Sandown Preview & Best Bets – 07/02/2024

Our form expert provides tips for today’s Sandown horse racing at Sandown Racecourse and gives his best bets.    

Sandown Tips 07/02/2024

BEST BET 🏆   

Race 8 No. 1 HEY FAT CAT ($3.40) 

HEY FAT CAT can just about make it three wins on the trot when he steps out in the final race of the day. The Robbie Laing-trained galloper has been flying with the addition of blinkers and won by nearly eight lengths at Sale two starts ago before coming to Sandown on January 31 over the 1200m. In his recent run, the son of Rubick sat on the speed and kicked clear to score by over a length from Redoute’s Night, going four lengths faster than standard. He meets Robrick with a fitness edge and can go on with it. 

NEXT BEST 🥈   

Race 7 No. 9 LAVISH THINKER ($6) 

This looks to be a suitable assignment for LAVISH THINKER. The four-year-old gets out in trip and should be nearing his peak at the fourth run of his current preparation. He settled just worse than midfield over the 1800m at Sandown on January 10 before working home to fill the exacta behind Star Vega in this grade on January 10. That horse then went on to claim its next start. He was solid without much luck at this stage of his last preparation at Flemington behind First Immortal. Zac Spain rides and the pair draw perfectly in barrier 3. 

BEST VALUE 💰   

Race 1 No.1 HOWLIN’ RAIN ($8.50) 

It has been a bit of a stop-start career for HOWLIN’ RAIN so far but after an encouraging first-up effort at Pakenham, the four-year-old can strike in the opener. At Pakenham, the Cindy Anderson-trained galloper settled back and was never really a winning hope due to the very slow tempo up front. He produced the fastest last 200m to land just over two lengths from Sheer Reward. This looks a weak Maiden and with any improvement over the 1300m he can get the job done.