Sandown Friday Betting Tips - April 25th
There's a seven-race Flat card at Sandown on Friday afternoon prior to the attention turning to the Jumps Finale on Saturday.
The action includes three Group races, the Classic Trial, the Gordon Richards Stakes and the Group 2 bet365 Mile.
We bring you our best bets for all seven races on day one at Sandown Park.
1.15 Sandown - 5f bet365 Handicap (Class 2) (3yo 0-100)
Star Chorus could be the value play in Friday's opener. Andrew Balding won this contest last season and has kicked off this campaign in fine form with winners at the Craven meeting last week.
This unexposed three-year-old got back on track with an impressive Southwell success last time out when quickening up well in the closing stages, an effort worth marking up given the steady pace that was set. While he's out of the handicap for this contest, he could still be ahead of the mark of 80 that's he's forced to run off here.
Selection: Star Chorus
1.50 Sandown - 1m bet365 Esher Cup Handicap (Class 2) (3yo 0-105)
Thunder Wonder is 4lb well in for this contest after his dominant display at Musselburgh last time out, for which he only has to carry a 6lb penalty.
Charlie Johnston's runner should have even more to give on the quicker surface he gets today and he may be capable of getting an uncontested lead in this field.
Selection: Thunder Wonder
2.25 Sandown - 1m2f bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (4yo+)
Ed Walker is another trainer who has hit the ground running this turf season, and one of his stable stars, Almaqam, could be hard to beat in the first of the Group races on the card.
The four-year-old colt was a Listed winner at this venue last season before acquitting himself well in Group 2 company towards the end of the campaign, and he ought to relish the drop back in class here.
Selection: Almaqam
3.00 Sandown - 1m bet365 Mile (Group 2) (Class 1) (4yo+)
Haatem arguably has the best form in the book, having chased home stablemate Rosallion in last year's Irish Guineas before landing the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He's been off since that success, but he won a Group 3 first time out last season, and the yard's horses have been running well first time out this campaign too.
Selection: Haatem
3.35 Sandown - 1m2f bet365 Classic Trial (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo)
There are only five in the Classic trial, with a chance taken on Sir Dinadan, who has progressed a bundle with every run so far.
There's a chance he'll be able to dominate these rivals from the front, given the speed he showed at Pontefract towards the end of last season, and this is a track that can favour front runners. It's interesting to see that connections go for this rather than exploiting a potentially lenient handicap mark.
Selection: Sir Dinadan
4.10 Sandown - 1m2f bet365 'Wild Card' Fillies' Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2) (3yo)
Not much form to go on in this contest with a chance taken on the beautifully bred Star Of Light for the Gosden team.
This son of Frankel out of Star Catcher showed a really good attitude to get up in the shadows of the post at Wolverhampton on debut and he should relish this stiffer test on that evidence.
Selection: Star Of Light
4.45 Sandown - 1m2f Nordoff & Robbins Jeff Beck Memorial Handicap (Class 4) (3yo 0-85)
Circus Of Rome didn't need to improve to win a maiden on his return at Wolverhampton, and the handicapper has given him a chance, leaving him on his original mark.
He's entitled to come on for that first run in three months and there's a good chance he will improve for further given his pedigree.
Selection: Circus Of Rome