Horse Racing Tips

Saturday Racing Tips: Free bet and expert insight for Champions Day

  • Max Liu
  • Published on
  • 3:00 min read
Jockey Frankie Dettori at Ascot
Frankie Dettori will bid farewell at Ascot on Champions Day

It's Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday so get tips from Daryl Carter, Tony Calvin and the rest of our experts, plus Ryan Moore on his rides and Paul Nicholls goes west to Newton Abbot...


Betfair are offering you a completely free racing multiples bet every weekend this month and there are great opportunities to use it as the Flat season reaches a thrilling finale at Ascot's Champions Day.

Find out more about this fantastic offer and read on for insight about how you could use your free bet this weekend, as our experts recommend their best bets and our ambassadors discuss their plans for Ascot and beyond.


13:05 at Newton Abbot - Paul Nicholls: Classy Iceo is best chance

"A very smart hurdler last season, Iceo (Newton Abbot 13:05) won the Imperial Cup at Sandown in great style and made a pleasing winning debut over fences at this track at the start of October. Iceo was subsequently raised 7lbs and is back for more experience in this limited handicap for novices. The plan is to then take him back to Sandown for the Henry V111 Chase. He loves soft ground."

Paul's Best Chance: Iceo 13:45 at Newton Abbot

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13:50 at Ascot - Kevin Blake: Take a swing at 33/1 Saint Lawrence

"The one that I'm inclined towards taking a chance on in this contest is the Archie Watson-trained Saint Lawrence (Ascot 13:50). The five-year-old has thrived since joining Watson this season, winning the Wokingham over this course and distance at Royal Ascot prior to finishing a close third in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville."

Back Saint Lawrence e-w @ 33/1

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15:05 at Ascot - Ryan Moore: Paddington is the one to beat

"We obviously gave Paddington (Ascot 15:05) a break after he didn't quite fire as expected in the Juddmonte and this has been the plan ever since. We all know what a hugely progressive horse he was before York, and that he toughed it out superbly on bad ground at Goodwood, and he looks the form horse and the one to beat here at his Ascot and Sandown best.

"But it certainly won't be easy with this level of opposition, as there are a whole host of Group 1 winners ranged against him, with Tahiyra, Big Rock and Nashwa obvious dangers. The biggest danger could be the French horse."

Paddington @ 11/82.38

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15:45 at Ascot - Daryl Carter: Frankie can Steel the show

"King of Steel won't mind any dig in the ground, and even if the tracks are switched, I can't imagine it will be as quick as the form horse Mostahdaf would want. This is less demanding than the Irish Champion last time for King Of Steel, and with no Auguste Rodin to be concerned with, this looks the perfect opportunity to gain a well-deserved Group 1 victory."

Back King Of Steel @ 7/2

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16:25 at Ascot - Tony Calvin: Bopedro can handle the heavy ground

"Bopedro would arguably prefer better ground but he ran well in heavy ground at Doncaster last October and he is officially the best handicapped horse in here, being 2lb well-in on his Cambridgeshire third last time. I like his draw in seven, as the only likely pace-setters are in three, four and six, and he ran very well when sixth here over 7f at the Royal meeting."

Back Bopedro @ 17.0

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