Another busy Saturday of horse racing action on the horizon, so be sure to see Andy Newton’s ITV Racing tips and key stats with LIVE NINE races spread across Ayr and Newbury.
With all the races covered showing on the weekend ITV Racing schedule on Saturday – including the 2026 Scottish Grand National (3:35pm).
Andy Newton’s ITV Racing Tips: Saturday 18th April 2026 📺🏇
- 1:10 Ayr – TRAPRAIN LAW
- 1:25 Newbury – TOULEEN / ZOOMING
- 1:45 Ayr – DIAMOND DEALER
- 2:00 Newbury – ZAVATERI
- 2:20 Ayr – OOH BETTY / CAPTAIN HUGO
- 2:35 Newbury – AL AASY
- 2:55 Ayr – WORLD OF FORTUNES
- 3:10 Newbury – SHOUT / LINWOOD
- 3:35 Ayr – GIT MAKER / MONTREGARD
Also see Kyle Curran’s free Saturday Lucky 15 horse racing tips – with four fancies at Ayr and Newbury.
🏇Newbury Horse Racing Tips: Andy’s Got A Big ‘Shout’ In The Spring Cup
1:25 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Registered As The Fred Darling Stakes) (Group 3) Cl1 (3yo) 7f ITV
Some promising 3yold fillies on show here – including TOULEEN, who was impressive here at Newbury on her debut last August.
She then built on that to take the scalp of Zanthos at Leicester and despite being a beaten favourite at HQ in the Rockfel Stakes is the call to bounce back.
Touleen hung that day and might not have been suited by the track – so a winter break and the return to the Berkshire track are a plus.
Plus I also think that having three runs last season in the space of around 6-7 weeks might just have caught up with her.
Oh, and she also scoped dirty after that Rockfel – so there are an array of excuses to that poor run.
The Owen Burrows camp also boast a solid 29% SR with their 3yolds at this venue, which is a further plus – as is Saffie riding.
Of the rest, the Haggas team are taking their time with Zooming, who was a nice winner last season at Newmarket.
And Ryan Moore catches the eye booked for Catching The Moon.
🥇TOULEEN
🥈ZOOMING
🥉CATCHING THE MOON
Key Stats 📈
- 20/22 – Had won over 6f or 7f before
- 19/22 – Finished in the top three last time out
- 17/22 – Returned 7/1 or shorter in the betting
- 16/22 – Drawn 5 or higher
2:00 Newbury – Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 (3yo) 7f ITV
The last horse to win the Greenham and add the 2000 Guineas was the mighty Frankel – so we’ll have to see if that run can be broken this year.
Aidan O’Brien has sent a fair few over to Newmarket and Newbury this week and tries to win this race for the first time with Albert Einstein.
He’s still 8/1 for the 2000 Guineas, but disappointed on his return at the Curragh last month. He’s sure to improve for that – but the jury is still out for me.
Is he more of a sprinter (6f) horse and will the Commonwealth Cup be more of a target? We’ll learn more after this.
So, the safer call is to side with ZAVATERI for the Eve Johnson Houghton team – who we know will stay this 7f trip well.
He had a cracking season last term – with four wins, that climaxed in the National Stakes at the Curragh.
Failed to end on a high when 4th (of 9) in the Dewhurst at Newmarket, but it’s likely his busy 2yold season just caught up with him.
A break can see him get back to winning ways and he’ll head here as the clear top-rated (118) and is running on level terms.
While, in time, he might want further – but is quoted 25/1 for the 2000 Guineas – oh, and could even take in the Irish version too.
Of the rest, the William Haggas-trained Needle Match was a nice course winner on debut and could have a lot more to come.
🥇ZAVATERI
🥈ALBERT EINSTEIN
🥉NEEDLE MATCH
Key Stats 📈
- 16/22 – Won between 2-4 times before
- 16/22 – Placed favourites
- 15/22 – Came from the top 3 in the betting
- Aidan O’Brien has never won the race
2:35 Newbury – Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (Registered As The John Porter Stakes) (Group 3) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m4f ITV
Convergent will be popular, but has to give weight away to the others, which won’t be easy.
That run last time in Germany was clearly too bad to be true – but he does have to give 5lbs away to the others.
Dante Stakes and Great Voltigeur winner Pride Of Arras has been ‘in-and-out’ and on his best form is a big player – but maybe it’s better to catch him back at York, where he’s 2-from-2.
Ryan Moore teaming up with the Gosden’s on Lion’s Pride stands out.
But the call is to chance the old-boy AL AASY, who won this race aged 4 in 2021 and is the only CD winner in the field.
Yes, some might think I need my head tested – and Convergent will be the better horse come the end of the season.
However, this might just be the time to catch Al Aasy.
Is back aged 9 and it’s interesting the Haggas team are keeping him going at this age – suggesting, despite a flop at Newbury last October, he’s still showing up well at home.
He likes Newbury too – with three of his 11 career runs coming at the Berkshire track and has gone well fresh in the past too.
While off a mark of 115, he’s still rated only a pound off Convergent and gets a handy 5lbs.
🥇AL AASY
🥈CONVERGENT
🥉LION’S PRIDE
Key Stats 📈
- 21/22 – Aged 6 or younger
- 20/22 – Priced 11/1 or shorter in the betting
- 20/22 – Had won between 2-5 times before
- 20/22 – Had won over 1m4f (or further) before
- 19/22 – Having their first run of the season
- 18/22 – Placed in the top 5 last time out
3:10 Newbury – OLBG Spring Cup Handicap Cl2 (4yo+) 1m ITV
With 26 runners heading to post, then solving the Spring Cup puzzle is going to be tricky.
21 of the last 22 winners were aged 6 or younger, with 19 aged 4 or 5.
James Fanshawe’s Back In Black is shortlisted with most of the trends going for him.
However, he’s got one big one against him.
18 of the last 22 winners had won over a mile before – he’s not as yet but has only tried the trip once to be fair.
He’s still a promising sort and win, lose, or draw is a horse to note this season.
Ebt’s Guard won this race in 2025 and likes it here too and goes well fresh – but is 13lbs higher this time.
But the two of interest are SHOUT, who was 9th in the Lincoln recently and is 5lbs better off with the winner Urban Lion this time.
He’ll be better for the run and Oisin Murphy gets on well with the horse 1-1-4 in the times he’s ridden him.
LINWOOD is the other that stands out – having been very impressive last time at Newmarket – winning by 5 1/2 lengths.
Yes, he’s up 10lbs for that but the second Nibras has franked the form to run well on the AW several times since – including a close-up 5th in the Winter Derby.
He’s another that I’ll be following this season – regardless of this result.
🥇SHOUT
🥈LINWOOD
🥉EBT’S GUARD
Key Stats 📈
- 21/22 – Aged 6 or younger
- 19/22 – Aged 4 or 5 years-old
- 19/22 – Won between 2-4 times before (flat)
- 18/22 – Won over at least 1m before
- 17/22 – Rated between 85-98
- Ebt’s Guard (25/1) won the race in 2025
🏇Ayr Horse Racing Tips: Make Git Your Scottish Grand National Best Bet
1:10 Ayr – Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Gbb Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m½f ITV
Sans Bruit is respected after a bold bid at Aintree last week and was third in this race in 2024 and is 8lbs lower now.
Palacio and the Irish raider Le Nez Cruex for Gavin Cromwell are noted as well.
But TRAPRAIN LAW looks the e/w value, in a race he’s also gone well in before.
Okay, he was pulled-up in this contest 12 months ago but was also runner-up n 2024 and is now 4lbs lower.
He’s been running well this season too, including a good third to JPR One at Musselburgh at the end of January.
And has seemingly been kept fresh with this race in mind.
This Russell/Scudamore runner is also the only CD winner in the field and gets in with a featherweight of only 10-4.
🥇TRAPRAIN LAW
🥈SANS BRUIT
🥉PALACIO
Key Stats 📈
- 19/21 – Aged 9 or younger
- 19/21 – Had won between 2-4 times (chase) before
- 18/21 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
- 4/21– Winning favourites
1:45 Ayr – Cpms Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase (Gbb Race) Cl2 (5yo+) 3m ITV
Having looked as if he ran out of petrol over 3m at Wetherby two runs ago and then winning over 2m5f last time – the step back up in trip is a small worry for DIAMOND DEALER.
However, this Dan Skelton horse has won over 2m 71/2 in the past and is only up 3lbs for that win last time.
So, I think he’ll be okay back up in trip with Ayr an easier (flatter) track too.
This will also only be his sixth run over fences (3 wins) so you feel there will be more sparkle to come from Diamond Dealer.
While, in a race with many questions around most of the others, it’s hard to make solid cases for the majority.
That said, of the rest, Blakey Boy is on a roll and is the only CD winner in the field.
While recent Hexham scorer Big John Wayne did it well the last day and is only 3lbs higher.
Big John can give Diamond most to think about.
🥇DIAMOND DEALER
🥈BIG JOHN WAYNE
🥉BLAKEY BOY
Key Stats 📈
- 13/14 – Aged 9 or younger
- 12/14 – Ran in the last 6 weeks
- 10/14 – Aged 6 or 7 years-old
- 3/14 – Winning favourites
2:20 Ayr – Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) (Grade 2) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m ITV
It’s a shame last year’s winner Cracking Rhapsody doesn’t run – having suffered an injury in recent days – I wish him well, as he’s a favourite of mine.
But we’ve still got last season’s close third OOH BETTY, who looks over-priced.
This mare does have a bit of an ‘in-an-out’ profile but is capable on her day and is back this season rated a pound lower.
She also ran well for much of the way in the County Hurdle last time (9th) – however, is back in trip slightly today on better ground.
Sam Twiston-Davies takes over in the saddle for the first time and having had 11st in this race last season gets in here with just 10st 6lbs.
She ran on well 12 months ago and actually probably would have won in another few strides (watch below).
Tellherthename was also two places behind the selection at Cheltenham – but is a pound worse off. So, I’m not sure why one is 5/2 and the other is 18/1.
Ooh Betty is also good in April – with form that reads 2-2-3.
Of the rest, you feel Tutti Quanti will be a player dropped back in grade from the Champion Hurdle and will love the soft ground.
While Tellherthename (first time hood) didn’t look to be given a hard time at Cheltenham last time – but still has a bit to prove for me.
So recent Morebattle Hurdle winner Captain Hugo and the Sean Bowen-ridden Queenie St Clair (up 12lbs) can do best of the rest.
🥇OOH BETTY (e/w)
🥈CAPTAIN HUGO
🥉QUEENIE ST CLAIR
Key Stats 📈
- 19/22 – Aged 7 or younger
- 18/22 – Favourites that finished in the top 3
- 18/22 – Had raced within the last 5 weeks
- 11/22 – Came from outside the top 3 in the betting
2:55 Ayr – UK Greentech Glasgow Seafield Trophy mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Gbb Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 3m½f ITV
Several of these have a fair bit to prove over this 3m trip, including the hat-trick-seeking Skelton runner Twistthenightaway, who has been winning over a bit less.
While she’s also up 6lbs from that last run.
So, the safer call might be to stick with the only proven trip winners – Pinot Rouge, Love Of Neymore and WORLD OF FORTUNES.
With the last-named getting the verdict.
He was a good winner at Kelso in March in a Listed Mares Hurdle and is back into a handicap today with 12st.
But connections are helping on that front with a 7lb claiming rider in the plate (Mr R Sugrue) – who, I will be honest, I know nothing about.
However, what we do know is that she’ll stay the trip well and heads here in winning form.
🥇WORLD OF FORTUNES
🥈LOVE OF NEYMORE
🥉TWISTTHENIGHTAWAY
Key Stats 📈
- 11/12 – Won between 2-3 times over hurdles
- 9/12 – Returned 10/1 or shorter in the betting
- 6 of the last 11 winners aged 6 years-old
- 10 of the last 11 winners aged between 6-8
3:35 Ayr – Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 4m ITV
You can see Andy’s in-depth 1-2-3 Scottish Grand National tips here, but here is the short-list.
🥇GIT MAKER (e/w)
🥈MONTREGARD
🥉KING OF ANSWERS
Key Stats 📈
- 22/22 – Ran 57 days or less ago
- 19/22 – Top 6 last time out
- 18/22 – Aged 8 or older
- The last outright winning favourite was in 1999 (Young Kenny, 1999)
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