Weekend Wagers: Big Handicap from Newmarket and Big Hits in NFL London

Newmarket takes top billing on the racing front this weekend, with Day 2 of the Future Champions Festival dominating the ITV Racing card. The Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes is the classiest event on offer, as a field of promising youngsters tackle the 7f trip, while the marathon Cesarewitch Handicap is set to be the big betting heat of the day.

Elsewhere, Sunday afternoon sees the second London Game of 2026 as the Jaguars and Eagles butt heads at a packed Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Here, using data presented by NewBettingSites.uk, we pick out our top three bets on the Newmarket card and our NFL London betting tips.

Emirates Autumn Stakes – 2:25, Newmarket

While “only” a Group 3 affair, this 1m contest has fallen to genuine top-notchers over the years, including the mighty Nashwan, Nayef, and 21st-century Classic heroes Kingston Hill (St Leger), Persian King (French 2,000 Guineas), and Coroebus (2,000 Guineas).

Aidan O’Brien dominates the 2026 entries, with seven of the 16 remaining runners calling Ballydoyle home. However, the County Tipperary handler has won this only once – an unusually low tally given his stellar overall record – and it may be worth looking elsewhere.

Trainer trends suggest five-time winner Charlie Appleby is the man to follow, which is handy, as the Appleby-trained Al Jabbar is the one to catch our eye. The son of Sea The Stars was backed as though defeat was out of the question on debut at this track over 7f but finished only second. However, he took a big step forward when tackling a mile for the first time at the Doncaster St Leger meeting. He did well to overcome a troubled passage to master the re-opposing Hmas Perth that day and, with further progress likely, he is fancied to follow up.

• Recommended Bet - Al Jabbar @ 7/1 with LiveScoreBet

Darley Dewhurst Stakes – 3:00, Newmarket

The big Group 1 on the Newmarket card is widely considered the most prestigious juvenile contest of the domestic season. In the 21st century alone, eight winners have progressed to Classic glory during their three-year-old campaign.

The pick of those eight Classic heroes is the greatest horse of the modern era – the one and only Frankel. Arriving with a three-from-three record in 2010, the Sir Henry Cecil-trained superstar comfortably dispatched his five rivals.

Sixteen years on from Frankel’s heroics, one of his sons sits atop the market. Unbeaten in two starts to date, including an impressive display in the Champagne Stakes last time out, Desert Castle looks a star in the making. With William Buick in the saddle, he can take the next step up the ladder by repeating his father's Dewhurst success. Aidan O’Brien’s Darkness Falls is a danger but looks more of a long-term Derby prospect; over this 7f trip, he may lack the pace to conquer Desert Castle.

• Recommended Bet - Desert Castle @ 8/13 with LiveScoreBet

Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap – 3:40, Newmarket

With a maximum 32-runner field a distinct possibility, I turned to the trends for assistance in the signature handicap. The past ten renewals suggest we should look for a 4-7-year-old carrying 9st2lb or less, with a win over 2m+ (either on the flat or over hurdles), and three or fewer Flat outings in the current season.

Applying our trends to the 2026 entries creates a shortlist of four – Cock And Bull, Dream On Baby, Maxident, and High Fibre. Maxident could go well at a big price if the rain arrives, while I wouldn’t put anyone off backing the Emmet Mullins duo of Cock And Bull and Dream On Baby. However, at 20/1, High Fibre earns the each-way vote. In two flat outings over 2m+, this James Owen runner has won a 2m handicap on the July Course and stayed on for second in a 2m½f event at York. Racing off the same mark as for that runner-up effort on the Knavesmire, he can at least hit the frame.

• Recommended Bet - High Fibre @ 20/1 with LiveScoreBet

Philadelphia Eagles v Jacksonville Jaguars – Sunday 2:30 pm, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

NFL fans have a Sunday afternoon treat this week, as the Eagles and Jaguars face off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Philly are flying in late on Friday, while for Jacksonville, the UK is becoming a second home – the Jags have played 14 previous London games, winning seven.

The 3-1 Jaguars are bidding to back up their 22-17 win over the Bengals, while 2-2 Philadelphia hope to bounce back from a 24-20 loss to the Rams. All the money in the lead-up to the game has been for Jacksonville; from -4.5 favourites earlier in the week, that line has shifted to -7.5. That’s a significant move towards Jacksonville, who are 3-1 against the spread this season, while the Eagles are 0-4.

Ordinarily, my instinct is to go against the crowd in this type of scenario. However, it is hard to be confident in an Eagles side looking to avoid a third successive defeat, struggling offensively, and with injury concerns regarding Saquon Barkley, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert. With form, injuries, and familiarity with the surroundings in their favour, Jacksonville could enjoy a comfortable afternoon against the misfiring Eagles. Having posted a 35-6 win over the Patriots and a 34-10 win over the Browns, the Jags can cover two touchdowns.

• Recommended Bet - Jacksonville -13.5 @ 13/8 with BetTom