ITV Racing Preview Friday
ALL EYES ON SANDOWN ON FRIDAY! Three Group races live on ITV Racing on Friday afternoon with the Group 2 bet365 Mile the feature where Palace Pier returns!
Make sure you scroll right down to the bottom to see any multiples we are placing. These can be added direct to your bet365 bet slip.
ITV Racing Preview Friday Schedule
1.50 Sandown bet365 Esher Cup Handicap (Class 2) 1m
2.25 Sandown bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3) 1m2f
2.40 Perth William Hill Highland National Handicap Chase (Class 3) 3m61/2f
3.00 Sandown bet365 Mile (Group 2) 1m
3.35 Sandown bet365 Classic Trial (Group 3) 1m2f
ITV Racing 4/1 Offer
Back a winner at 4/1 or more and get a risk free bet on the next live ITV race (up to £50) at bet365. Offer applies to first single bet placed.
Applies to Win and Each-Way Fixed Odds markets and Enhanced Place Terms markets only. Bet restrictions and T&Cs apply. New and eligible customers only.
Sandown 1.50 bet365 Esher Cup Handicap (Class 2) 1m
Some cracking racing from Sandown in the sunshine live on ITV Racing on Friday. We start off with a really competitive renewal of the Esher Cup and I’m keen to be against the front two in the market. Ilza’eem has been popular for this and while he is clearly quite a promising horse he didn’t beat a great deal at Redcar last time and he’s going to need to improve a fair bit to follow up. Rifleman’s form also looks questionable to me and while his opening mark looks manageable he is short enough.
The one I like stepping back up to a mile is DINGLE for Richard Hannon. This colt by Footstepsinthesand showed progressive form as a 2yo lowering the colours of the useful Recovery Run at Kempton on final start over this trip. I thought he ran a very eye-catching race on return at Newbury and I can see that form working out well at the season goes on. He is around 6/1 at the time of writing and that looks a knocking each way bet.
Sandown 2.25 bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3) 1m2f
This is a top quality renewal of the Gordon Stakes with plenty of these expected to go on to higher levels again this season and it sees the 1-2 in the Dante go head-to-head again and at the prices I am happy to side with THUNDEROUS. He got up late to beat Highest Ground who is half of his price today in places. There isn’t much between them but Mark Johnson has had plenty of winners already and usually starts very strong. He goes well fresh and I expect him to be bang there.
Highest Ground is the danger as expected with only a neck separating them at York plus Sir Michael Stoute has won the last 3 renewals of this race. Extra Elusive is a lively outsider with his sights lowered from his last two runs with Hollie Doyle in the saddle.
Perth 2.40 William Hill Highland National Handicap Chase (Class 3) 3m61/2f
This is fiercely competitive with any of 4 or 5 looking to have a big chance. With Gran Paradiso now a non runner I’ve decided to chance two against the field. The first of those is TEA TIME ON MARS for the Gardner’s. This horse has some really good form in the book over staying trips and was denied just a neck by Samuel Jackson in the Devon National when last seen at Exeter in February. A reproduction of that sort of run would see him bang there in this. He is 5lb higher but arguably progressive and I think everything points towards a big run again.
Boyhood is usually backed in these sorts of races but he isn’t getting any younger and while he showed more last time he still doesn’t scream to me like he is back in form. I think he’s opposable again. Big Difference will appreciate the drying ground and rates one of the dangers but ALMINAR is the one I want to have a saver on. This horse has been well backed this morning and it’s understandable given he looked better than ever last time. He could build on that and if he does off a 5lb higher mark he should be in contention jumping the last.
Sandown 3.00 bet365 Mile (Group 2) 1m
I don’t expect this to be easy for PALACE PIER but he has to be the one I’m siding with in the bet365 Mile. This son of Kingman has won 5 of his 6 starts and only tasted defeat on final start in the QEII where the ground was softer than ideal. He still wasn’t disgraced in third but the feeling is he didn’t really give his true running. He won the St Jame’s Palace at Royal Ascot and the Prix Jacques le Marois in France and oozes class. With more to come as a 4yo I’m expecting him to make a winning return at a track and on ground we know he thrives.
Khuzaam really impressed at Lingfield last time running away with it and galloping on strongly. He is the biggest danger but does need to transfer that back to turf now. I think he’ll run a big race and he should make the favourite fight but ultimately might just fall a bit short. Happy Power has a 3lb penalty and is probably better over 7f and Bless Him just looks a bit out of his depth.
Sandown 3.35 bet365 Classic Trial (Group 3) 1m2f
This is one of the most open Classic Trials you will see with plenty of these likely to step forward as 3 year olds. LONE EAGLE is the one I have sided with here as I think his form is pretty solid as he was last seen winning the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket. He wins in workmanlike fashion but the stiff finish at Sandown will play to his strengths and he should go well in his bid to make it four in a row.
Trawlerman really stepped forward at Pontefract last time and can put fitness to good use here but Yibir does look the main danger from the Godolphin runners. Etonian was a horse we really liked last year and you can put a line through his last run in the Dewhurst and if getting the trip he has the class to be involved. Andrew Balding has a good recent record in the race and Recovery Run will go well but has to reverse the form with the selection. You always have to take note of the Ballydoyle runners but Sir Lucan isn’t the best they have at this level and it isn’t the favoured trial for O’Brien who has a poor record in this race.
ITV Racing Each Way Trixie
With 5 races live on ITV Racing on Friday afternoon we have included an Each Way Trixie which includes three of our strongest bets at Sandown. If 2/3 win we should still lock in some profit.
ITV Racing Each Way Trixie
Sandown 1.50 Dingle
Sandown 2.25 Thunderous
Sandown 3.35 Lone Eagle
Pays 230/1!