Saturday 16th May 2026 Horse Racing Tips
Please see our in depth horse racing tips for all the major horse racing meetings on Saturday 16th May 2026. It looks another fantastic day of racing with top class action from Newbury, competitive handicaps from Newmarket and Thirsk, alongside some very interesting jumps racing from Bangor.
As always, we are looking for horses that could still be ahead of the handicapper, horses returning to ideal conditions and a few strong eachway angles at bigger prices.
Newbury Horse Racing Tips
13:25 Newbury, Sky Sports Racing Aston Park Stakes
KALPANA absolutely destroyed the girls last time out at Ascot over 1m4f and should be ready to go again over the same distance here. She does have to carry a 4lb Group 1 penalty, but I really feel she’s simply a cut above the rest of this field.
Even money in the betting is fairly short, but on all known form it’s difficult to see what beats her if she runs to the same level again.
14:00 Newbury, Childwickbury Stud Fillies’ Trial Stakes, Listed
SACRED GROUND has an Epsom Oaks entry and is the daughter of an Oaks winner, so there’s every chance we haven’t seen the best of her yet. She wasn’t quite at her best last time out, but there should still be plenty more improvement to come from the John and Thady Gosden trained three year old.
She had ESNA behind her on that occasion and I can’t really see that form being reversed here. Ralph Beckett’s GOLDEN ORBIT looks the main danger in what promises to be a very good race.
14:35 Newbury, BoyleSports Lockinge Stakes, Group 1
What a cracking renewal this year’s Lockinge looks. You could genuinely make a case for nearly every runner in the field, but the vote goes to NOTABLE SPEECH.
I feel like Charlie Appleby’s five year old has already shown he can deliver when it matters most in the biggest races. He possesses a serious turn of foot and I think William Buick will time his challenge to perfection when the race begins to unfold late on.
15:10 Newbury, Highclere Castle Gin Carnarvon Stakes, Listed
ROYAL FIXATION has her first run for the Karl Burke stable after previously being trained by Ed Walker. Importantly, she escapes a penalty for her Lowther Stakes win at York and is clearly held in very high regard.
With the Burke yard starting to hit form a bit later than normal, I can see her running a huge race here.
15:45 Newbury, Trade Nation London Gold Cup Handicap, Heritage Handicap
Roger Varian’s AL AZD comes here chasing a hat trick and still looks open to further improvement. He’s up in the weights and dropped back slightly in trip, but I don’t think either of those factors should be too much of an issue.
The blinkers seem to have really helped sharpen him up and with SINTRA likely to ensure a strong pace, the race setup could suit perfectly. It’s a wide open handicap, but I do think AL AZD may still be ahead of the handicapper.
16:20 Newbury, Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap
William Haggas saddles two runners here, so you’d naturally expect one of his to be involved, but the vote goes to the progressive FAR ABOVE DREAM for the James Owen stable.
Kieran Shoemark knows the horse very well having ridden him to victory on several occasions already. There doesn’t appear to be loads of early pace in the race, so there’s every chance he could get away on the front end.
At around 7/1 with 4 places on offer, he looks a cracking each way play.
17:00 Newbury, BoyleSports Home Of The Early Payout Handicap
Another minefield of a 15 runner handicap over the straight mile. Roger Varian has won this race twice in the last five years and lines up here tomorrow with INDALO. He was only beaten a nose by Boiling Point, who is now rated 115, and although he goes up another 4lb for that effort, I still feel at 15/2 he has a great chance of winning.
With 5 places on offer, he should be thereabouts at the very minimum.
17:40 Newbury, World Pool Bet With The Tote Handicap
LOST SIGNAL ran a big race behind Talk Of New York at Newmarket last time out. Richard Hannon’s colt was only beaten 3 lengths and his opening handicap mark of 89 looks more than workable.
Shane Foley keeps the ride and although 2/1 looks a little short, I just can’t find anything in the race to beat him.
Newmarket Horse Racing Tips
13:42 Newmarket, Daily Profit Boosts At BetMGM Handicap
TWISTING PHYSICS was caught too far back on reappearance and after 310 days off, it really looked like he needed the run. Finishing sixth of fourteen wasn’t ideal, but I fully expect him to be much sharper for this race.
This Class 4 looks more than winnable for a horse that went 1/2/1 prior to his break. Keep an eye on KNIGHTS GOLD in the market at bigger odds.
14:15 Newmarket, Darley EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes
There’s not a huge amount to go on here with seven newcomers in the field. Normally in races like this, you’d wait until just before the off and let the market guide you a bit, but obviously writing the tips up the day before makes that difficult.
With that in mind, I’m siding with AMBIENCE. This two year old cost 850,000 guineas and you’d imagine that price tag means connections think they’ve got something a little bit special.
14:50 Newmarket, Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At BetMGM.co.uk Handicap
SILVER GHOST has some really nice course and distance form here at Newmarket and shaped very well on his return after 215 days off. I think Emma Lavelle’s four year old looks like he has strengthened up over the winter and with 4 places on offer, he looks a cracking each way play at 5/1.
I napped SON last week and he simply had far too much to do. I’m not sure I can go back in again tomorrow, but he’s definitely worth keeping an eye on.
15:27 Newmarket, Download The BetMGM App Handicap
REBEL PATH won this race last year for Stuart Williams off a mark of 72 with Olivia Haines taking off 7lb, and they return to the scene of the crime tomorrow 2lb lower, with Olivia Haines again taking off 7.
I do love horses that have won the same race previously, a lot of trainers campaign their horses specifically for these sorts of targets. At 10/1 with 4 places on offer, this looks a really strong each way play.
16:02 Newmarket, Darley EBF Novice Stakes
SHABAB AL AHLI really looked like he needed further last time out, just getting into full stride a bit too late. I expect him to improve massively for the extra two furlongs and even though he’s around 4/7, on paper he looks an absolute banker.
16:37 Newmarket, BetMGM Handicap
SHARP ROMANCE won really nicely at Kempton last time out and now steps into handicap company off a mark of 72. Ashley Lewis takes another 5lb off, so effectively racing off 67 looks ideal for this sort of contest.
At 6/1 at the time of writing, I think the each way angle looks the best play.
17:10 Newmarket – GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY AT BETMGM “HANDS AND HEELS” APPRENTICE HANDICAP (5)
WRYDCROFT has won four of his last five starts and I really can’t see much beating him here tomorrow. The 11/10 available at the time of writing looks a fair enough price and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go off much shorter, potentially around 4/6 favourite.
Thirsk Horse Racing Tips
13:52 Thirsk, Marion Gibson Brown Memorial, Irish EBF Restricted Maiden Fillies’ Stakes, Qualifier
CAILIN AINE drops two grades after being beaten 4 lengths in a Class 2 last time out. The 5/2 on offer looks a fair price for Tim Easterby’s filly, who may just prove to be a level above these tomorrow.
14:23 Thirsk, Marion Gibson Brown Memorial, Irish EBF Restricted Maiden Fillies’ Stakes, Qualifier
KODI BEAR LIGHT looked fairly useful last time out and unless there’s a very good newcomer lurking in the field tomorrow, and it’s always worth checking the market in these races, Kodi Bear Light with Jack Nicholls taking off 5lb will be very hard to beat.
15:00 Thirsk, Metaxas Handicap
Andrew Balding runs BLACKISTHENEWBLACK here and after a much improved performance last time out when making all, the first time cheekpieces really looked to make a difference. I still think there’s more improvement to come.
BOILMAKER looks the main danger if the step up in trip brings out further progress.
15:37 Thirsk, Sky Bet For The Fans Handicap
EMERALD HARMONY has now had three runs for his new trainer Paul Midgley and seems to be progressing nicely. He’s back down to his last winning mark of 77 and looking at both the race and the odds, he makes plenty of each way appeal at 8/1 with 5 places on offer.
16:12 Thirsk, Sky Bet Extra Places Handicap
HALE END returned from a two month break at Wetherby and won nicely on turf. He’s only gone up 2lb for that success and having won this race back in 2024, the preparation for this looks ideal.
At around 7/1 with 4 places on offer, and Connor Beasley keeping the ride, another big run looks likely.
16:47 Thirsk, Sky Bet Club Handicap
LEADENHALL has dropped to a mark of 74 now and looks ready to strike. His highest winning mark came off 78 and after 178 days off, he stayed on really well last time out.
Looking at the likely pace setup here, the race could be run perfectly to suit him and at 17/2 with 4 places on offer, the each way angle looks ideal.
17:25 Thirsk, Sky Bet Price Boosts Handicap
Bottom weight WOODSTOCK has fallen to a career low mark and now sits 7lb below his last winning rating. He returned from 170 days off last time out and shaped like he badly needed the run.
Looking through the race, this looks more than winnable if they can get him anywhere near the form he was showing 18 months ago.
At 6/1 with 4 places on offer, he looks another solid each way player.
17:57 Thirsk – SKY BET BUILD A BET HANDICAP (6)
STORMY PEARL is a bit of a monkey, but if he breaks on terms I genuinely think he wins. The last two runs have been frustrating as he’s completely blown the start both times, but when you follow these types of horses you almost have to stick with them.
With 5 places on offer, even if he misses the break again, you’d still expect him to be staying on strongly enough to hit the frame.
Uttoxeter Horse Racing Tips
17:20 Uttoxeter, QuinnBet Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase, Qualifier
A very open Class 5 handicap in which the Sam Allwood trained ROCKVALE has dropped to a very low mark and his latest run may have stretched him. Back over a shorter trip here could see him take the spoils.
17:50 Uttoxeter, Carlsberg Novices’ Hurdle
FINAL SURPRISE won nicely last time out and although carrying a penalty here, should still go very close to winning again.
18:20 Uttoxeter, 1664 Biere Novices’ Handicap Hurdle
Just a small field here and on paper it looks a very open race. The vote goes to BARRY FIFE, who may improve for the step up in distance.
18:50 Uttoxeter, Eaton Hall Shooting Ground Handicap Hurdle
SECRET TRIX looks very well handicapped here with the drop in the weights. This course and distance winner could be one of the best bets on the card.
The horse has also recently had a wind operation, which makes his chances look even stronger.
19:20 Uttoxeter, Chemique Bonded For Victory Cup Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
BLACK HAWK EAGLE was still travelling really well last time out when falling and looked a very unlucky loser. Previously, the win at Chepstow suggested this could be a horse going the right way and still improving.
19:55 Uttoxeter, Somersby Handicap Hurdle
I feel this is probably the most open race on the card. Any market support for VICTORIA MILANO should be noted as she is now looking extremely well handicapped and could easily take this race.
20:30 Uttoxeter, Hobgoblin Handicap Hurdle
Hat trick seeking MODERN STYLE has an excellent chance here, but ASK A SAINTE has some interesting bits of form from earlier in his career and this first run in handicap company may see him spoil the party.
Bangor Horse Racing Tips
14:10 Bangor, Family Fun Day National Hunt Maiden Hurdle
SAINT JEANNAIS won really nicely on debut and perhaps the Ascot run came a little too quickly afterwards. With that behind him now, SAINT JEANNAIS should take plenty of beating in what looks, on paper, a fairly weak maiden hurdle.
The 6/4 available at the time of writing could well be the biggest price we see.
14:45 Bangor, Wigan Beer Company Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle
A Class 5 contest here and it definitely has a weak look to it. Dan Skelton’s DREAMS KA looked set to go one better after his latest second placed effort, but DANTES INFERNO is the one that catches the eye at the prices.
The step up in trip should suit nicely and if market support arrives, it would be very interesting. At around 14/1, he looks a cracking each way play.
15:20 Bangor, Remembering Kitty Warburton Handicap Hurdle
FASOL deserves to head the market here, but the most interesting runner in the field could be the ex Irish horse KRAK. He has some very strong Irish form in the book and now that he’s dropped down the weights in the UK, this could be the time for a big run.
At 12/1 at the time of writing, he looks another solid each way selection.
15:55 Bangor, Bangor On Dee Grand Wynnstay Handicap Chase
A very tough race to assess, but HOMME PUBLIC has really caught the eye now tumbling down the handicap. He’s a very smart horse on his day and this hold up performer could easily surprise a few here.
Once rated as high as 142, he now runs off 127 and at around 8/1, the outsider of the field could easily outrun those odds. A very nice each way angle.
16:30 Bangor, Classic Additions Handicap Chase
IS THIS FOR REAL has some really nice back form and could prove much better than this field. The former point winner may now start progressing with the switch from hurdles to fences and this looks a good opportunity for him to show more improvement.
17:05 Bangor, Adies Day On Saturday 23rd May Novices’ Handicap Chase
Fergal O’Brien trained IS THIS FOR REAL has some nice back form and could be much better than this field. The former point winner may now start improving with the switch from hurdles to fences.
I would look out for Dan Skelton’s ICE IN THE VEINS as the main danger.