Life in Racing - An Interview with Andy Newton
Betting analyst and tipster Andy Newton, known for his work with Racing Ahead Magazine and regular appearances on the Final Furlong Podcast, shares his personal journey and insights in racing. He discusses the highlights and challenges of his career, from memorable wins and losses to his passion for race trends and stats. Newton reflects on his favourite races, most painful punting memory, and thoughts on improving the Cheltenham Festival. The article offers a unique look at one of horse racing’s most respected analysts and his enduring enthusiasm for the sport.
- Life In Racing interview with Andy Newton
- Andy emphasises the importance of trend analysis, memorable wins, and punting challenges in shaping his career
- Newton shares suggestions for the Cheltenham Festival and offers insights into his racing passions and preferences
In the latest instalment of our Life In Racing interview series, we speak to popular betting analyst and tipster Andy Newton.
A long-standing resident tipster for Racing Ahead Magazine, Andy Newton provides a daily horse racing cheat sheet at RacingAhead.net and serves as the resident trends and stats expert at Geegeez.co.uk. Andy is also a regular guest on the award-winning Final Furlong Podcast, with host Emmet Kennedy.
This week, Andy joined RacingInsider.com to discuss his life in the racing industry.
Life In Racing - Andy Newton
Racing Questions
How did you get into racing?
My dad used to the be the Nat West bank manager in Epsom – looking after several of the local trainers, including the legendary Reg Akehurst. That led to numerous Epsom Derby visits at a fairly young age – which sparked the bug.
What achievement are you proudest of in your career in racing?
In terms of betting – landing a mad £3 e/w multi-leg acca that ended with Balanchine winning the Epsom Oaks (6/1) under Frankie Dettori in 1994 – I was only 18 at the time. But this £6 bet scooped over £800 – which was a fair bit back then – I remember lobbing all the notes over my bedroom (ha).
While in terms of my career in racing – getting to know a stack of trainers when building up the old Trainer Quotes site (some good and some bad) was nice. Having a 15+year trends column in the Racing Ahead magazine has also been a big highlight. While in more recent years, I’ve loved being a regular on the Final Furlong Podcast with top host Emmet Kennedy – it’s always a buzz when one of the big-price NAPs lands and looking at the comments from listeners.
What's your first racing memory?
Sneaking into the old James Lane (which become Stan James) bookies over the road from me and watching the racing. While I also remember going to a Crystal Palace away game at QPR in early May and seeing Lester Piggott winning the 2000 Guineas on Rodrigo de Triano in 1992 (I was 16).
My first ever Cheltenham Festival was in 1996 – watching Collier Bay land the Champion Hurdle.
I remember not taking a coat and was freezing – I’ve not missed many since and seem to remember to take a coat each year now!
Who is your favourite horse of all time?
Seeing Best Mate win three Gold Cups was special, plus I used to love the staying hurdlers – Baracouda and Inglis Drever. Kauto Star and Denman, of course, were superstars too.
But it was One Man that I loved the most. This talented grey won 20 of his 35 starts and was super special when winning the 1998 Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
But what a sad day the following month, when the King George winner died at Aintree in the Melling Chase – I still remember the shockwaves and sadness it sent through the crowd that afternoon.
What's your favourite race on the calendar?
I’d say, like a lot of people, I’m more of a jumps fan – so it must be one of the hedge-hopping races.
Therefore, it goes without saying, the Cheltenham Festival is a big highlight. But I’ve always enjoyed Aintree the following month too.
I’d say I don’t really have a standout ‘favourite’ race, but the National – despite all its changes, remains a big highlight. It’s a top trends race so I’ve always enjoyed applying the stats to the Grand National.
Yes, the make-up of the race has changed in recent times, and some are saying the trends are on the turn. But despite Noble Yeats popping up at 50/1 as a winning 7 year-old in 2022 – the fact remains he’s still the only one since 1940 and before World War II.
So I love debating this with people each year that fancy the well-backed 7yold in the race!
What do you think is the most overrated race meeting or festival?
Trials Day at Cheltenham at the end of January. It’s not great, is it?
I mean the last Cotswold Chase winner – the so-called Gold Cup trial – to follow up in the ‘big one’ was Looks Like Trouble in 2000.
What I don’t get is that the Cheltenham October, November and December Meeting are all two- or three-day meetings – but the ‘so-called’ trials fixture for the Festival is just one day – and generally a poor one at that.
We know you are known for your trends, but what other details do you pay most attention to when studying form?
I like looking back at past winning horses or trainers of races – if a particular yard has targeted a race with success in the past. Plus, past horses winning the same races again – especially if better off at the ratings.
But I think the bigger thing I like to look for is how well (or not) a form line has been franked and if winners are coming out or certain races.
For example, if a horse has run well in race and several in behind (or in front) have won since – this gives the form a lot more substance.
A bit like the 2025 Mares NH Flat race at the Aintree Grand National Meeting – a 20-runner race that I lost count of how many future winners came out of it.
What's your most painful punting story?
Like a lot of people – the famous Annie Power fall in the Mares’ Hurdle in 2015 at the Cheltenham Festival.
I had accas all over the shop – not only on the day – but in the build-up to the Festival, that fell by the wayside as soon as Ruby got catapulted into the turf.
I’ll never forget the crowd groan – which wasn’t far off the unseat of Moscow Flyer in the 2004 Champion Chase – and then once the dust had settled the numerous conspiracy theories flying around about how Ruby fell off on purpose – as if!
Which figure in racing, past or present, would you love to meet?
I used to help write Richard Dunwoody’s pieces in the Daily Mirror back in the day – but despite speaking to him many times – never actually met him in person, would you believe.
A top jockey – but a poor dancer, backed up with his early Strictly Come Dancing exit in 2009 – so I could have taught him some of dancefloor moves.
If you could make one change to the Cheltenham Festival, what would it be?
Of course, I remember the Festival as just three days – but I think where it is now (4) is about right.
But I’d not be against trying to move it on a day though – start it on a Wednesday and end on the Saturday with the Gold Cup – meaning an even bigger coverage.
Although Uttoxeter and the Midlands National might have something to say – but why not have that on the Sunday?
I also think there might be a place for a veteran’s race at the Festival – the last 10yold to win the Gold Cup was Cool Dawn in 1998, so maybe some of the old winners of the ‘big-one’ could be tempted to clash in a Vets Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Quickfire Five
Apart from racing, what's your favourite sport?
Football and golf – but I also play tennis at a decent level.
I’m a 10 handicapper at golf – and that’s with a funny swing (so I’m told) – so if that was ironed out then I’d have probably won more majors than Tiger by now!
While in terms of football - Crystal Palace are my team, getting hooked by going to the 1990 FA Cup Final aged 14, with the Eagles soaring high and low since.
I also run a vets over 35’s side at West Wickham – which is hard work but great fun that keeps me involved with the match-day bants as I’m getting a bit long in the tooth now to play.
Which racecourse that you've been to serves the best food?
Leopardstown does a banging curry chips that we always get on the DRF Sunday after race four.
While a bit nearer to home – Plumpton has always served us and the lads well with their food offerings, in particular the noodles.
What's your favourite drink to have during a day at the races?
I’m a bit of a cider fan – so anything apple is always the way forward. After all, this is one of your five-a-day – right?
While don’t tell the Irish, but I’m not a huge Guinness fan. I’ll have the odd one, of course – but I’ve been to the DRF a few times in the past and not had a single Guinness over the weekend – which can’t be said for one of my mates, Sam Davis, who seems to have a ‘black stuff’ intravenous drip for three days!
What's your favourite music album of all time?
Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory is a must-have.
While on a road trip back in the early 2000’s – a mate borrowed his dad’s car to take us to the South of France. We looked in the glove box and the only CD in there was Billy Joel’s greatest hits – which served us well and led to me knowing all the words to ‘Piano Man’ for future karaoke parties.
What's your favourite sandwich?
Hot – it has to be a sausage (Cumberland), with a bit of mustard.
Cold – I’ve always enjoyed a BLT, but I like most – as long as it’s not prawn related!
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