English/Ire
King’s best bets - 24th February 2026
Sam King is back with a couple of all-weather wagers on Tuesday.
There's plenty of all-weather action to get stuck into at Newcastle and Southwell on Tuesday, with neither Catterick nor Leicester making much appeal in the National Hunt sphere.
The first bet of the day comes from Southwell in the Read Meg Nicholls' Blog At betmgm.co.uk Classified Stakes (5.00 Div 2).
Homer Stokes has been tumbling down the ratings as a reflection of his recent performances, but he bounced back to form when dropped to this lowly level last time and ought to be going very close if backing it up.
A former course and distance winner off 60, he now finds himself rated 10lb lower and eligible for classified company. He was doing all his best work late on when denied a neck over this trip at Wolverhampton last time and while the winner was idling in the closing stages, there's no doubt that he benefited from getting the first run off the home turn.
In terms of opposition, the consistent Woodraff has also been knocking on the door at this sort of level, but Homer Stokes has the better draw in gate two, while the former needs to navigate stall eight of eight and doesn't often convince with his resolution in the closing stages.
With all that in mind and Lewis Edmunds in the saddle, David Barron's eight-year-old, who is three from nine over course and distance, gets the vote to come out on top.
Homer Stokes - 1pt Win
Odds – 7/2
Over at Newcastle, the price discrepancy between both Comprador and Seven Fire is too big in the Create Your Bet Builders At Midnite Maiden Stakes (3.12).
The former may well improve enough to land the spoils, but I suspect he'll need to and the current 8/13 on offer looks short enough, especially with this stiff six-furlongs expected to suit main marker rival Seven Fire.
It can often be tough to peg horses back off the front at Gosforth Park depending on how the track is riding and I'd expect Seven Fire to be leading the pack from an early stage. An out and out sprinting type, Jack Channon's four-year-old's latest third-place finish at Chelmsford can be upgraded given she raced freely throughout, while her starting position against the often-favoured near side rail in stall eleven could prove majorly beneficial.
Seven Fire also ran to a 3lb higher RPR than Comprador when third at Chelmsford, even though she was eased once headed in the closing stages. There should be more to come from this sizeable daughter of Sioux Nation, and I'm surprised the main market principles aren't tighter together at the head of the betting.
Seven Fire – 1pt Win
Odds – 5/2
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