Flying in the racing NAPS table, Andrew Mount is looking to continue his excellent tipping form on Saturday 18 April. He heads to three separate meetings for his best bets, as he heads to Ayr’s Scottish National fixture, alongside Thirsk and Newbury on the Flat.
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Ayr Racing Tips (Saturday 18 April 2026)
A quality Scottish Grand National card takes place at Ayr on Saturday, but Andrew veers away from the big race and picks out his best bet in the 2.55pm contest.
2.55 Ayr – Twisthenightaway (1pt win – 5/2 generally)
This 3m Class 2 mares’ handicap hurdle usually goes to a runner stepping up in grade, with eight of the last ten winners (from 58 runners) fitting this profile. Backing all the qualifiers would have returned a lovely profit of £64.75 to a £1 level stake at SP (+£114.86 at Betfair SP after 2% commission). Twistthenightaway was a big eyecatcher when sixth in a novices’ hurdle at Hereford in December and defied a market drift to land a 2m4f heavy-ground mares’ handicap hurdle at Newcastle next time. She followed up against the boys in a Class 4 handicap hurdle at Bangor (2m7f, soft) and remains open to plenty more improvement.
Thirsk Racing Tips (Saturday 18 April 2026)
A bumper eight-race fixture takes place on the level at Thirsk. With two bets across the card, Andrew hopes he can strike gold in Yorkshire.
3.23 Thirsk – Murashah (1pt win – 5/1 bet365)
We bet a couple of Ed Bethell-trained handicapper at Musselburgh last Sunday, drawing from the bookies with 7-2 shot Noche Clasica and losing with market drifter Velvet Whisper (no prizes for guessing which one I napped in the Racing Post). The trainer does well with break-returners (150 days or longer) in turf handicaps in the spring (March to May), scoring with 15 of the 44 qualifiers since the beginning of 2021 for a profit of £27.88 to a £1 level stake at SP (expected winners = 7.92, A/E = 1.89). The score at Thirsk only is three from four and Murashah, ex-Charles Hills, looks very interesting on his seasonal/stable debut. Bethell does incredibly well with stable switchers on turf – 11 winners from 25 bets for a profit of £22.45 – and the five-year-old son of Night Of Thunder could also improve for a gelding operation.
4.32 Thirsk – Nightsinwhitesatin (1pt win – 7/2 bet365)
Nightsinwhitesatin is another Ed Bethell turf handicapper who is back from a break today and the filly has proved very consistent since fitted with cheekpieces, recording form figures of 11442 (2-5). They didn’t go hard enough up front for her when second of eight at Catterick on her final start last term – her first run over this 1m4f trip – and today’s bigger field contest should be run so suit.
Newbury Racing Tips (Saturday 18 April 2026)
It’s Greenham Stakes day at Newbury, as the Flat season clicks up a notch at the Berkshire track. However, you have to wait until 4.55pm for Andrew’s best bet on the card.
4.55 Newbury – Valedictory (1pt win – 7/2 bet365, William Hill)
Valedictory went close on his racecourse debut back in September 2024, finishing third by a nose and a neck in a 1m maiden after blowing the start and running green. The son of Cracksman was sent off at 20-1 that day and was much shorter (9-4f) at Newmarket next time where he finished a one-length fourth in a 1m2f novice contest, emerging clear best of those to come from off the pace. The next three hold-up horses finished 18, 26.5 and 27 lengths behind him and all have won at last twice since. Gelded ahead of his third start, he bolted up at very short odds in a 1m2f Chelmsford novice and should have plenty more to offer now back on turf. Since the beginning of 2017 the Gosdens are 27 from 94 on turf with runners having their second start since gelded for a profit of £75.75 to a £1 level stake at SP (expected winners = 16.29, A/E = 1.66).
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets Today
2.55 Ayr – Twisthenightaway (1pt win – 5/2 generally)
3.23 Thirsk – Murashah (1pt win – 5/1 bet365)
4.32 Thirsk – Nightsinwhitesatin (1pt win – 7/2 bet365)
4.55 Newbury – Valedictory (1pt win – 7/2 bet365, William Hill)
Andrew Mount’s Horse Racing Tips – Saturday 18 April
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- Ayr – first race 13:10
- Thirsk – first race 13:37
- Newbury – first race 13:25
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s racing tips?
Andrew Mount provides his best bets at Ayr, Thirsk & Newbury.
Which racecourses run on Saturday 18 April 2026?
Ayr, Bangor, Brighton, Newbury, Nottingham & Thirsk.
Who is Andrew Mount?
Andrew Mount is a leading horse racing adviser, expert pundit and journalist, contributing regularly to the Racing Post, Racing & Football Outlook, Racing Post Weekender and William Hill radio as well as providing a daily tipping column for the GG.co.uk website for more than 20 years. Follow him on X: @TrendHorses
When were today’s Ayr, Thirsk & Newbury tips published?
Today’s tips were published at 4pm on Friday 17 April 2026.
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