Sandown‘s card on Friday is one to savour. Not only may Classic clues emerge in the Group 3 Classic Trial, but many of the season’s top level prospects return in the bet365 Mile.
In those two races, as well as the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes, Matty Sutcliffe has three top tips to follow on the card.
Sandown Racing Tips (Friday 24 April)
Sandown’s card hosts a trio of Group races, and Matty has tips in all three for you to follow.
2:25 Sandown – bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (4yo+) – King Of Cities 7/2 1pt WIN
Almeric is a horse I rate highly and I think he can improve again this season, but I do wonder whether this ground will be quick enough for him, thus King Of Cities is given the nod on stable debut for Karl Burke.
After a slow start to the season, the yard have begun to find form with a pair of Group 3 victories last weekend the highlight, and King Of Cities can improve for this switch. He pulled seven lengths clear of the third when second to Almeric on seasonal debut in the Fielden Stakes last season, not helped by hanging right once challenging, and I suspect on this ground the form can be reversed.
He was slightly disappointing thereafter, beaten four lengths in the French Derby and the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes, before a beaten favourite at Goodwood. However, he bounced back to form on quick ground when a game winner of the Strensall Stakes at the Ebor meeting, fending off the subsequent Cambridgeshire winner Boiling Point.
He failed to back that up on soft ground at Longchamp under patient tactics, but he still remains a horse with potential given his dam was a group one winner at four over ten furlongs, and Ryan Moore is a positive booking for this seasonal debut.
3:00 Sandown – bet365 Mile (Group 2) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Zeus Olympios 3/1 1pt WIN
A cracking renewal of the Sandown bet365 Mile can go the way of Zeus Olympios, despite having to give weight away to two group one winners in Field Of Gold and Never So Brave. Field Of Gold was deemed to be the best miler in Europe last season, but he is far from bombproof having met with defeats the last twice at 1/3F and 13/8F.
Zeus Olympios is yet to show any chinks in his armour with an unblemished four from four. He backed up his group three success with a commanding performance in the Joel Stakes at Newmarket, travelling comfortably throughout despite being marginally keen. He switched left around Opera Ballo and kicked early, but he easily dispatched of his market rival who’s won twice since including the G1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan in January.
All of these are worthy candidates within their own right, but how much improvement they’re open to is to be questioned. Zeus Olympios has to improve again this season to beat the likes of Field Of Gold, but he’s the one we’re yet to potentially scratch the surface with him and if he’s improved once more, he could take some beating this season.
3:35 Sandown – bet365 Classic Trial (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo) – Wise Prince 4/1 1pt WIN
The 115-rated Action is a worthy favourite on the figures having finished a half a length second in the Futurity, but he makes his seasonal debut in a first time tongue tie which would be a minor concern and it may prove to chance the unexposed Wise Prince for a yard who won this race twice in a row between 2017 and 2018.
He won the 15k Future Stayers Oath Novice contest at Nottingham on debut last October with any amount of ease. Having raced keen and wide without cover early on, he was moved up by Rab Havlin just off the turn and began to settle much better. He moved to the front two out still on the bridle and despite hanging left, he strode away with ease to win eased down.
It was a slowly run race after what was an initial quick beginning, but he clocked an impressive seventh furlong to put the race to bed suggesting he has a smart turn of foot. Winners have come from that contest, and being a son of Ghayyaith he’s bred to improve with age. He holds both a Dante and a Derby entry, and he strikes me as the type that could make up into a very smart colt this season.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
2:25 Sandown – bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (4yo+) – King Of Cities 7/2 1pt WIN
3:00 Sandown – bet365 Mile (Group 2) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Zeus Olympios 3/1 1pt WIN
3:35 Sandown – bet365 Classic Trial (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo) – Wise Prince 4/1 1pt WIN
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Best Bets – Friday 24 April
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the racing at Sandown on Friday 24 April.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 8.35am on Friday 24 April
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
Commercial notice: This article on GG.co.uk contains affiliate links. The offers we promote come from operators that we trust and our experts have first-hand experience dealing with. If you open an account through one of these affiliate links then GG will earn revenue. However, we ensure that the money earned goes back into improving and enhancing our coverage of horse racing and other sports, as we look to provide an excellent service to our growing audience.