Horse Racing Tips: Check out Saturday's best bets from a host of racing writers
All eyes head to Newmarket on Saturday afternoon as the first Classic of the season, the QIPCO 2000 Guineas will take centre stage at 15:40 and there's a red-hot favourite in the shape of Native Trail, who bids for glory for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. We preview all Saturday's racing here and select some of the most eye-catching tips from a host of racing writers, who not only head to Flat HQ, but also pick out some selections on the final day of the Punchestown Festival...
A star juvenile, Native Trail kicked off the season with a fine victory in the Craven Stakes, and the Godolphin raider is a red-hot 11/10 favourite for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday. Attracting significant support amongst our racing writers, last year's Dewhurst Stakes winner has been napped by five of our racing writers, which include Melissa Jones from the Mirror Online, who sits second in the naps table, and Lee Sobot of the Yorkshire Evening Post.
There are some alternative selections to the favourite in the Guineas at 15:40 and Dean Kilbryde of the East Anglian Daily Times is backing the 16/1 shot Checkandchallenge, while Andrew Bladen from the Wolverhampton Express & Star is backing the Aidan O'Brien-trained Luxembourg, who is available at 11/2 and could be one of the leading contenders for glory. Marlborough of the Daily Telegraph is taking a real chance in the first Classic of the season, as that tipster has selected 50/1 outsider Lusail as the best bet of the day, while Whistler from the Sunday Telegraph has picked out 25/1 shot Eydon in the showpiece event.
Heading to Punchestown for their star-studded card, the Philip Hobbs-trained Camprond will attempt to build on a decent run in the Coral Cup at last month's Cheltenham Festival, and the British-trained raider is a well-fancied 5/1 shot for the 17:30 contest and he has been napped by The Punt from the Racing Post. Alternative naps at Punchestown include Adamantly Chosen in the same 17:30 race, and that is the choice of The Irish Sun, while Alex Hammond from Sky Sports Racing has napped Shady Operator at 3/1 in the opening 14:35 race.
Currently heading the naps table is Expert Eye from On The Nose, and with a sparkling profit of £30.68 the in-form tipster will look to extend the lead at the top of the table, and they've opted for the 9/1 chance Pisanello in the 14:05 at Thirsk. Lambourn of The Racing Post has been in tremendous tipping form of late - racking up four winners on the bounce - and that tipster is backing the Clive Cox-trained Harry Three to win the 17:25 contest at Flat HQ, and that raider is available at 11/2 currently.
Ed Walker's Came From The Dark has proven extremely popular with our tipsters as four of them have tipped up the 7/2 chance for the 15:00 at Newmarket, while the Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Jumby bids for glory in the 13:50 at Newmarket, and the 15/2 chance has been napped by three of our racing writers.
For those looking for a big-priced contender away from Newmarket could head to Hexham's National Hunt card this evening, and the James Walton-trained 20/1 chance Roll Of Thunder bids for glory in the 20:20 race, and is the nap of the day for The North from the Racing Post.