Horse Racing Tips: Skelton Horse Fancied At Sandown

A busy weekend is around the corner, but before that an intriguing Thursday of racing awaits us. Here we take a look through the Naps table to analyse the chances of some of the most popular picks, before providing arguably the day's most eye-catching stat and rounding up the biggest news in racing right now...
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Sandown dominates today's Naps table, with a total of five horses picking up three or more best bet votes at the track. Smiling Getaway and Cherie D'Am are both backed by a trio of experts and take each other on in the 14:30, a mares' novices' hurdle over 2m3f. The market is on the side of the latter at about half the price of the former, so perhaps those who prefer a bigger priced punt will side with the Twiston-Davies charge.
In the 16:15 two popular Naps in Hudson De Grugy )three votes) and Animal (four votes) clash in an intriguing handicap chase. Both horses bring experience and claims to the track, with Animal slightly favoured in the market at the time of writing. All of these horses of course warrant a second look by readers and those who visit the Naps table, but just one horse stands out with a huge SEVEN votes as the best bet of the day; ETALON in the 13:55 for Dan and Harry Skelton.
This horse has already been strongly supported this morning and late last night and is one of the day's strongest market movers, and it is clear to see why seven experts believe he is their best chance of a winner today. Firstly, he is hat-trick hunting after winning his last two races, including dominating a match race at Warwick last time out. Secondly, at the age of seven he is much less exposed than the majority of this field, who are nine or older and have been around the block a few times. Finally, his tactical versatility in a handicap chase like this could come in very handy indeed as he won't mind being prominent or sitting off the pace.
Follow The Leaders
One of the seven experts that fancy ETALON as their best chance of a winner today is the outfit sitting atop the leaderboard, Spotlight. The Dan Skelton trained, Harry Skelton ridden gelding has an outstanding chance of bagging the 13:55 at Sandown as arguably the most progressive horse in the field and his jumping should be a real asset over the railway fences at Sandown.
Next in the standings comes West Country, who is still over £10 off the team in top spot but could close that gap with a win for COPPERHEAD in the 16:15 race at Sandown. With plenty involved tipped and napped by a myriad of experts, this looks arguably the most competitive race of the day but the Joe Tizzard team will be hopeful this once high class chaser can bounce back to his very best and claim glory. He is ten now and probably not getting any better, but he has Freddie Gingell taking off a valuable five on his back and if he runs his usual race should be there or thereabouts.
Templegate in third also Naps in the 16:15, siding with favourite ANIMAL for Gavin Sheehan and Sue Smith. The case for him is obvious: he won over C&D on his penultimate start and ran a belting race to finish second at Lingfield in a similar race just under a month ago. His mark has been left unchanged for today and there are plenty, including Templegate, who fancy that this horse can win again over this course and distance if he reproduces the quality of that Lingfield run.
- Spotlight - Etalon - 13:55 Sandown - P&L: £16.55
- West Country - Copperhead - 16:15 Sandown - P&L: £6.03
- Templegate - Animal - 16:15 Sandown - P&L: £3.80
How About Stat?
Plenty of horses are being sent on a longer than usual journey today, but none can beat the 435 mile trip Lucinda Russell is sending WAL BUCK'S on for the bumper (16:46) at Sandown. see the rest of the day's longest travellers and more eye-catching stats below...
Hot Trainers
trainer | strike rate |
---|---|
Terence O'Brien
Wins: 3
Runs: 3
|
100% |
Kevin Philippart De Foy
Wins: 2
Runs: 3
|
67% |
Conrad Allen
Wins: 3
Runs: 6
|
50% |
Olly Murphy
Wins: 8
Runs: 23
|
35% |
Tom Lacey
Wins: 3
Runs: 9
|
33% |
Charlie Johnston
Wins: 7
Runs: 21
|
33% |
Paul Nicholls
Wins: 11
Runs: 35
|
31% |
Jonjo O'Neill
Wins: 6
Runs: 21
|
29% |
Alastair Ralph
Wins: 2
Runs: 7
|
29% |
Andrew Balding
Wins: 3
Runs: 11
|
27% |
Hugo Palmer
Wins: 2
Runs: 8
|
25% |
Stuart Coltherd
Wins: 2
Runs: 8
|
25% |
Gary Moore
Wins: 7
Runs: 28
|
25% |
Derek Shaw
Wins: 2
Runs: 8
|
25% |
Hot Jockeys
jockey | strike rate |
---|---|
Paul Townend
Wins: 5
Runs: 13
|
38% |
Danny Mullins
Wins: 5
Runs: 18
|
28% |
Harry Cobden
Wins: 13
Runs: 46
|
28% |
Darragh O'keeffe
Wins: 5
Runs: 20
|
25% |
Jamie Hamilton
Wins: 4
Runs: 17
|
24% |
Marco Ghiani
Wins: 5
Runs: 21
|
24% |
Harry Skelton
Wins: 3
Runs: 13
|
23% |
Callum Shepherd
Wins: 5
Runs: 22
|
23% |
Niall Houlihan
Wins: 3
Runs: 13
|
23% |
Jonjo O'Neill Jr
Wins: 4
Runs: 18
|
22% |
Tom Cannon
Wins: 4
Runs: 18
|
22% |
Derek Fox
Wins: 3
Runs: 15
|
20% |
Henry Brooke
Wins: 4
Runs: 20
|
20% |
Top Course Jockeys
jockey | strike rate |
---|---|
William Maggs | 50% |
Paul Townend | 46% |
Bdr Jody Sole | 43% |
Maj Charlie O'Shea | 38% |
Ben Jones | 36% |
Charlotte Jones | 33% |
John Shinnick | 30% |
Jack Kennedy | 24% |
Nico de Boinville | 22% |
Mark Walsh | 21% |
Niall Houlihan | 21% |
Harry Cobden | 21% |
Brian Hughes | 20% |
Top Course Trainers
trainer | strike rate |
---|---|
W P Mullins | 41% |
Richard Hobson | 38% |
James Moffatt | 33% |
Terence O'Brien | 25% |
Tom Lacey | 25% |
Jack Jones | 24% |
Simon Pearce | 24% |
Lucinda Russell | 23% |
Paul Nicholls | 22% |
Donald McCain | 21% |
Henry De Bromhead | 21% |
Gordon Elliott | 21% |
Olly Murphy | 20% |
Longest Travellers
runner | odds |
---|---|
Top Trainer/Jockey Combo's
course | combo % |
---|---|
Chelmsford | 75% |
Chelmsford | 38% |
Chelmsford | 38% |
Sandown | 28% |
Chelmsford | 27% |
Southwell | 27% |
Newcastle | 26% |
Southwell | 25% |
Newcastle | 24% |
Newcastle | 23% |
Newcastle | 23% |
Sandown | 23% |
Newcastle | 21% |
Southwell | 21% |
Southwell | 21% |
First Run After Wind Op
runner | odds |
---|---|
Trainer:
Sean Curran
Race:
Leicester 15:17
|
|
Trainer:
Gary Moore
Race:
Leicester 15:52
|
|
Trainer:
Micky Hammond
Race:
Newcastle 16:00
|
|
Trainer:
David Pipe
Race:
Sandown 16:15
|
|
Trainer:
James Moffatt
Race:
Newcastle 16:35
|
Course & Distance Winners
First Time Blinkers
runner | odds |
---|---|
Trainer:
Tim Easterby
Race:
Southwell 15:12
|
|
Trainer:
Paul Webber
Race:
Sandown 16:15
|
|
Trainer:
Jamie Osborne
Race:
Chelmsford 19:30
|
|
Trainer:
David Loughnane
Race:
Chelmsford 20:00
|
First Time Hood
runner | odds |
---|---|
Trainer:
Charlie Johnston
Race:
Southwell 14:37
|
|
Trainer:
Rebecca Menzies
Race:
Newcastle 14:50
|
|
Trainer:
Robert Tyner
Race:
Clonmel 14:55
|
|
Trainer:
Kevin Frost
Race:
Southwell 15:12
|
|
Trainer:
Micky Hammond
Race:
Newcastle 15:25
|
|
Trainer:
Alice Haynes
Race:
Chelmsford 20:00
|
|
Trainer:
Amy Murphy
Race:
Chelmsford 20:30
|
First Time Tongue Strap
runner | odds |
---|---|
Trainer:
Lucinda Russell
Race:
Newcastle 13:40
|
|
Trainer:
Stuart Williams
Race:
Chelmsford 19:30
|
|
Trainer:
Alice Haynes
Race:
Chelmsford 20:00
|
First Time Visor
runner | odds |
---|---|
Trainer:
Christine Dunnett
Race:
Southwell 15:12
|
|
Trainer:
Rebecca Menzies
Race:
Newcastle 15:25
|
|
Trainer:
Charlie Wallis
Race:
Chelmsford 18:00
|
Racing News Round-Up
- Maureen Mullins Passes Away - Some sad news in the racing world broke yesterday with the passing at the age of 94 of Maureen Mullins. Known as the matriarch of Irish Racing, she is perhaps nowadays most famous for being the mother of perennial Irish Champion Trainer Willie Mullins. Condolences go out to all who knew her.
- Ferny Hollow Finally Back - A busy weekend awaits in the racing world but perhaps no race will be more hotly anticipated than the Red Mills Grade 2 at Gowran, which will see the return of the long absent FERNY HOLLOW. Could the fragile but talented horse, not seen since 2021, make a late bid for the Champion Chase?
- Milton Harris Rescinds Appeal Attempt -Former trainer Milton Harris will not return to the training ranks after rescinding his threat of an appeal against the BHA's decision that he was not a fit and proper person.
#AD 18+ New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 football, 1 x £10 horse racing & 2 x £10 Bet Builders. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7-day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply.