Freelance reporter, photographer and consultant. Father, Afi, sailor, diver, fisherman, cook, musician, and gardener who is infatuated with politics.
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Articles by Ed Watson
Sky Bet Sunday Series tips: Ed Watson previews Pontefract's card
Letsbefrank’s bid to land the £100,000 bonus for the second time in three years is the headline story of the Sky Bet Sunday Series finale at Pontefract. Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson has sliced and diced the seven-race card and fancies a trio of fillies to muscle in on the action. THE NAP BET We’ve seen SI GRASS only three times since she chased home subsequent French Oaks third and Irish Oaks runner-up Inis Mor on debut at Newmarket a year ago.
#resultsday #alevelresultsday #tlevels #btecs #linkedinnewsuk
❌ Don’t let anyone else decide your future for you. This week sees hundreds of thousands of students collect A-level, T-Level and BTEC results – and everyone will have an opinion on how you’ve done and what your next steps should be. While it’s helpful, it can also be overwhelming – and in some cases, well-meaning but outdated.
Sky Bet Sunday Series tips: Ed Watson Thirsk best bets
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson tipped 5/2 winner Letsbefrank on the last Sunday Series card at Hamilton. The Sky Bet-sponsored series heads south of the border to Thirsk, where our man is sweet on the chances of Jim Goldie’s runner filling his boots again by landing the £100,000 three-win bonus for the second time. THE BEST BET Five career wins, all of them in Sunday Series races. The first horse to scoop the six-figure bonus.
Ed Watson shines a spotlight on the popular and prolific Letsbefrank
He wouldn’t have got anywhere near close enough to lay a glove on Quick Ransom. As for Bijou D’Inde, the St James’s Palace Stakes winner of 1996 would have left him for dust. When it comes to the affections of his owner, however, Letsbefrank has earned a place in Stuart Morrison’s heart right up there alongside the two best horses the retired Glasgow lawyer admits he has been hugely privileged to own. Letsbefrank is rapidly becoming a legend in his own right. Certainly a Sky Bet Sunday Series one.
Sky Bet Sunday Series tips: Ed Watson Hamilton best bets
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson fancies a Sky Bet Sunday Series specialist to enjoy a red-letter day on home turf as five potential bonus hunters face off at Hamilton. THE BEST BET No one has targeted the Sky Bet Sunday Series with more oomph than Jim Goldie and Hamilton’s leading trainer over the last five years is sure to have primed many of his 11 runners to peak at this fixture.
Comment: Bike lanes and the rise of outrage in our society
A commentary by a journalist and former broadcaster who has lived in Greater Victoria for more than 50 years. You’ve probably heard stories about how shamans, witches and journalists are able to sift through tea leaves, the droppings of wild birds and even raw computer data to divine which signs portend change.
Ayr Scottish Grand National meeting preview and tips
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson is our man on the ground this week at Ayr, where he fancies Dan Skelton and Olly Murphy to enhance their already healthy strike-rates at the track. THE BIG-RACE BET Dan Skelton’s stranglehold on the Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase can continue with HOE JOLY SMOKE. The champion trainer elect has won five of the last nine runnings of this £50,000 event. Even more impressive is his record with his finishers in the race.
Cheltenham Festival 2026 | The story of the North's JCB Triumph Hurdle hopeful Minella Study
A boozy conversation at a friend’s wedding, racing pigeons and a rookie trainer’s meticulous blueprint to strike gold with his first Festival runner. Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson goes inside the Minella Study story. Picture the scene. Champagne glasses are being refilled. Toasts are being raised. And sunrise is dawning on the morning after the big day before; one that was long in the planning yet which is now a wondrous new reality.
Kelso preview & tips for Morebattle Hurdle day: Best bets and each-way fancy
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson pinpointed winners Dearkeithandkaty (100/30), Magna Victor (100/30) and Kelce (15/8) from six picks at Musselburgh’s Scottish Cheltenham Trials weekend. He returns with three fancies on the £355,000 bet365 Morebattle Hurdle card at Kelso that is headlined by the richest hurdle race of the year north of the border. The Big Race Bet A place in history awaits Cracking Rhapsody if he can notch a third consecutive Morebattle victory.
Musselburgh Tips: Scottish Cheltenham Trials Day 2 Preview
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson has three fancies on day two of Musselburgh’s Scottish Cheltenham Trials double-header. THE BIG-RACE BET Rock My Way was impressive when taking apart Ascot’s Berkshire National and he will undoubtedly find the shallower waters of the £60,000 Edinburgh National easier to fish in, having found Haiti Couleurs and Co a bridge too far in the Welsh version five weeks ago.
Musselburgh Tips: Scottish Cheltenham Trials Day Preview
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson fancies a trainer who’s quietly carving out a niche as a specialist Musselburgh target trainer to bank more of the booty on day one of the Scottish Cheltenham Trials double-header.
Ryan Mania on Minella Study and his Triumph Hurdle dream
Ed Watson talks to Ryan Mania about his career highs and lows and the Cheltenham dream with Minella Study. It's taken nearly four years. But out of the darkness which surrounded the tragic demise of Midnight Shadow, Ryan Mania can see the light again. Every jump jockey dreams of winning Grade 1 races. So few actually achieve it.
Musselburgh New Year's Day Preview and Tips
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson fancies three proven Musselburgh performers to shine on a sell-out card north of the border. Punters will surely be drawn to Jet To Vegas after the form of his Ascot second to Thomas Mor was enhanced when that rival finished runner-up in the Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Northern jumpers for Christmas feast including Wetherby and Chepstow stars
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson reveals six northern horses on his radar for the festive period. Nicky Richards resisted temptation to throw JAPETUS into the deep end of Aintree’s Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle in the absence from that race of the unbeaten Upon Tweed. Instead, the master of Greystoke is following his tried-and-trusted route of keeping his most promising novice hurdlers in shallower waters to build experience before dispensing with the armbands.
Ayr Saturday Racing best bets: Ed Watson tips
Speed is the name of the game on Scotland’s showpiece occasion of the season, with the Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup supported by the Silver Cup and Group 3 Firth Of Clyde Stakes among five live ITV races. Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV pundit Ed Watson picks out three big-priced runners who make each-way appeal.
Ayr Friday best bets: Ed Watson tips
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV pundit Ed Watson marks your card for day two of the Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup Festival with three fancies. Stepping up to 6f has sparked a chunk of improvement from ARDISIA. The other has been wearing a blindfold and obtaining a pass for late stalls entry.
Ayr Thursday best bets: Ed Watson tips
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV pundit Ed Watson is our man on the ground for the biggest Flat fixture of the year north of the border. In the first of three daily pieces, Ed has a trio of fancies for Thursday’s eight-race curtain-raiser. VINCE L’AMOUR (2.15 Ayr) One of four runners for bang-in-form Tim Easterby, VINCE L’AMOUR is fancied to take advantage of a drop in class and open his account for the season.
Sky Bet Sunday Series preview and tips for York Sunday August 7
The 2025 Sky Bet Sunday Series concludes at York, where William Haggas sets a poser for punters by saddling Knavesmire specialist Elmonjed against his Shadwell stable-mate and Betfair Sprint Cup switcher Almeraq in the feature Listed sprint. Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson takes you through the ITV4 action, which kicks off at the earlier time of 2.30pm.
Sky Bet Sunday Series preview and tips for Haydock Sunday August 10th
Following an eight-week hiatus, the Sky Bet Sunday Series returns at Haydock, where Spring Is Sprung aims to emulate Letsbefrank by pocketing the £100,000 bonus on offer to the first horse to win three times. Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson slices and dices a competitive seven-race menu on Merseyside.
Sky Bet Sunday Series bonus hunter Spring Is Sprung
Owner John Blackburn is hoping patience pays off with his Sky Bet Sunday Series bonus hunter Spring Is Sprung. The five-year-old sprinter is the only horse with two victories to his name so far, following wins at Newmarket in May and Chelmsford in June. Spring Is Sprung’s intended first crack at landing the £100,000 bonus - paid to connections of the first horse to win three times - was scuppered by heavy rain shortly before the last fixture at Hamilton.
Theology and the Mythic Sensibility: Human Myth‐Making and Divine Creativity. By Andrew Shamel. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2024. Pp. 232. £90.00 - Watson - The Heythrop Journal - Wiley Online Library
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Sky Bet Sunday Series preview and tips for Chelmsford Sunday June 1
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson swaps out his sun hat for an all-weather one as the Sky Bet Sunday Series reaches the halfway stage at Chelmsford. THE BEST BET Successful over this course and distance on debut in February, LIKEALOT is fancied to preserve her unbeaten Chelmsford record by making a winning handicap bow for Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan.
Sky Bet Sunday Series preview and tips for Hamilton Sunday June 15
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson previews round four of the Sky Bet Sunday Series at Hamilton, where an unsettled forecast could pose a problem for Spring Is Sprung, who is chasing the £100,000 bonus in the feature sprint. THE BEST BET Boasting form figures of 1211 since being upped to middle distances in handicaps, this steadily improving four-year-old is fancied to extend his and trainer Ed Walker’s red-hot run of form.
Sky Bet Sunday Series preview and tips for Newmarket Sunday May 18
Ed Watson previews the Sky Bet Sunday Series card from Newmarket as he chats to connections about a trio of horses. Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson runs the rule over the second Sky Bet Sunday Series card of the season at Newmarket, where he fancies a locally-trained runner to continue his recent progress and close in on a shot at emulating last year's £100,000 bonus winner Letsbefrank.
Sky Bet Sunday Series: Musselburgh preview and tips
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson is back to run the rule over the return of the Sky Bet Sunday Series. Now into its fifth year, the series kicks off at Musselburgh this weekend, then moves on to Newmarket (May 18), Chelmsford (June 1), Hamilton (June 15), Haydock (August 10) and finally York (September 7).
Ayr Saturday tips and inside track ahead of Scottish Grand National day
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson is our man on the ground this week at Ayr, where he fancies Willie Mullins to win the big one. The last two winners of this race, Malystic (2023) and Tommy’s Oscar (2024), are back for another bite at the cherry - but they may have to give best to the younger legs of Traprain Law, who can avenge his two-and-a-half-length defeat by the latter 12 months ago.
Ayr Friday tips and inside track ahead of day one of the Scottish Grand National meeting
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson is our man on the ground this week at Ayr, where he fancies two Dan Skelton runners to win and increase his lead in the trainers’ title before the Willie Mullins armada arrives on Saturday. The 8lb weight-for-age allowance four-year-olds receive at this time of the season makes Inappropriate an enticing bet to follow up his successful handicap debut in the Go North Series juvenile final three weeks ago.
Kelso Saturday tips and inside track ahead of Morebattle Hurdle day
There are plenty of southern raiders, plus a couple of Irish ones, converging on the Borders for a quality Morebattle Hurdle card. Scottish Sun columnist Ed Watson takes a deep dive into the action, and fancies a horse that’s already had one big payday in the Scottish sun to come up smelling of roses again in the £120,000 feature - one of five races from the track live on ITV.
Musselburgh preview and tips Sunday February 2 | 'He has a great record in handicaps'
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson brings us his tips and the inside track ahead of Musselburgh's action this weekend. Musselburgh’s Scottish Cheltenham Trials Weekend continues on Sunday, with the Edinburgh National the pick of four races being shown live on ITV1. Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson has run the numbers - and is sweet on the chances of a repeat result in the four-mile feature.
Musselburgh preview and tips Saturday February 1 | 'He has a great record in handicaps'
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson brings us his tips and the inside track ahead of Musselburgh's action this weekend. There’s more than £430,000 up for grabs at Musselburgh’s Scottish Cheltenham Trials Weekend. Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson has crunched the numbers and come up with three plays on Saturday’s opening day, headlined by the £100,000 Scottish Champion Chase.
Kelso tips and preview ahead of Borders National
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson casts a critical eye over Kelso’s Scottish Borders National card, where he claims it’s purely coincidental that he fancies a trio of greys to garner with the main prizes. THE BIG RACE BET A deeper field, in numerical terms at least, has assembled for the Scottish Borders National than appeared likely at the five-day stage.
Northern Stable Tour: 2024/25 Jumps Season Preview
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV pundit Ed Watson has been on a magical mystery tour of Scotland and the North and found 40 horses to keep onside this season DONNY BOY: Yet to win over fences but improved with experience last season, posting his best effort when a close third to Sharjah in a decent novices’ handicap at the Scottish National meeting. Novice status remains intact for this season and trainer hasn’t given up hope that he can finally fulfil his initial promise as a hurdler.
Horse Racing Tips: Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Festival, day two preview
Ed Watson is our man basking in the sunshine on Scotland’s west coast for the Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Festival. In the second of his daily previews, the Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst fancies a seasoned sprinter to make her class tell as the action cranks up towards Saturday's superb Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup card. Now we know why we’ve not seen UNCLE DON for the best part of 11 weeks. He’s been coughing.
Horse Racing Tips: Virgin Bet Ayr Gold Cup Festival, day one preview
Ed Watson is our man on the ground for Scotland’s biggest and most valuable Flat fixture of the year. In the first of three daily pieces, the Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst casts an eye over the day one action. CATALYSE (1.42 Ayr) Richard Fahey’s decision to run CATALYSE in the meeting curtain-raiser, rather than the nursery on Friday he makes a point of targeting every year, could be interpreted as a pointer to the chances of Bonnie’s Boy in that particular contest.
Sky Bet Sunday Series Pontefract tips | Making a Point at Pontefract
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson runs the rule over the Sky Bet Sunday Series finale at Pontefract, where Jim Goldie has a second chance at cleaning up the £100,000 bonus with American Affair and Letsbefrank. A Sir Michael Stoute-trained three-year-old. With a pedigree to die for. Making its debut in a fillies-only handicap off an opening mark of just 75. Really, what’s not to like?
Sky Bet Sunday Series: Thirsk tips and Horses to Follow
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson runs the rule over Thirsk’s seven-race Sky Bet Sunday Series card, where five runners have a chance to put themselves in pole position to scoop the £100,000 bonus up for grabs for the first horse to win three times. THE BEST BET - PABORUS (4.15) From soft ground at Redcar to good to firm last time at Carlisle, PABORUS has impressed in winning both of his starts this season in decisive fashion.
Sky Bet Sunday Series: Newmarket Tips and Horses to Follow
The Sky Bet Sunday Series heads to Flat racing’s HQ for the first time this weekend. Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson, who was on the mark with Ice Max (15/8) at the Series opener at Musselburgh, crunches the numbers on Newmarket’s seven-race offering. Unbeaten in two starts at Lingfield under Jim Crowley, this impeccably-bred son of Sea The Stars looks a potential Group horse in the making.
Sky Bet Sunday Series: Haydock tips and Horses to Follow
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson crunches the numbers on the return of the Sky Bet Sunday Series at Haydock, where he fancies history to be made at the penultimate stop of the 2024 edition. Few trainers have targeted the Sunday Series with as much purpose as Jim Goldie. No trainer has sent out more winners, either; five across the first four fixtures this year as things stand.
Sky Bet Sunday Series: Hamilton Park Tips and Horses to Follow
Ed Watson is back on home turf for round three of the Sky Bet Sunday Series. The Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst nailed winners Pepsi Cat (100/30) and Ice Max (15/8) at the first two fixtures and has three fancies on Hamilton’s card. Hampshire to Hamilton is not a journey Andrew Balding’s horseboxes make very often. Only twice in the post-Covid era, in fact.
Sky Bet Sunday Series: Musselburgh Tips and Horses to Follow
They say to never look a gift horse in the mouth, right? Silkie Wilkie is back on the same mark from which he bolted up - by nearly five lengths, no less - on his only previous visit to Musselburgh in last season’s Scottish Sprint Cup. He returned to form back on turf with a fast-finishing second to Blind Beggar at Bath two weeks ago, a run that further enhanced 7lb claimer Sam Fielden’s already noteworthy record on the five-year-old to 2116524222182.
Ayr Scottish Grand National meeting preview
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson is our man on the ground this week at Ayr, where he fancies two Dan Skelton runners to win on the opening day of the Scottish Grand National Festival and take a chunk out of Willie Mullins’ lead at the top of the trainers’ championship. Of Dan Skelton’s nine runners on the card, Jet Plane is theoretically the one with the best chance on the book. Yet for my money there’s little doubt CATCH HIM DERRY is the best-handicapped of the bunch.
Aintree preview: Ed Watson on the northern challenge
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson casts his eye over the northern challenge heading to Aintree, and considers their prospects of snaffling some of the prize money Willie Mullins, Paul Nicholls and current leader Dan Skelton have tooled up for in their three-way scrap for the trainers’ championship. Who’s the trainer responsible for the shortest-priced northern horse running at Aintree this week? Lucinda Russell is surely a fair first guess? No. Must be Donald McCain then?
Northern stars bound for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival including Corach Rambler
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson casts his eye over the northern challenge heading to next week's Festival and assesses their prospects for success. Wins 12 months ago for Corach Rambler (Ultima), The Real Whacker (Brown Advisory) and Iroko (Martin Pipe) provided the North with its best return at the Festival since 2012. If you expected an Alamo-style charge from beyond Hadrian’s Wall and over the Pennines on the back of that, then prepare to be disappointed.
Sunday racing preview: Ed Watson Kempton tips
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson has nailed winners TILSWORTH ONY TA (6/1), MOON FLIGHT (9/2) and SMOKY MOUNTAIN (11/10) from six selections so far in his Sunday Night Lights series. He’s on the hunt for more success when the BHA’s new trial rolls on to round four at Kempton. 6.30: PLAY BAL Ordinarily, I’d be looking to oppose an eight-raced, four-year-old maiden conceding lumps of weight to lightly-raced, younger rivals open to any amount of improvement.
Sunday racing preview: Ed Watson Southwell tips
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson runs the rule over Southwell’s Sunday night card, where his has three fancies. LIGHTS down for a full house. Once the bulbs start to dim following the 0-90 feature at 8.30, the BHA’s first six-race Sunday night pilot will be in the can.
Sunday racing preview: Ed Watson Newcastle tips
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson dives into the latest round of Sunday night action from Newcastle, where he tackles the key talking points on an eight-race card and finds two tartan-trained fancies. For every Rio Ferdinand, there’s an Anton. For every Michael Schumacher, there’s a Ralf. For every Brooks Koepka, there’s a Chase. 'Who?', you ask. Well, that’s precisely my point.
Sunday racing tips: Best bets for Chelmsford
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson has dissected the pick of the action from Sunday's floodlit fiesta at Chelmsford and found three fancies. 5.45: FOLLOW THE GOOD LIFE Big fields don’t always translate to competitive races. With no fewer than four last-time-out winners among its 15 runners, however, this 1m2f handicap provides the largest field and most competitive contest on tonight’s card.
Sunday racing preview: Ed Watson Wolverhampton tips
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson delves into the pick of the action from the first of the BHA’s six-fixture trial of Sunday night meetings between now and mid-March, kicking off with Wolverhampton. FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOWES There’s a lot riding on Smoky Mountain. Not least Charlie Fellowes’ mood.
Cheltenham Christmas Meeting day two preview and tips
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson casts his eye over three of the chase races on the final day of Cheltenham action for 2023. This informative novices' handicap chase was won two seasons ago by Corach Rambler and can often be a pointer for the Ultima back here in March. No fewer than four of the seven runners in today’s line-up - Mofasa, Wiseguy, Everything’sontick and Some Scope - are ascribed the Timeform ‘p’, which signifies improvement is likely.
Cheltenham Christmas Meeting day one preview and tips
Scottish Sun columnist and Racing TV analyst Ed Watson casts his eye over the day one action from Cheltenham’s final meeting of 2023. Up in trip? Tick. Down in grade? Tick. Back against fellow mares? Tick. Previous New Course-and-distance winner? Tick. Generous early pace to tow her into the race? Tick. If you’re still not convinced that Walk In Clover is worth a wager, then we’re probably as well calling it a day now, wishing one another a happy life and going our separate ways.
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