It may just be a Thursday racecard, but Sandown’s Brigadier Gerard evening is always important during this part of the Flat season. One of last year’s top-rated horses in the world, Ombudsman, is back, while several races boast stars looking to take the step towards Royal Ascot. My free horse racing tips for Thursday are live.
Thursday Horse Racing Tips: A Quality Sandown Quintet
| Race | Horse | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:42 (National Stakes) | Napa | 15/8 | Ladbrokes |
| 6:12 (Henry II Stakes) | Lazy Griff | 4/1 | StarSports |
| 6:42 (Heron Stakes) | Talk Of New York | 6/4 | Coral |
| 7:12 (Brigadier Gerard Stakes) | Ombudsman | 5/6 | Coral |
| 7:45 (Whitsun Cup) | Raammee | 5/6 | BetGoodwin |
Odds correct at 16:00 BST on 27/05/26. Odds subject to change.
My best horse racing bets for Thursday are available now, with odds provided by BetGoodwin, Coral, Ladbrokes, and StarSports, some of our best horse racing bookmakers.
I’m backing these horses on full merit, but keep an eye on the form of these races, as this bunch all have targets further down the line.
Napa (5:42 – National Stakes)
This is the first chance for the quicker juveniles to get some Black Type. The Listed National Stakes can lead to a run in the Norfolk or Queen Mary at Ascot, and Kevin Philippart De Foy’s Napa is in pole position to get the party started here.
A son of Ascot winner Naval Crown, he has the pace to make the most of jumping from stall two. There is speed around him, but the problem for Where Love Lies and Adaay Of Scarlett is that they’re coming from wider berths and can set things up nicely for jockey David Egan.
Why I’m Backing Napa:
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Shown the best form to date after winning well at Newmarket
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Best priced 16/1 for the Norfolk Stakes at the royal meeting
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Has the perfect race set-up here
Lazy Griff (6:12 – Henry II Stakes)
In many ways, this race is all about the hugely popular Sweet William. I love this horse, and the fan in me would love to see him score again on his way to the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. He has a 5lb penalty here though, and that makes things tough.
We can’t forget either that Charlie Johnston’s returning four-year-old Lazy Griff was second in the Derby last year. He has a German pedigree, which leads to his need for a staying trip, something he finally gets here (two miles). Will Buick’s mount has very strong form, and I reckon he will skip across this surface beautifully. He’s overpriced with StarSports, who offer free bets on sign-up.
Why I’m Backing Lazy Griff:
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Second in the 2025 Derby, placed in the Irish Derby
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Really needs this two-mile trip
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Well weighted and nicely priced against Sweet William
Talk Of New York (6:42 – Heron Stakes)
Looking to bring the Wall Street pace and the Broadway Drama to the Heron is Charlie Appleby’s Talk Of New York. This is the very colt who was backed for the 2000 Guineas after working well in Dubai. He did put in a lovely novice performance back at Newmarket, but skipped the Guineas to wait for this prep for the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Recent winners of this race include Without Parole, Mostahdaf, Almaqam, and Opera Ballo who all went on to be Group 1 scorers. Not all good three-year-olds are ready for the Classics, but many take in this race before going onto much better things.
Yazin is a danger, but Talk Of New York should prove to be too good here under that man William Buick.
Why I’m Backing Talk Of New York:
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Was well fancied for the 2000 Guineas (diverted to here)
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Has the profile of a Group 1 winner in waiting
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Trainer brings four to the race – this is the top dog
Ombudsman (7:12 – Brigadier Gerard Stakes)
Named after one of the greats, the Brigadier Gerard roll of honour includes Derby record time holder Workforce, Poet’s Word, Lord North, Bay Bridge, and Almaqam, Group 1 winners all. John Gosden has won this race three times, and he’s back for more with stable star Ombudsman.
The star five-year-old started last season in this race, when he found it too hard to give Almaqam weight. He’s back for his prep once again ahead of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, and while 7lbs is a lot to give away, we have to put it into context.
Even if he’s rusty, he can run to a mark of around 126 here – that’s the equivalent of 119 with the penalty. Given that Almeric isn’t in the best of form and I can only push Arabian Light up to a maximum of 115, this is all about whether Gethin can reach the appropriate level.
I can make a case for 118 for Gethin, but that isn’t guaranteed now he’s back on turf, which gives Ombudsman some wiggle room. I’m always hesitant to bet odds-on, but given the lack of depth in this field relative to his abilities, Ombudsman can be safely backed to score. I have similar feelings about the following race.
Why I’m Backing Ombudsman:
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One of the top-rated horses in the world
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Second here last year, better horse now
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Could be rusty, but won a Group 1 in Dubai in March
Raammee (7:45 – Whitsun Cup)
My final bet comes in the Whitsun Cup, usually a competitive one-mile handicap. This one is far from that however as Raammee, representing owner Sheikh Ahmed, trainer Roger Varian, and jockey Ray Dawson, should have this all sewn up.
Raammee is second favourite for Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot, and the 14/1 for that will disappear if he does what’s expected here. Two from two now in his career, he could be anything up to 10lbs clear in the weights, and he should be winning this with the others handicapped just OK. He’s odds-on, like Ombudsman, but like him, he doesn’t face a deep field.
Why I’m Backing Raammee:
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Extremely well handicapped for this race
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Strongly fancied for the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot
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Son of Persian King should take to this ground well
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