The dust has settled on the Guineas, and the utter chaos of Chester is over. The Flat racing roadshow moves on apace though – we have two more Classic trials on Saturday and I’m betting in both. My NAP of the day comes from Lingfield, but I’ve got some great value selections at Ascot too..
Free Horse Racing Tips this Saturday (May 9)
The Derby and Oaks markets are constantly changing. More shifts will happen this weekend, especially if my Lingfield racing tips do the business, while more trials take place at York next week.
I’ll be covering the Dante Festival, but for now, check out my four Saturday horse racing tips for May 9. Prices have been provided by bet365, Betfred, BetVictor, and StarSports, some of the best bookmakers available.
| Tip Type | Horse | Race | Best Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Bet | Romantic Symphony | 1:28 Lingfield | 13/8 | bet365 |
| Next Best | Maho Bay | 1:58 Lingfield | 13/8 | Betfred |
| Value Bet | Mudbir | 2:20 Ascot | 13/2 | BetVictor |
| Value Bet | Opportunity | 2:55 Ascot | 6/1 | StarSports |
Odds correct at 10:30 BST on 08/05/26. Odds subject to change.
My Best Bet of the Day
Romantic Symphony – 1:28 Lingfield
Charlie Appleby and his powerful stable haven’t had the best of luck in the Classics so far, but they may be better off at Epsom. Romantic Symphony, an attractive bay filly by powerhouse sire Dubawi, comes into this unbeaten in two and with some reputation. She’s not in the Oaks as yet, but she can be supplemented if she gets the job done here.
I’ve no worries about stamina. She’s out of a Monsun mare who produced this yard’s Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Yibir and Oaks second Wild Illusion. She’s half-sister in fact to six former Appleby horses, so the team knows the family well, and they think plenty of her.
Though Billy Loughnane has ridden Romantic Symphony in both starts so far, main man William Buick is on board for Saturday, and he rides Lingfield particularly well. Buick was the first rider to pass 50 winners at this track back in 2021. If he steers her to victory here, the Oaks beckons on June 5.
Why I’m backing Romantic Symphony
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From a great family the top trainer knows well
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Unbeaten so far and has almost guaranteed stamina
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Relatively limited opposition doesn’t look top class
My Next Best Bet
Maho Bay – 1:58 Lingfield
I’m hoping it’s Appleby at the double in the trials. He saddles Maho Bay, also unbeaten in two starts, only this time the powerful colt strutted his stuff at Newmarket during the Craven Meeting, coming away with an impressive success.
Strictly speaking, Maho Bay isn’t bred for this job at all. He’s by Dubawi out of a Dandy Man mare who just about stayed a mile for this yard when winning in Canada. That said, he simply powered up the hill at HQ over a mile and a quarter, so this should hold no fears.
The Godolphin horse has been nudged in from 40/1 to 33/1 for the Derby this week, but that would shorten a whole lot more of he wins this.
Why I’m backing Maho Bay
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Very impressive last time out at Newmarket
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Entered in the Derby and highly though of by top team
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Able to make all – will be in a handy position to strike
My First Saturday Value Bet
Mudbir – 2:20 Ascot
On our Lincoln Handicap page, I called this chap the best handicapped horse in the race. He undoubtedly was, but he didn’t run back in March. He’s finally ready for his seasonal reappearance now, going over Ascot’s stiff seven furlongs which is ideal.
Though second favourite Defence Minister is drawn in stall 1, I’m expecting the high numbers to come out best. The near side is usually the golden highway at Ascot when the ground is quick, and there’s also plenty of pace around Mudbir who’s drawn in 19.
With Jim Crowley still injured, Oisin Murphy takes over the ride, hardly a bad substitute, and I’m expecting this 95-rated colt to announce himself as Group class very soon. You can back him at BetVictor, who offer free bets for new customers.
Why I’m backing Mudbir
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Definitely well handicapped if ready for his seasonal bow
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Value price considering what he has achieved
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Represents top pedigree, owners, trainer, and jockey
My Next Value Saturday Bet
Opportunity – 2:55 Ascot
After doing the donkey work concerning the form, this race came down to William Haggas’ Opportunity and John & Thady Gosden’s Valedictory for me. I decided at that point to simplify things.
Both are four-year-old geldings from in-form and respected Newmarket yards, so they’re similar. I took a step back and decided to track where each horse was at comparable points in their careers to date – whether that be race by race, or month by month.
I keep getting Opportunity at around 8-10lbs better than Valedictory. The fact that he only concedes 4lbs to him in this handicap therefore means he presents us with, well, an opportunity. There’s always the spectre of him potentially not being ready after 323 days off, less of a worry in the modern game, but at these prices he’s definitely the value shout in the race.
Why I’m backing Opportunity
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Well handicapped against main threat Valedictory
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Thought of as a potential Derby horse last year
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Rated 95 for a run at Goodwood, but was badly hampered twice (upgrade)
Horse Racing Tips FAQs
Romantic Symphony in the 1:28 at Lingfield. A potential Oaks contender.
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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Tipster Performance – 2026 Results
We don’t cherry-pick – we track every Saturday racing tip transparently.
| Date | Tips | Winners | Strike-Rate | Profit/Loss* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 17 | 4 | 1 | 25.00% | -1.50 |
| January 24 | 5 | 3 | 60.00% | +6.50 |
| January 31 | 5 | 1 | 20.00% | -2.25 |
| February 7 | 4 | 2 | 50.00% | +0.42 |
| February 14 | 5 | 1 | 20.00% | +0.00 |
| February 21 | 4 | 2 | 50.00% | +10.75 |
| February 28 | 4 | 1 | 25.00% | +0.00 |
| March 7 | 6 | 2 | 33.33% | +1.50 |
| March 14 | 4 | 0 | 0.00% | -4.00 |
| March 21 | 4 | 1 | 25.00% | +0.00 |
| March 28 | 6 | 0 | 0.00 | -6.00 |
| April 4 | 4 | 1 | 25.00% | +0.00 |
| Total | 55 | 15 | 27.27% | +4.42 (8.03% ROI) |
Yeah, it’s been a damaging few weeks, but the profit is still there for the Saturday tips. Up to April 4, a £1 level stake was used. From April 11 onwards, the new staking plan is in effect.