For those betting on the exchanges this weekend, many will be looking to the favourites and wondering whether to back them or take them on. GG tipster Joe Napier analyses four of those, giving two to back and two to lay.
12.50 Newbury – LAY King’s Gambit
This is quite an open betting market, but opening shows have King’s Gambit as a clear favourite. Harry Charlton’s four-year-old progressed superbly last term, but repeatedly fell short at Group level despite some close calls, notably in a slowly run Group 2 York Stakes, and the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.
Quicker ground will suit him here, and he evidently goes well fresh, but he goes up against other proven performers, not least the veteran Al Aasy, nor Irish Derby second and St Leger third Sunway, who should be better for his recent reappearance. With the likes of El Cordobes and Tabletalk also improving, as well as a fascinating runner in former Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami, there is too much depth to the race to be confident on a favourite chasing his first Group race success.
1.25 Newbury – BACK Ides Of March
Aidan O’Brien can almost do no wrong in Britain this season; since the 1000 Guineas, the only horses he has sent over to these shores who have lost have finished behind winning stablemates. Although this race is far from a Classic trial like those, IDES OF MARCH has strong credentials to claim Listed honours on his first start in England.
The son of Wootton Bassett was useful and progressive juvenile, losing his first two starts, but developing into a talented sprinter. He claimed a maiden at the third attempt, then won Group 3 honours by over three lengths at the Curragh over this distance of 6f. He crucially missed the break at the Breeders’ Cup before reappearing with a narrow second behind a talented stablemate at Navan at this level, but there doesn’t look to be a rival of that quality here.
2.35 Newbury – LAY Rosallion
For all he looked a potential miling star last season, Rosallion is opposable in what looks a strong renewal of the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes. The primary mark against him is the length of time he has been off the track, with 333 days between his St James’s Palace victory in 2024 and this race on Saturday.
He only gained narrow verdicts for his two Group 1s last term as well, so while he has potential, there are plenty of factors that make him opposable at anything below a 3.0 on the exchanges. Notable Speech was also a 2000 Guineas winner last term, as well as gaining another Group 1 later in the season, while both Dancing Gemini and Tamfana have already reappeared in fine fettle in 2025. They would not be considered markedly inferior to Rosallion on ability and have recent positives.
4.55 Newbury – BACK My Cloud
Still unexposed against more tried and tested handicappers, MY CLOUD looks set to continue his rise through the ranks for Roger Varian. The four-year-old has raced just four times, narrowly missing out at Newcastle and Redcar on his first two starts before rampantly setting the record straight the last twice.
The likes of Ancient Rome and Ebt’s Guard could also be on decent marks, but My Cloud’s rating of 90, though 10lb higher than his most recent winning one, still looks potentially light. He came with a withering run to coast comfortably clear at Ascot last time out and shaped like a serious horse in the making, unsurprising given he is a half-brother of the top-class Palace Pier.
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