retain his crown.

15:30 York - Design Tonic Out Of This World Spaces At The Races EBF Marygate Fillies' Stakes

Amo Racing will unleash two smart fillies in the 15.30 race, with both Lady Blanche and Lover Girl looking very smart prospects. The latter is the pick of David Egan and the unbeaten daughter of Gregorian has shaped like she could be very smart. She was very green when winning at Wolverhampton on debut, but she improved on that effort next time out when landing a Salisbury conditions event.

She made all the running that day and she could look to dominate this contest in similar fashion. Easing down that day, she still nearly won by two lengths, so there's plenty more to come from her. Princess D'Orange could be her main danger and the once-raced filly was another that dominated on the front end on her impressive four-length win last time out.

The pair are likely to be battling it out for the lead through the early stages of this contest, and could well pull clear of their rivals. However, with more experience on her side Lover Girl can maintain her 100% record on the track for Kevin Phillipart De Foy and this listed event.

16:05 York - Boodles Yorkshire Cup Stakes

Wins in the Cocked Hat Stakes and King George VII Stakes last season propelled Amiloc into the upper echelons of middle distance three-year-olds. Runner-up in the Irish St Leger, he then went and finished a fine fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf in the United States. Now set for his hotly-anticipated return in the Yorkshire Cup at 16.05, the Ralph Beckett-trained raider looks the one they have to beat.

A real top notch performer over one-mile-and-a-half, the son of Postponed will look to sparkle over 1m 6f in Friday's event, but he showed he stayed that trip in the Irish St Leger. He will face some notable rivals in this event, with Rahiebb and Epic Poet looking two of the main dangers, but Amiloc is the proven class act in this contest. He holds a Coronation Cup entry, so could look to be using this as a stepping stone, but if he can emulate his Royal Ascot win of last season then he's surely too good for his rivals here.

He's relatively short in the betting for this event, but it certainly lacks any significant strength in depth and Beckett's charge can duly outclass his rivals and use this victory as a stepping stone to bigger things later in the year.

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What Does Bar Mean in Horse Racing?

2026-05-14T09:51:31+01:00

The term 'Bar' in horse racing represents the minimum odds available for all horses not individually listed in the betting forecast. Bar acts as a shorthand for "barring" or "except, meaning all horses not explicitly named in the list of top favourites are available at the stated odds or higher.

How is the 'Bar' Price Determined, Displayed, and What are its Variations?

Bookmakers identify the top contenders of a horse race and list their prices individually. The remaining horses which are considered less likely to win, are then grouped together. The 'Bar' price is set at the lowest odds the bookmaker is willing to offer for any of these unlisted horses.

For example, if a "20/1 bar" is offered, some outsiders may actually be 25/1, 33/1, or higher. If "4/1 bar two" is offered, this means that there are two horses shorter than 4/1 in the market. By the same token, you will also see "bar three" being offered, meaning there are three horses shorter than the advertised price. Bar prices can be displayed at boards on the course, in bookmaker shops.

How Does 'Bar' Compare to Other Essential Horse Racing Betting Terms?

Term	Definition	Contextual Usage	Relevance to 'Bar'
Bar	A betting-market term meaning all other selections except those specifically mentioned	Used by bookmakers to summarise the market quickly without listing every runner individually	“Bar” acts as a dividing line between the leading contenders and the rest of the field.
Field	Refers to all participants collectively in a race or event. Example: “The field consists of 14 runners.”	Common in horse racing. Punters may back “the field” against one strong favourite.	“Bar” often separates named runners from the remainder of the field
Favourite	The horse with the shortest odds, indicating the bookmaker considers it most likely to win.	“Horse A is the 2/1 favourite.” Favourites attract heavy betting attention and often dominate market discussion.	Usually appears before the “bar.” Example: “2/1 favourite, 5/1 second favourite, 8/1 bar.”
Outsider	A horse considered to have a low chance of winning, reflected in long odds. Also called a “longshot.”	Example: “The outsider won at 50/1.” Outsiders typically attract speculative or value betting.	Outsiders are often included “in the bar.” Example: if the market says “12/1 bar,” most outsiders are among those priced at 12/1 or bigger.
Starting Price (SP)	The official odds of a runner at the moment the event starts. Determined by market conditions and bookmaker prices at the off.	Used when punters choose “SP” instead of taking fixed odds earlier. Example: “Backed at SP and returned 7/2.”	“Bar” descriptions can change before SP. A horse quoted in the “bar” earlier may shorten into the main market by SP time.
Ante-post	Betting placed well before the event takes place, often days, weeks, or months in advance. Odds are fixed when the bet is struck.	Common in major horse races. Example: betting on the Cheltenham Gold Cup in November	Ante-post markets frequently use “bar” to summarise broad pricing. Example: “8/1 bar” in an early market indicates only a few serious contenders are shorter than 8/1

When is Understanding 'Bar' Most Advantageous for Punters?

Here is when understanding the bar is most advantageous:

Value Outsiders

When a 'Bar' price is offered, for example 20/1, it means any horse not listed in the market is at least that price. In the list not shown, great value can be found as those horses are generally not considered to be in with a good chance.

"Early Price" and "Starting Price"

Taking the 'bar' into account on the early markets allows punters to take a good price before they shorten and eventually possibly go off at much shorter odds. The key takeaway is if a race says '10/1 bar', make sure you look at the horses that aren't listed also.

Navigating Large Fields

In some large fields, some of the favourites can be a very short price, particularly in maidens or top-class events. Understanding what 'bar' means can be very advantageous as again these are the forgotten horses in the race and may provide good value.

Are There Any Common Misconceptions or Nuances Regarding the 'Bar' Term?

There are several common misconceptions and nuances regarding the term 'Bar' in horse racing betting. The main one is that all bar horses have the same odds which simply isn't true. If a bookmaker shouts 20/1 bar the field, all of the remaining horses are not 20/1. Some may offer much bigger odds.

Another misconception is that it's a bet on the field which again is not the case. It is a description of the price against the unnamed field. Some people are led to believe that 'Bar' means 'Below' but it is just the cut-off point rather than meaning the odds are below a certain price.

How Can a Solid Grasp of 'Bar' Enhance Your Horse Racing Betting Strategy?

A good grasp of the 'Bar Price' is very important. It identifies value and market sentiment and can be a great tool for your betting strategy, offering ways into good each-way bets particularly in large fields where bookmakers might only focus on less than half of the field. It should empower you to make smarter choices and find better odds.

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What are Non-Runners in Horse Racing?

2026-05-14T09:43:13+01:00

A non-runner is a horse that was initially entered into a horse race but was withdrawn before the start of the race, meaning the horse will no longer participate. There are many reasons as to why this will happen. It can happen a day before the race, an hour before the race or even seconds before a race begins, so it is very important to keep on top of the live information.

There is a big difference between a horse declared as a non-runner after the final declarations have been made, and a horse withdrawn from a race in the ante-post markets days or weeks before the event. Only withdrawals after final declarations are officially classed as non-runners from a betting perspective.

For example, Marine Nationale was one of the ante-post market leaders for the 2026 Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival for most of the season. The race was on the 11th of March. However, Barry Connell withdrew him from the race on the 3rd of March due to a sore neck. It must be noted that this is not considered a non-runner as the final declarations weren't made. Final declarations are typically 48 hours before a race.

Why Do Horses Become Non-Runners?

There are many reasons why horses become non-runners:

1. Ground Conditions (Going)

Horses are all bred differently. Some are bred to enjoy a fast surface whereas some are built to enjoy the mud more. A horse may be declared a non-runner if the ground does not suit the horse. A perfect example of this was when odds-on favourite Fact To File was a late non-runner in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2026 as his trainer Willie Mullins was not happy with the ground.

2. Injury Or Illness

This is the most common reason for declaring a horse as a non-runner. If connections feel that the horse is not 100% fit, is carrying an injury, or is sick, then the horse will not participate.

3. Travel Issues

Horses will be transported to the racecourse via a horse box on the main roads the majority of the time. Often, they can run into delays due to traffic problems or a crash on the road which means they cannot get to the track on time.

4. Administrative Or Licensing Issues

People are human and sometimes the paperwork hasn't been filled out correctly or a horse may not be eligible to run in a race. This can lead to a horse being declared a non-runner. A horse also may not be eligible to run in a race as he may have won a maiden the day before and is now no longer eligible to run in a maiden the day after as he/she has now won a race.

5. Other Reasons

Horses can get very worked up before a race and can often get upset in the stalls. This can lead to their withdrawal. Stewards and vets also have the power to declare a horse as a non-runner last minute due to safety or health concerns.

How Do Non-Runners Affect Your Horse Racing Bets?

Non-runners can have a big impact on bets placed and it is important to know this information:

Single Bets

In most cases, you will receive a full refund of your money.

Multiples (Accumulators, Lucky 15s etc)

The non-runner leg is voided, and the bet rolls onto the remaining selections.

Ante-Post Bets

These are usually settled as a loss unless a "Non-Runner No Bet" (NRNB) promotion was in effect.

What is Rule 4 and How Does it Work with Non-Runners?

If a horse has been withdrawn from a race after the final declarations, a Rule 4 deduction can apply to your bet on another horse in the race depending on the price you took. This is for fairness and to ensure the odds are more balanced after the withdrawal.

Non-Runner Odds (at withdrawal)	Rule 4 Deduction (pence per £1)
1/9 or shorter	90p
2/11 to 2/17	85p
1/4 to 1/5	80p
1/3 to 2/7	75p
2/5 to 1/3	70p
8/15 to 4/9	65p
8/13 to 4/7	60p
4/6 to 2/3	55p
10/11 to 5/6	50p
Evens to 6/5	45p
5/4 to 6/4	40p
13/8 to 7/4	35p
9/4 to 5/2	30p
11/4 to 3/1	25p
10/3 to 4/1	20p
9/2 to 11/2	15p
6/1 to 9/1	10p
10/1 to 14/1	5p

How Do Non-Runners Impact Tote Bets and What is "Non-Runner No Bet" (NRNB)?

Non-runners on the Tote usually end up with a stake refund for single-leg bets (Win or Place), while multi-leg bets (Placepot, Quadpot, Jackpot) automatically transfer the stake to the Starting Price (SP) favourite. If there are joint-favourites, it becomes the horse with the lowest racecard number.

Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) means if your horse is withdrawn in either the ante-post market or after the final declaration stage, then your stake will be refunded.

What Strategic Considerations Should Punters Make Regarding Non-Runners?

In summary, it is vital to understand how non-runners work if you are a punter. If you are quick off the block after a non-runner, there may be value to be found in the market as the bookmakers are rushing to adjust their odds. Check the status of the race and use NRNB offers if they are available. Knowledge of these rules is vital for managing risk and maximising potential returns in horse racing betting.

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ITV Racing Tips: Tips For Day 2 Of York Dante Festival Including 40/1 Shot

2026-05-13T18:04:31+01:00

York's Dante meeting rolls onto day 2 on Thursday 14 May and five races on the Knavesmire will be screened live on ITV. Across the card - which features the eponymous contest of the meeting, the Group 2 Dante Stakes - Joe Napier provides his best bets, including one in the feature.

14:20 York - Lindum York Handicap

With form of 132 on the Knavesmire last season, Air Force One has proven a specialist at the track since joining Geoff Oldroyd. Only ninth on debut for the yard here last July, he had the widest draw that day, which often proves a disadvantage at this track. He was not beaten far though and made amends next time out, before twice being beaten less than a length in big-field handicaps at York over 5 1/2f in August and September. He finished his turf season well-beaten at Doncaster, but was running just six days after his previous run. Lesser efforts on the all-weather since are also easy to forgive, as he won on return at Beverley and was probably value to win by further as PJ McDonald was forced to wait for room. He is up only 2lb for that success, has what appears a good draw in stall 6, and should continue his progress at this track.

14:55 York - Oakmere Homes Hambleton Handicap

Sea Force has obvious chances after his eyecatching third in the Thirsk Hunt Cup. However, at a huge price, Thunder Roar is worth chancing. The seven-year-old may no longer be a natural improver and is only 2lb below his career high mark. That said, he was in the form of his life last autumn, finishing fourth at Ascot, winning at Ayr, then finishing second over course and distance off this rating of 98. The winner that day has since won a Listed race and finished placed at Group 2 level. That form has evidently been franked therefore and two runs this season are forgiven. He needed his first two starts of 2025 before being first past the post (disqualified for causing interference) in the Spring Mile at Doncaster. As such, down to a mark from which we know he can run well, and with any rain in the forecast no issue, he should outrun his odds even in spite of a wider than ideal draw.

16:05 York - Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes

Item could be anything, while Morshdi has proven himself smart enough to compete in a race of this level. His Newmarket form has taken some hefty hits since though, whereas Christmas Day's winning form at Leopardstown has only been boosted. Aidan O'Brien has gone a long time without winning the Dante Stakes, his last victory coming in 2010. This has not often been the Derby trial he has targeted the most, but the selection has the form to end that streak. He may still be down the Ballydoyle pecking order for Epsom, but his pack is stacked so immensely that Christmas Day may have the requisite class to come good here. He completed a hat-trick when winning the Ballysax Stakes on return. In behind that day were James J Braddock, Pierre Bonnard and Endorsement, who filled the first three places in Leopardstown's Derby Trial at the weekend. The son of Camelot carried a 3lb penalty when beating that trio last month and has improved stealthily with every start. The 1m2 1/2f trip is no issue for him and his can be the latest hat thrown into the Derby ring.

16:40 York - British Stallion Studs EBF Westlow Stakes

Revival Power looks dangerous on return and Manatee Mehmas could be anything after a startlingly impressive debut. The vote goes to Aspect Island though, who has the beating of the former on juvenile form and has race fitness on his side. James Owen's runner also has the benefit of the draw, with stall 2 potentially plumb to dictate proceedings. His strike rate of one win from seven starts is poor, but he was a gradual learner as a juvenile. He competed in high class maidens early on and eventually won by 7 1/2 lengths when granted a run in handicap company on his fourth start. He was then beaten less than a length in Newmarket's Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes, with Revival Power fifth, before his best effort yet, a third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. 1000 Guineas heroine True Love was among those behind him that day and he looked not to see out 6f on return at Newmarket. That run will hopefully prove a useful sharpener for this step back in distance and he looks a Pattern winner in waiting.

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ITV Racing Tips: Four Tips For Day 1 Of York Dante Festival

2026-05-12T17:30:01+01:00

It's day one of York's Dante Festival on Wednesday 13 May, with the quality action on the Knavesmire taking place in front of the ITV Racing cameras. Steve Chambers previews the star-studded card, which includes the Group 2 Minster Stakes and Group 3 Musidora Stakes. He has four selections during the afternoon...

14:20 York - Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Jorvik Handicap

Sing Us A Song got the better of Klassleader when the pair clashed in a 1m 6f Haydock handicap at the end of September, and the pair are back locking horns in the 14.20pm at York on Wednesday. Both sit prominently in the betting, at the time of writing, but it's possible that Klassleader has more progression to come this season and can land this contest in style.

A winner prior to that fine Haydock run, Klassleader oozed class when bounding to victory at Ffos Las on his handicap debut. That success came over a mile-and-a-half, and a return to that trip here should see him in a better light. He struggled to see out the 1m 6f in that Haydock event, so a drop back in distance should suit. He was only given a 2lbs rise for that Haydock run, and with only four runs on his record the Lope De Vega colt looks more than capable of progressing rapidly this season.

William Haggas is likely to have bigger targets for him later on in the campaign, and with Tom Marquand in the saddle, everything is set for a huge run in a cracking opening contest in front of the ITV Racing cameras.

14:55 York - Churchill Tyres Handicap

A winner off a mark of 101 at Wolverhampton whilst under the stewardship of Archie Watson, Kylian will take his chance off 100 in the Churchill Tyres Handicap at 14:55. Now trained by sprint king Robert Cowell, the five-year-old has shown recent signs of returning to his best, and he looks to capable of causing a shock in this at double-figured odds.

Unable to figure over five furlongs in a few runs, Cowell elected to send him back over six furlongs and he was a very creditable third at Leicester at the end of last month. Remaining at six furlongs for this contest, he will be bidding for his first win at York on his fourth start at the track. Having previously competed in the Listed Westow Stakes at York, he showed when seventh in a hot handicap at the Ebor Festival that he can run well in big field events.

With a Listed win in Germany on his CV, he's one that, if everything falls right on the day, could upset a few progressive sprint handicappers, and he's certainly one of the class angles in the race.

15:30 York - Go Local Stores Minster Stakes

A devilishly difficult renewal of this Group 2 contest will see a whole host of contenders line up with a notable chance of landing this event. The likes of Big Mojo, American Affair and Cool Hoof Luke have shown to be real elite sprinters, but the one to side with on Wednesday is Harry Eustace's Time For Sandals, who is the sole filly in the Minster Stakes at 15.30.

She showed her quality last season when rocketing to a shock 25/1 win in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, and a repeat of that effort would certainly be good enough here. She disappointed on her first start of the season last month in the Group 3 Abernant Stakes at Newmarket, but she should improve immeasurably for that run here.

Having been seen twice before her Royal Ascot win last season, she is one that could improve as the season goes on, so that run at Flat HQ should bring on notable improvement. The daughter of Sands Of Mali will make her York debut here, but if she can perform at the track then she could well storm to victory.

16:05 York - Tattersalls Musidora Stakes

Fourth in the Fillies' Mile at the end of last season, Legacy Link certainly has the strongest form on show in the Musidora Stakes at 16:05. John Gosden is looking to join Sir Henry Cecil on nine Musidora Stakes victories and Legacy Link can be that filly that sees the legendary handler join Cecil at the top of the most wins as a trainer in this event.

Making her seasonal reappearance here, the daughter of Dubawi, who is a 10/1 shot for the Oaks at Epsom in a few weeks, could improve for that outing. The fillies' Classic at the start of June is sure to be her main target, but the Fillies' Mile form has been boosted with second that day Venetian Lace finishing third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. She is a filly that should relish the step to a mile-and-a-quarter here, and has lots of improvement to come.

The likes of Felicitas, Moments Of Joy and Sea The Storm shall put up bold bids, but Legacy Link looks the one that could shape into a real Group 1 filly this campaign, and she's entitled to be a warm order for this.

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Racing Tips Today - 12th May 2026

2026-05-12T08:41:00+01:00

Tuesday features seven meetings with turf flat action at Bath and Beverley, summer jumps from Worcester and Hereford and an all-weather evening at Lingfield. The Irish add Killarney's flat opener and a Sligo jumps card after work. Forty-five races across two countries so plenty to keep the tipsters busy. Here we round up the best bets for today's UK and Irish action.

Today’s NAPs Table – Top 3

The Ipswich Star's Matt Polley continues to set the pace in the season-long naps competition with +£32.33 to level stakes, and he goes in today on Metallo in Lingfield's 19:20. The Racing Post's resident Newmarket man sits second on +£17.15 thanks to a sharp 9-4 record, with An Bradan Feasa his pick in the Lingfield 17:15 apprentice handicap. RaceiQ's data-driven service makes up the top three on +£15.76, joining Garry Owen and Jason Heavey on Twilight Moon in the Lingfield finale.

Tipster	NAP	Race/Time	Odds	P&L £
Matt Polley (Ipswich Star)	Metallo	Lingfield 19:20	11/2	£32.33
Newmarket (Racing Post)	An Bradan Feasa	Lingfield 17:15	4/1	£17.15
The Data Detective (RaceiQ)	Twilight Moon	Lingfield 20:20	3/1	£15.76

NAPs Table

Templegate & Other Big Name Best Bets

The national newspaper tipsters spread themselves across all seven meetings today, with Templegate going jumping at Hereford and Newsboy joining him on the same card a race earlier. The Racing Post's Spotlight and Whistler from the Sunday Telegraph both team up on Slack Bob in Lingfield's evening handicap.

Templegate (The Sun) NAP: Ice Jet, Hereford 16:45
Newsboy (Daily Mirror) NAP: Hidden Fortune, Hereford 15:38
Robin Goodfellow (Daily Mail) NAP: Bright Summer, Lingfield 18:20

Racing News Round-Up

Aidan O'Brien has nominated Benvenuto Cellini and Pierre Bonnard as his most likely runners in the Betfred Derby but says it would give stable jockey Ryan Moore a headache over which horse to ride should he also send Constitution River to the Epsom Classic.
Jockey Toby McCain-Mitchell has received a 32-day whip suspension for breaching the whip rules four times in the last four months.
Mississipi River has been supplemented by Aidan O'Brien for the Lockinge Stakes on Saturday as a possible pacemaker to The Lion in Winter and Expanded.

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Racing Tips Today - 11th May 2026

2026-05-11T09:03:58+01:00

Monday’s racing takes us into a fresh week with afternoon action at Catterick and Southwell before Windsor and Wolverhampton take over later on. Racing tips today for Monday 11 May include a mix of Flat, jumps and all-weather picks, with the latest NAPs table throwing up a strong Wolverhampton angle and some familiar newspaper names heading to Catterick and Windsor for their best bets.

Today’s NAPs Table – Top 3

The NAPs table has a lively look to it this Monday, with Matt Polley leading the way thanks to a strong start to the month. His selection, Eastern Veil, runs in the 9.00 at Wolverhampton and also features prominently elsewhere among today’s tips. Newmarket sits second with Agnes Hathaway in the 6.30 at Wolverhampton, while The Data Detective completes the top three with Fighter’s Spirit in the 5.42 at Windsor.

Tipster	NAP	Race/Time	Odds	P&L £
Matt Polley (Ipswich Star)	Eastern Veil	Wolverhampton - 21:00	15/8	£33.33
Newmarket (Racing Post)	Agnes Hathaway	Wolverhampton - 18:30	17/2	£18.15
The Data Detective (RaceiQ)	Fighter's Spirit	Windsor - 17:42	20/21	£15.03

NAPs Table

Templegate & Other Big Name Best Bets

The newspaper tipsters are spread across the Monday cards, with Catterick and Windsor both featuring among the headline NAPs. Templegate goes to Catterick with a filly looking to keep her winning run going, Robin Goodfellow is at Windsor for a competitive sprint handicap, and Newsboy has an evening Wolverhampton pick on the all-weather.

Templegate – Betties Bay, 17:00 Catterick
Robin Goodfellow – Change Sings, 18:17 Windsor
Newsboy – Wave Rock, 19:30 Wolverhampton

Racing News Round-Up

Betties Bay bids to extend winning streak at Catterick: Templegate’s NAP runs in the 5.00 at Catterick, where the James Owen-trained filly looks to follow up three straight wins. She has been placed back on turf after completing her hat-trick at Southwell and looks one of the more interesting runners on the Monday cards.
Harry Cobden heads to Killarney for rare JP McManus ride: The former champion jockey makes his first visit to the scenic Irish track for one ride on the card, teaming up with JP McManus. It adds a bit of extra intrigue to the Killarney fixture on a Monday that otherwise centres mainly on the domestic cards at Catterick, Southwell, Windsor and Wolverhampton.

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ITV Racing Tips: Billy Grimshaw’s Best Bets For Saturday’s Action

2026-05-08T14:19:25+01:00

ITV Racing tips are back on the agenda for Saturday 9 May, with the cameras heading to Lingfield, Ascot and Haydock for a varied afternoon on the Flat and over jumps. Billy Grimshaw has a pick at each track, with his strongest fancy in Haydock's Swinton Hurdle...

13:15 Haydock - Swinton Handicap Hurdle

Haydock's sole representative race on the ITV Racing card is the Swinton Hurdle and with the ground expected to be rattling fast for jumpers, finding something with some summer form could be the way to play the race. TELLHERTHENAME heads the market after being heavily backed only to withdraw in the Scottish Champion Hurdle up at Ayr last month and try as I might, I just could not get away from him for the all conquering Skelton team. His fast finishing effort in the County at Cheltenham on stable debut, when given no chance due to the pace bias for frontrunners at this year's Festival, reads well and the hood here indicates he is all systems go to win.

The reigning champion jumps trainer has begun this fledgling season in similar style to how he finished the 2025/26 campaign, with bucketloads of winners and off a mark of just 133 it is very tough to oppose this horse on his best form both in the past and indeed in the County last time out. Gibbs Island for Tom Lacey is probably the correct second favourite and may give us the most worry, however although he finished a position ahead of Tellherthename in the aforementioned County it was a schmozzle to the line behind the winner and the traffic Tellherthename hit was certainly more impactful. The favourite also gets a swing in the weights here compared to at Cheltenham.

This race is another big field handicap so Harry Skelton will have to keep his mount out of trouble, as they didn't manage at Prestbury Park, but Ayr winner and subsequently disqualified Laafi will ensure the race is run at an honest clip from the front, which will suit the strong travelling Tellherthename. As boring as it is to back a Skelton favourite in races like this, it is profitable and he is the NAP of the day.

13:28 Lingfield - Oaks Trial

Not since Anapurna in 2019 has a filly won this and gone on to claim The Oaks at Epsom, and truth be told I think that record will stretch to eight years this season, but this should still be an informative renewal and there are plenty in with a squeak. Bloom and Cameo look much of a muchness to me from Ballydoyle, barring a wide margin win here it's hard to imagine either will become the stable's number one Oaks filly. The prices are a bit further apart (3/1 plays 9/2 at the time of writing) than I'd make it although I suppose for Cameo that is the Ryan Moore tax.

Both have done most of their running on ground with give in it, which they certainly won't encounter at Lingfield on Saturday, and so I am happy to take them on. Romantic Symphony was impressive when winning a Kempton novice last time out, doing all her best work late, but I was also very impressed with PRIZELAND'S latest performance when bolting in by eight lengths at this track. Perhaps that race was not quite as strong as the favourite's, but at 11/2 while the Godolphin market leader is 6/4 there is only one wide margin winner last time out I'd consider backing.

A small worry could be that Prizeland has predominantly raced on the all-weather but she is bred to love quick ground and certainly looks the type who can skim off a fast surface. I'm hoping David Probert is patient on his filly and trusts that she has the requisite speed to blow past this field, as if she is played late I can see her troubling the favourite, who I presume William Buick will try to make plenty of use off from the front.

14:20 Ascot - Victoria Cup

Hickory returns to defend his Victoria Cup crown in 2026 but is 11lbs higher in the weights, which rules him out for me and indeed for the odds compilers judging by his price. You always need more than a large dollop of luck to win straight handicaps at Ascot and whenever you think you have cracked which side of the draw will be advantaged this time, the Gods slap you in the face with a 1-2-3 from the other side. That being said, looking at the shape of this race I do think those drawn high will have a better pace to aim at with both Ten Pounds and Yorkshire in the high 20s. Whether that'll help me find the winner, I won't know until after the race finishes, but that is where I was selecting my shortlist from.

Mudbir is probably the right favourite from stall 19 given his stalking victory at Goodwood last season and with Oisin Murphy booked, but 6/1 in a race like this doesn't tickle my fancy and instead I'll go for the horse drawn two places along from him in 21, the aptly named COMPLETELY RANDOM for the Charlton team. Kaiya Fraser is making quite the impression so far this season and is booked to take the ride which I am taking as a big positive, although she will have to employ almost polar opposite tactics to those she used to such great effect to win Chester's opening race on Adonius if she is to get Completely Random in the mix here.

He is a real hold up horse which I am hoping is the perfect recipe for success given his draw and even though a mark of 100 is stiff enough, given the shape of the race and his 20/1 price I'll take my chances. Of the rest I will be cursing if Witch Hunter wins again here as I will not be backing him, while Defence Minister looked very smart last time out but his draw in one and price of 8/1 was enough to put me off.

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Chester Tips Today: Three Selections Including 12/1 Cup Hope

2026-05-08T10:06:01+01:00

The Chester May Festival concludes today with Chester Cup Day, live on ITV Racing. After the drama on Thursday with the ground related delays, water has been generously applied to the surface. Billy Grimshaw has once again been tasked with finding some winners or each-way money and has three selections, including one that has been well supported in the feature race; the 2026 Chester Cup.

14:05 Chester - Boodles Darley EBF Maiden Stakes

It is rare ITV Racing will broadcast a maiden, but with this race just two before the feature race of the whole week and attracting an intriguing field it's no bad thing and I can see the case for a few in this contest. Favourite Joulany sets the standard for Ralph Beckett on his three runs so far, although 6/4 looks short considering the pedigrees of some of the more lightly raced contenders further down the market. He has not set the bar so high none can hope of touching it and GALIYAN could well be the one to take that big step forward following what was clearly a very educational run on debut at Newmarket.

He looked like a newbie when stumbling out of the stalls and having a good few looks around under a patient Oisin Murphy ride, in a race in which he was eventually beaten seven lengths. On the face of it that will not win this race, however watching the finish back in particular the penny seems to have dropped for Andrew Balding's charge and with that experience under his belt, his trainer's usual style of his colts needing their first start and this step up in trip given how well he finished, I rate him a confident bet to beat the favourite and the rest of the contenders.

This is no two horse race and Glory Of The Seas has jockey of the moment Billy Loughnane in the plate for Roger Varian, which is a huge positive at the moment. He did not see out his race last time out and that would be a concern here, especially if they go quickly, but providing Loughnane holds onto him and conserves energy he is at least bred to stay this far so he could get involved in the finish, although hopefully it's behind Galiyan!

14:35 Chester - Huxley Stakes

Perhaps it is daft of me to be so keen to take on a dual Derby winner Lambourn in a lowly Chester Group 3, but there are enough stones to be thrown at last year's Classic generation - particularly over middle distance - to want to avoid 6/4 on this Australia colt's first start at four. I would probably have sided with Bay City Roller on the back of his two smart seconds in Longchamp Group 2s to wrap up last season, but the fact the ground is so much quicker than he has encountered when running to his best combined with his five pound penalty for a facile German Group 1 win, on soft again, leaves me reticent.

That's the top two in the market dismissed then (so get your reverse forecast bets loaded!) and I'll be chancing KING'S GAMBIT in the hope the horse that breezed by him in the Earl Of Sefton Damysus is out of the very top drawer, as that performance hinted. King's Gambit was no match for the winner but did stay on eye-catchingly and now steps back up in trip, which should suit. When all is said and done this season running Damysus to four lengths may comfortably be this Saxon Warrior gelding's career best and if he can repeat that run, perhaps getting going a fraction earlier now with race fitness on his side, he rates the most likely winner if as I suspect Lambourn is either in need of a first run or just not a great Derby winner.

Lambourn of course will be ridden prominently by the man with the best strike-rate around at Chester in Ryan Moore and it is a fool's errand attempting to take Moore on too often, but this does look a fantastic opportunity and King's Gambit is a brilliant price particularly each-way at around 7/1.

15:05 Chester - Chester Cup

This doesn't look the strongest Chester Cup we have ever seen, but it is certainly competitive. The potential fly - or flies - in the ointment could be Joseph O'Brien's well fancied squad of three who are all single figures, albeit the market leader is Blindedbythelights for Sir Mark Prescott. Joseph sends Galileo Dame as the presumed first string with Ryan Moore booked to ride, but she is unproven on both good ground and at this trip so it'll take the man with no peers at Chester all his nous and know-how to cajole her into this without burning through the petrol tank too quickly. I'd rather be with Dylan Browne McMonagle's ride A Piece Of Heaven from the plum draw in one considering he is a bona fide frontrunner, has good ground form and will stay longer than the mother-in-law. The Moore factor is being overplayed in the odds here, unless those at Joseph's know something the rest of us don't about Galileo Dame's stamina.

Back to the market leader Blindedbythelights, his claims are clear as day. He has been running well without winning and without being given too tough of a time, but now has the blinkers fitted and looks to have had his career mapped out working back from this race for some time. He also has a low draw so must be respected, but he makes no appeal at around 6/1 given my suspicion that he doesn't really like a battle. He'll need to have buckets in hand to win this without a battle, and I think it's too competitive for that.

Joseph's third string Puturhandstogether is not without a chance either for Billy Loughnane on his best form both on the flat and over obstacles, although his high draw is a sucker punch for connections. He is around 10/1 though, double the price of my fancy for this race CHEMISTRY. He was actually set to run in this race in 2025 until the eleventh hour when withdrawn off a 13lbs higher mark, although given his lacklustre performances all through last year he probably wouldn't have gone close.

No disrespect intended to Ivan Furtado, but to say he got no tune out of this ex-Ballydoyle horse would be putting it mildly and it was no surprise to see the horse switch stables after a fruitless AW campaign early this year. Now down nicely in the weights with a mark of just 89 to deal with, Jennie Candlish seemed to find the key to him at the first time of asking with an easy win on stable debut over hurdles at Sedgefield in early April.

He could be chucked in here on his best form and the draw in three is ideal. David Probert will hopefully sit midfield and let the race develop in front of him while keeping a good position before using this horse's latent speed to sweep up the inside rail and bag the feature race of the week. He has a belting chance so back him each-way as I'll be disappointed to see him out of the first four home.

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Paddy Power Bayern v PSG Offer: Get 50/1 For A Goal To Be Scored

2026-05-06T18:15:01+01:00

Paddy Power is offering new customers enhanced 50/1 odds on Over 0.5 Goals in Bayern Munich vs PSG in the UEFA Champions League tonight. The promotion is built around one of football’s simplest betting markets: only one goal needs to be scored during normal time for the bet to win.

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What Is the Paddy Power Bayern Munich vs PSG 50/1 Offer?

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Bayern Munich vs PSG Match Preview

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Paddy Power Free Bet Builders Explained

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Chester Thursday Tips: O'Brien set for another big day on the Roodee

2026-05-06T17:40:01+01:00

The Chester May Festival continues on Thursday with Ladies Day on the Roodee. Billy Grimshaw has sifted through the cards and found two good bets for the ITV action including an each-way fancy at a decent price and an Aiden O'Brien favourite that should prove hard to beat.

In addition to five races from Chester, ITV Racing are showing the Huntingdon 1:45 giving armchair punters an exciting afternoon of racing across both the flat and jumps spheres.

13:30 Chester - CAA Stellar Handicap

Roman Dragon is sure to be popular in the market for this opener having won the contest from the same mark last year. Trained locally by Hugo Palmer he looks to have pinpointed this race as his season's target so we can perhaps take his early season form with a pinch of salt and expect him to be much better prepared for today's outing. Drawn in stall 3, he has plenty in his favour but at around 10/3 he looks a bit short in the market and there could be value in backing CANON'S HOUSE each-way at a much bigger price.

The Mick and David Easterby trained five year old is rated just 1lb higher than his last winning mark and appears to be in good form after finishing a head second to the evergreen Copper Knight at Beverley on Monday. That recent run may just help this free-going sort to settle better in this contest and, drawn in stall 5, he can race prominently without having to over exert himself to get an early position. With bookies paying four places, he looks a decent price to hit the frame at least.

15:05 Chester - Ladbrokes Ormonde Stakes

Aiden O'Brien has a fantastic record at Chester and he could easily land a big race double on Thursday via Constitution River in the Dee Stakes (14:35) and JAN BRUEGHEL in the Ormonde. At the prices, it's the latter which makes the most appeal with the 2024 St Leger winner available at around 6/4 versus the odds-on quotes about Constitution River.

His main competition looks to be stablemate Illinois who finished just a neck behind the selection in that Doncaster classic and went on to win this same race last year ahead of the reoppossing Al Qareem.

Ryan Moore has chosen to ride Jan Brueghel and - given he is now rated 9lb's superior to Illinois - it's not hard to see why. The Coronation Cup winner is the class horse in the race and he can take this en route to a return to Epsom to defend that Group 1 crown in June.

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Chester May Festival Day One Tips 2026: Billy Grimshaw’s Best Bets On The Roodee

2026-05-05T15:49:00+01:00

The Chester May Festival gets under way on Wednesday afternoon and ITV Racing viewers are in for a proper treat, with Day One at the Roodee serving up two key Classic trials and all the usual draw, pace and positioning puzzles that make this place such a fascinating betting track.

Billy Grimshaw has taken a deep look through the opening-day card and picked out his best bets for one of the most distinctive meetings of the Flat season.

13:30 Chester - Lily Agnes Stakes

This is not a race to be putting your biggest bet of the afternoon down on, given the majority of these two year olds will still be learning the ropes and have hardly any form behind them, but WAIT GEORDIE is a very worthy favourite and can justify his 9/4 odds. Hugo Palmer a couple of seasons ago made the move up north to make Chester his local course and has a formidable record on the Roodee since taking residence with Michael Owen. Make no mistake, he wants winners at this meeting and in Wait Geordie, he has what looks the ideal type for this contest.

Watching back his win at Bath last time out on debut when a wire-to-wire winner, it would be easy to say he simply won the race from the gate by breaking more alertly than his rivals under David Probert and grabbing the rail while the rest jostled for position in behind him. However, watch the closing stages again and you'll see how easy a time Probert gave his mount in front, clearly giving him an educational ride but still having more than enough in the locker to claim glory at 9/1.

Oisin Murphy takes over for this race - never a bad thing - and with his draw in three he is nigh on perfectly placed to repeat his all the way win. Adonius has the plum draw in one and did make all to win last time out as well, after a very impressive 7 length debut win when a 12/1 chance, but he has to give five pounds to the favourite here and could find that tough. I expect the two market leaders to battle it out but Wait Geordie has the gate speed to grab the crucial rail spot again from anyone else battling for it and that could come in clutch. He had plenty in hand at Bath and I expect him to take another big step forward, as they all should in a race like this to be fair, and make it a perfect two from two.

15:05 Chester - Chester Vase

I'm looking forward to seeing I'm The One again in the Cheshire Oaks as she was stunningly impressive on debut and deserves to head the market for Epsom. However, she is not a betting proposition at 8/15 so we will skip that race for the Derby trial, the Chester Vase. Last year's winner of this race was Lambourn who of course went on to claim The Derby for Aidan O'Brien, extending his phenomenal record both in this race and in using this race as a prep for Epsom. Perhaps we should keep things simple and just back Benvenuto Cellini, considering he is the first string from the dominant yard, has the best form and is the antepost Derby favourite, then?

Perhaps that is what smart punters will do, but it's not what I am recommending. Trends have their purpose, of course, but taking each horse on their merit is crucial and given the form of the Futurity, where Benvenuto Cellini was last seen as a fast finishing third, has taken a few knocks since he was last sighted I think there is enough to take him on here. He may be odds-on by the time you are reading this with Water To Wine - the current second favourite - rumoured to be on the precipice of being pulled out by the Gosdens. That'll be a shame as the Kingman colt has looked very exciting, but I will also be taking him on if he runs as I don't think he'll get the trip.

Camelot colt DEL MARO represents the boys in blue with Charlie Appleby and William Buick and for all the price may be very different in the morning, at the time of writing he is 10/1 and that is a ludicrous price given his profile. This combination won the race with Hidden Law two seasons ago, albeit that was a tragic victory as the horse broke down fatally in the shadow of the winning post following his impressive win.

I do not think Del Maro is in that ill fated colt's league, but he may not have to be given the lack of pace on in here and his hold-up tactics. I expect the Ballydoyle plan is for Proposition to set it up for the favourite, however if Del Maro is still there or thereabouts and they haven't gone fast enough to shake everything off, I can see Buick nicking this. At 10/1 I am willing to pay to find out how good this lad is - or how bad a favourite the market leader is.

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Racing Tips Today - 5th May 2026

2026-05-05T09:30:00+01:00

Tuesday’s racing has a bit of everything, with afternoon Flat action at Ayr, jumps cards at Ffos Las and Hereford, Irish racing from Gowran Park and an evening all-weather fixture at Wolverhampton. We’ve pulled together the key racing tips today for 5 May 2026, including the top three NAPs, plus the latest best bets from Templegate, Robin Goodfellow and Newsboy.

Today’s NAPs Table – Top 3

The NAPs table has a competitive look to it today, with Ayr featuring heavily among the leading selections. The Data Detective heads the standings with Eve’s Boy in the 16:00 at Ayr, while Newmarket puts a strong winning sequence on the line with Skellig Isle in the Wolverhampton finale. Matt Polley also makes the top three with Tupero, who goes in the staying handicap at Ayr later this afternoon.

Tipster	NAP	Race/Time	Odds	P&L £
The Data Detective (RaceiQ)	Eve's Boy	Ayr - 16:00	11/4	£16.70
Newmarket (Racing Post)	Skellig Isle	Wolverhampton - 21:00	13/2	£15.62
Matt Polley (Ipswich Star)	Tupero	Ayr - 17:00	16/5	£13.00

NAPs Table

Templegate & Other Big Name NAPs

There is a clear Ayr theme among the major newspaper NAPs today, with all three of Templegate, Robin Goodfellow and Newsboy siding with runners at the Scottish track. Robin Goodfellow is with Ashen in the 15:00, Newsboy goes for The Gay Blade in the 16:30, while Templegate is aligned with one of the NAPs table leaders in the 17:00.

Templegate NAP: Tupero, Ayr 17:00
Robin Goodfellow NAP: Ashen, Ayr 15:00
Newsboy NAP: The Gay Blade, Ayr 16:30

Racing News Round-Up

Chester clues come into focus: Attention is already turning towards the Chester May Festival, with Wednesday’s Chester Vase and Cheshire Oaks set to offer fresh Derby and Oaks clues after a busy Classic weekend at Newmarket.
Ascot governance move makes waves: Ascot’s planned exit from the Racecourse Association has become one of the biggest industry talking points, with debate continuing around British racing’s governance, fixture list and the balance of power between major and smaller tracks.

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