Newcastle is the main focus this week, as the Northumberland Plate takes centre stage at Gosforth Park. I have a value shout for that race, as well as four other expert Saturday horse racing tips.
Saturday Horse Racing: Best Bets and Odds (June 27)
| Bet Type | Horse | Race | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Bet | Power Fizz | 3:45 Newcastle | 11/4 | Betfred |
| Next Best | Symbol Of Honour | 2:10 Newcastle | 6/1 | William Hill |
| Value Bet | Supido | 1:40 Newcastle | 7/2 | Betfred |
| Value Bet | Saint Etienne | 3:15 Newcastle | 11/1 | William Hill |
| Value Bet | Qirat | 2:58 York | 14/1 | William Hill |
Odds correct at 11:15 BST on 26/06/26. Odds subject to change.
This is a massive race day. We’re reaching the last and best day of the Northumberland Plate Festival at Newcastle. As well as backing Saint Etienne in the big race, my two most confident shouts are also at Gosforth Park.
Full previews are below for each of the five Saturday horse racing tips, including my nap of the day, with prices this week supplied by two of the best bookmakers around, Betfred and William Hill.
interesting saturday betting angles
I’ve handicapped each race individually, so my bets are organic, but there are some interesting general angles to focus on this Saturday. William Buick stays at Newcastle after riding on Friday, primarily for Symbol Of Honour, but he also has some other interesting rides.
William Haggas has fancied horses at Newcastle, yet main stable jockey Tom Marquand heads to York. Don’t let that put you off – the yard’s other rider Cieren Fallon rode both Wiltshire and Montassib to glory on this race day two years ago, and he landed a double for the stable at Newmarket on Thursday. He rides by bet of the day.
My Best Bet of the Day
Power Fizz – 3:45 Newcastle
This is a very competitive six-furlong handicap, and the first five in the betting are all course and distance winners.
William Buick had the choice of Al Najashi and Tuco Salamanca here, choosing the latter, and he will be very competitive. There are reasons to back Cool Hoof Luke at a big price which I won’t bore you with, but I think they all have to go some to catch William Haggas’ Power Fizz.
The four-year-old gelding has been off the track since winning here in March. I don’t know whether that’s been by design, but he goes very well after a break anyway, so I’m not concerned. Apart from clearly being very well handicapped and proven in these conditions, Power Fizz has recorded some extremely good speed figures on this surface which takes some doing, and also sets him apart. Cieren Fallon rides.
Why I’m backing Power Fizz
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Loves this track and trip, as does the jockey
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Shows genuine speed on the Tapeta surface
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Definitely well handicapped – at least 7lbs well in
My Next Best Bet
Symbol Of Honour – 2:10 Newcastle
This is the Chipchase Stakes, a Group 3 race over the six furlong track. Diligent Harry won it last year and is back for more, but I can’t say with confidence that he’s as good as he was twelve months ago, and this is a deeper renewal.
Marvelman is interesting for Andrew Balding. He showed some high class form on the turf last year, but he’s not guaranteed to transfer that to Tapeta, and he has a 5lb penalty. Wiltshire loves it here, but he needs to show a good bit of improvement to get involved.
I landed on Symbol Of Honour, with Godolphin’s main trainer looking to sweep the Newcastle Group 3’s having sent Diamond Rain up for the Hoppings Stakes on Friday. William Buick hangs around to take this ride, and we need to forgive some bad runs to be able to back this horse. I’m happy to do so.
Symbol Of Honour was a classy three-year-old, but did not have a good Dubai Carnival earlier this year. That said, he was on the wrong part of the track when favourite for a Group 3 race at Meydan, and the form is spectacular. The favourite has since won a Group 1, the third and fifth went close in the King Charles III at Ascot last week, and the fourth was beaten only 2¼ lengths in the Jubilee at the same meeting.
Charlie Appleby has given this horse an entry in the Group 1 July Cup, and I reckon he retains plenty of ability.
Why I’m backing Symbol Of Honour
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By Havana Grey – progeny handle Tapeta surface well
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Still seen as a potential Group 1 winner
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Form of Dubai defeat working out really well – was favourite for that
My First Saturday Value Bet
Supido – 1:40 – Newmarket
Away from Symbol Of Honour, this is one of the excellent rides William Buick has picked up on Plate Day. Supdio, trained by Ian Williams, is four years old and has only had 14 runs, so he is not regressing. Despite that, he is now on a mark 6lbs below his highest, and I like the form of his recent efforts at Chester. You can back him with Betfred who offer free bets for new customers.
Why I’m backing Supido
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Did well at Chester, but needs the extra test that Tapeta and Newcastle offers
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6lbs lower than his highest rating, with the potential to improve further
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William Buick secured for the ride earlier in the week
My Big Value Northumberland Plate Bet
Saint Etienne – 3:15 Newcastle
This is the big one, the Northumberland Plate over the extended two miles. We have a very interesting renewal this year, with the top three in the market all being well backed four-year-olds.
Usually, I love an improving four-year-old in handicaps, but the nature of the Plate, over the two miles, on Tapeta and often in the heat, does not suit them well at all traditionally. Ride The Thunder (Roger Varian), Team Player (Ewan Whillans), and plot horse Circus Of Rome (Richard Hughes) will all be popular, but I’m swerving them.
Last year’s winner Spirit Mixer (Andrew Balding) is back and not without a chance, but I can’t keep my eyes of Saint Etienne, and that’s where my money is going. Geordie trainer Brian Ellison finally won this race with Onesmoothoperator in 2024, and he can land it again with this French recruit.
Having been rated 100 before leaving France, he’s been cleverly handled, running at the wrong trip, and is now down to a mark of 92. He’s well in, and can even surpass that 100 mark in these conditions.
Why I’m backing Saint Etienne
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Fits the profile for the Northumberland Plate
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Well handicapped based on French form – these conditions are ideal
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Local trainer now knows what it takes to win this race
My Final Saturday Value Bet
Qirat – 2:58 York
This is the seven-furlong Criterion Stakes, formerly run at Newmarket. Saber Strike (William Haggas) is well capable, but ran only a week ago at Royal Ascot and it’s hard for the three-year-olds to take on their elders at this time of year.
Never So Brave (Andrew Balding), is a Group 1 course and distance winner, but he hasn’t been in good form at all this season, and I want to take him on at 11/10.
On the grounds of value, you’d be mad not to give a second look to Qirat (Ralph Beckett). A Group 1 winner himself, he was a little unlucky in running over this track and trip last year in the race won by Never So Brave. He hasn’t run well this season yet, but he wears a tongue tie for the first time here and finally gets some quicker ground.
Why I’m Backing Qirat
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Terrific value – doubts about the market leaders
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Conditions now in his favour
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Has the form in the book at this level and above
Recent Winners up to 25/1
June’s been a good month. Via this page, and my regular horse racing previews, I have backed the following winners:
| Date | Winner | Advised | SP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24/06/26 | Wine Dark Sea | 2/1 | 5/6 |
| 20/06/26 | Almeraq | 22/1 | 25/1 |
| 20/06/26 | Square Necker | SP | 4/1 |
| 20/06/26 | Sea Cookie | SP | 7/2 |
| 19/06/26 | Opportunity | 5/1 | 6/1 |
| 17/06/26 | Blue Bolt | 11/4 | 5/2 |
| 17/06/26 | Ombudsman | 11/8 | 11/10 |
| 17/06/26 | Alobayyah | 7/2 | 11/4 |
| 06/06/26 | Shipbourne | SP | 6/5 |
| 05/06/26 | Sallaal | 9/2 | 5/2 |
Horse Racing Tips FAQs
Power Fizz in the 3:45 at Newcastle. He has shown some terrific speed on the Tapeta and can outgun this field.
My NAP of the day is my strongest bet, the one I’m most confident about. The word comes from the card game Napolean, where the “Nap” is the strongest bet you can make.
Sacrificing strike-rate for better long-term value is how you come out on top, rather than backing favourites blindly.
No. I focus on quality, with Saturday horse racing tips appearing here, and selections for other major races appearing on our homepage.
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