Sandown Preview & Best Bets – Saturday February 25
Our form expert provides Sandown tips for today’s horse racing at Sandown Racecourse and gives his best bets.
Sandown Tips 25/2/2023
BEST BET 🏆
Race 8 No. 2 ALLIGATOR BLOOD- ($4)
The Futurity Stakes shapes as a classic and I am settling on ALLIGATOR BLOOD. He has been excellent at the distance range since switching camps to the Waterhouse/Bott stable last year and did have excuses in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) at his first up run last spring before claiming the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at the track and trip. He then defeated a number of the rivals he meets here in the Champions Mile. Interesting to see what happens in the early stages and whether or not Mr Mozart heads forward but I am expecting Alligator Blood to hold the lead and be strong late.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 4 No. 3 RICH FORTUNE – ($5.50)
RICH FORTUNE looked after us in our roughies tips as a $14 shot at Sandown on February 11 and no reason to suggest why the flying filly can’t score again this time around in the Zeditave Stakes (1200m). The Jerome Hunter-trained galloper was fresh off a seven-week break after winning at Moonee Valley back in December and was held up from the 600m until getting out at the 200m and producing the fastest last 200m to defeat Queen Of The Ball. The daughter of Rich Enuff went nine lengths faster than standard and comes into this with race fitness, while the step up to the 1200m looks like it will suit. Craig Williams sticks on board and look for the pair to be strong late.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 5 No. 2 PERICLES – ($3.20)
PERICLES shapes as a solid proposition in Race 5 of the afternoon at Sandown. The Godolphin galloper was excellent when resuming over the 1400m in the Autumn Stakes on February 11 at Sandown. He was posted three wide without cover the entire trip but kept coming to land just under a length away. The son of Street Boss was an improver as he stepped up in trip at his last preparation, going 10.6 lengths faster than standard when going from the 1400m to the 2040m in the Moon Valley Vase when 3rd behind Berkeley Square. He will settle handy in a race where there doesn’t appear to be much pressure and will be ridden by Jamie Kah.