What a weekend of horse racing we have in store!
A cracking card at Ascot, the start of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at Longchamp, and the long-awaited return of jumps racing in Ireland as Gowran Park hosts the Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase.
I, for one, cannot wait for this weekend’s racing. Here are some of my top horse racing betting tips, along with the best online bookmakers to place your next winning bet.
*Odds are subject to change.
RELIEF RALLY fired a warning shot with a strong-finishing 2nd to No Half Measure on heavy ground in a Group 3 at Newbury.
Democracy Dilemma, who faded to 4th after making the running behind Relief Rally at Newbury, is sure to set this race up nicely for Relief Rally again.
If the ground remains soft, it will be hard to keep Relief Rally out of the winner’s enclosure.
🏇 Bet on Relief Rally with Paddy Power 🏇
The standout horse here is AL QAREEM.
Al Qareem gets his beloved soft ground once again and was a devastating winner at Chester last time out, taking the Listed Stand Cup Stakes for the second year in a row.
He can do exactly what he did after winning last year’s edition and follow up with success in this very race.
He has 2 lengths to find with Al Aasy from their meeting at Newbury, but the key factor here is the ground, which is very much in Al Qareem’s favor.
At 11/4, I still think there’s plenty of value in that price. He has a massive chance of replicating last season’s success.
🏇 Bet on Al Qareem with bet365 🏇
This may not be the strongest Group 1 you’ll see this weekend, and it could be the perfect opportunity for the improving SEE THE FIRE to shine.
She has the profile of a horse getting better with each race, ever since she was well beaten in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Things started to click at Royal Ascot, where she finished 5th at 50/1 in the Coronation Stakes. The Coral-Eclipse was not run to suit, but she then got back on track with a neck 2nd to Opera Singer in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes, just narrowly missing out, but her win was just around the corner.
She finally got her due reward with a comfortable victory in a 1m1f Group 3 at York. There’s every chance we haven’t seen the best of her yet, and if she can step up once more, this could be her biggest day in the spotlight.
🏇 Bet on See the fire with Paddy Power 🏇
Jumps racing is back. I’ll say that one more time—jumps racing is back!
It’s been a long wait, but today marks the opening of the 2024/25 Irish National Hunt season with the traditional curtain-raiser.
Once used as the starting point of the season racing legend Sizing Europe, we have top drawer renewal this season, and the one who looks to have conditions firmly in his favor is CONFLATED.
He’s used to competing at a much higher level against the likes of Galopin Des Champs, Jonbon, Fastorslow, and Gerri Colombe.
Today, he gets weight from his two main rivals, and there’s nothing in this field that matches the caliber of what he faced last season.
Last season, he was well beaten on his seasonal return, but given his age, trainer Gordon Elliott may have him more forward this time to pick up some early-season prizes before the main contenders return.
With no concerns about the conditions or the trip, this looks like an ideal opportunity for Conflated to get back into the winner’s enclosure.
🏇 Bet on Conflated with bet365 🏇
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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