Today's tips: Racing preview and best bets
Our star daily duo of Rory Delargy and David Massey have had a super week after 20/1, 14/1, 10/1 and 11/4 winners - don't miss today's advice.
Racing betting tips: Friday April 26
0.5pts e.w. Five Winds in 1:58 Doncaster at 12/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4) - min 10/1
0.5pts e.w. Checkandchallenge in 2:25 Sandown at 11/1 (bet365 1/5 1,2,3) - min 10/1
0.5pts e.w. Vallamorey in the 4:15 Doncaster at 16/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3) - min 14/1
2:25 Sandown
Tempting as it is to get involved with Sandown, the preponderance of three-year-old races makes it unappealing for formbook punting, and we’ll give it the swerve in favour of Doncaster’s card, which looks much more our cup of tea.
There is one exception, however, with the Gordon Richards Stakes featuring more exposed runner who have few secrets hidden. The one who looks overpriced here is William Knight’s CHECKANDCHALLENGE, who has finished fourth in the last two runnings of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot and ended last year beating American Pride in the James Seymour Stakes over this trip at Newmarket in November.
The James Seymour has been used as a stepping stone by some smart horses in recent years, with Lord North, Ottoman Fleet and Bay Bridge all winning that Listed race before going on to success at a higher level, and Checkandchallenge remains capable of success at Pattern level as he has shown on numerous occasions.
This 10-furlong trip is what he needs these days and he’s unexposed beyond a mile, while he ran a screamer on his only previous run at Sandown when finishing second from an impossible position in a high-end handicap in 2022.
A few firms are three places each-way on the race and that makes plenty of appeal betting-wise.
1:23 Doncaster
Bantry could hardly be described as a good thing after sixteen runs without success, but he did shape better after a break and wind surgery on his reappearance at Kempton last month. A slow start didn’t help his cause but he stayed on nicely from the rear to be beaten three lengths at the finish, giving the impression he’d come on for the run at the same time.
There should be a good pace here, with Eleven Eleven, Original Thinker, Darbucks and last-time-out winner Nights Over Egypt all potential pace angles, which should help Bantry come with a late effort to pick the pieces up.
1:58 Doncaster
We both latched onto FIVE WINDS fairly swiftly in the second division of the 7f handicap after a very solid effort at Chelmsford on her reappearance on Good Friday. She’d shown a bit of promise in her three novice starts last year, a drop back to 5f on the last of the three runs totally unsuitable (yet she still caught the eye) and for all it was a low-grade handicap at Chelmsford for her debut in the sphere, it was competitive, and in finishing fourth she gave every indication of better to come.
This will be her turf debut, but sire Adaay has around a 14% strike rate on soft ground so gets his share, and we don’t see it being an issue at all. A half-sister to the same connections’ The Waiting Game - winner of five handicaps on the bounce last summer - she is bred to improve with racing and has been found a fairly weak race for her turf debut.
4:15 Doncaster
I saw VALLAMOREY at Pontefract on her latest start and still thought she looked in need of the run and was possibly building up to something, so it makes perfect sense to go in today given she won this race easily from a 4lb higher mark last year.
That was on heavy ground and whilst she won’t get that today, there should still be more than enough juice in the ground to suffice with rain forecast for Friday. If there’s ever a time to chance her, it looks like today’s the day.
Posted at 0922 BST on 26/04/24
TV bundle giveaway
We're giving away a smart TV as part of our Ultimate Sports Fan competition.
To enter, simply answer the question below and one lucky winner will be selected at random.
For full details, click here.
Key terms and conditions
- 18+
- Sporting Life account required
- One entry per person
- Eligibility restrictions apply
- Further T&Cs apply
Want to know more about horse welfare within our sport?
Recent success
- Village Master 11/4
- Musique de Fee 14/1
- Annexation 20/1
- Ballinsker 10/1
- R Bernard 7/1
- Woodstock 9/2
- Warrior Square 9/1
- Bungle Bay 9/2
- Written Broadcast 15/2 (placed)
- Shakem Up'Arry 10/1
- Slade Steel 9/2
- Absolute Dream 12/1
- Young Endless 15/8
- Ithaca’s Arrow 5/1
- Passing Kate 5/2
- Bletchley Park 10/1
- Destinado 5/1
- Diligent Harry 10/3
- Whosmydaddy 7/2
- Green Power 7/2
- Al Suil Eile 10/1
- Peacenik 14/1 (placed)
- Big Bee Hive 5/1
- Oliver Show 9/2
- Lone Star 20/1 (placed)
- Nickle Back 14/1
Recent Sporting Life Plus Winners
- Bashers Reflection 4/1
- Asian Spice 3/1
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
Next Off
Most Followed
MOST READ RACING
