I’ve picked out my Sandown best bets for Friday’s meeting – a strong punt in the Esher Cup, one I think can get the better of the favourite in the Gordon Richards Stakes, and a very well handicapped type to close things out in the Lucky Last.
Friday Sandown Horse Racing Tips: My 3 to Follow on Classic Trial Day
| Race | Horse | Odds | Bookie |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:50 Sandown | Organise | 5/4 | BetVictor |
| 2:25 Sandown | Devil's Advocate | 7/2 | Coral |
| 4:45 Sandown | Into The Light | 7/2 | William Hill |
Odds correct at 14:30 BST on 23/04/26. Odds subject to change.
Flat racing fans are in for a rare treat on Friday. With Sandown’s Jump Finale taking place this Saturday, the major action on the level is bumped forward, and this is a very classy card indeed.
The bet365 Mile (3:00) is a Group 1 in all but name – what a race this is going to be. That event, along with the Classic Trial itself and the fillies’ “Wild Card” race, which offers entry into the Oaks, are going to be great spectacles. The thing is, we need to know when to just enjoy the entertainment, and when to have a bet.
I’ve concentrated my efforts on three other races on the card, each one producing solid Sandown racing predictions. You can back my horses at best odds with BetVictor, Coral, and William Hill, some of the best bookies around.
ORGANISE (1:50) – My Best Bet of the Day
The pace looks solid in the Esher Cup, but not extreme. Those looking to close from deep could be at a disadvantage here, but in any case, this will be all about the best handicapped three-year-old over the mile, and that is most certainly Organise.
I’ve liked this horse since his debut last year, and he still has an entry in the Dante at York next month. I’m not saying he’ll go and win that, but he’s the proverbial “Group horse in a handicap”, and could have too much for this lot, especially considering the red-hot form of top trainer John Gosden. Here’s why:
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Unbeaten in two starts for top stable
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Will relish this course and quickening ground
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Capable of reaching a rating of 110+, gets in here off 97
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE (2:25) – Expect One Hell of a Performance
This is the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes, an important stop-off for horses who end up in the top middle-distance races later in the season. We may have found a vulnerable favourite as well.
Let’s be clear, as things stand, Almeric has achieved the most, and is the highest rated horse in this by some 5lbs. His best performances however, and by some way, have come on much softer ground, and this could catch him off guard.
To add to that, the race-fit Devil’s Advocate loves to dictate matters from the front, and he may not be easy to catch if they let him have his own way. John Gosden’s runner was sacrificed last year when used as a pacemaker for the brilliant Ombudsman, but he’s a good performer in his own right. Here’s what I reckon makes him one of my value Sandown horse racing tips:
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Fit and in form after a strong recent run at Kempton
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Can dictate matters from the front
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Improving, only 5lbs to find on Almeric who doesn’t have conditions to suit
INTO THE LIGHT (4:45) – Leaving the Others in the Dark?
Imagine a horse called Into The Light winning a race named in memory of Ozzy Osbourne. The Prince of Darkness would probably have approved actually, as long as he backed it!
Like Devil’s Advocate, this horse is owned by Godolphin, but this time trained by their main man Charlie Appleby. He has a couple of outstanding chances in the 2000 Guineas next week, and I’ll have a full preview of that for you on the Saturday horse racing page – along with my Kentucky Derby picks.
Talk about well handicapped by the way – this is “just” a Class 4 race, but Into The Light is actually still entered in the Derby as things stand. He won nicely on his debut against a 1/3 chance, before coming unstuck over a mile and a half at Wolverhampton.
He will have learned plenty from that, will appreciate Friday’s conditions, and has the capacity to show himself to be way better than his official mark of just 83. I’m all over him at 7/2. Key points to keep in mind if you’re following me into the light:
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Charlie Appleby’s horse is still in the Derby
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Should be capable of 100+, gets in here off 83
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Trip, course, and ground all perfect for him
What Else to Look Out For
On a brilliant card, keep in mind that three races are all about the future. The bet365 Mile features the favourite and second favourite for the Lockinge Stakes (Group 1) at Newbury next month, while the fillies’ “Wild Card” race is more than a little interesting.
I toyed with the idea of backing Ribbon Of Sea in that race, and would’ve done without her 6lb penalty, but in the end, I reckon that one’s a watching brief. There was no way of accurately predicting the levels of improvement to come from the Derby contenders in the Classic Trial – but take notice if there’s strong money for Raaheeb or Al Zanati.
