Thursday Lucky 15 Tips: Kingman colt to continue upward curve

Hello again, dear reader. I've been enjoying a welcome little break of late which took in York for last week's stunning Betfred Derby trial, the Dante Stakes, and it's a genuine delight to be back. The last week of the Premier League was a thriller, Mr Southgate has named a provisional squad that he fervently hopes will bring home the European Championship, and the aforementioned Betfred Derby/Oaks jamboree is almost within touching distance.

What a time to be alive. What a time to be back at the most fragrant of grindstones. Throw in an FA Cup Final and I need a lie down just thinking about at all. Back to earth for a moment - Thursday's Lucky 15 tips arrive courtesy of Sandown Park, and a superb early-evening meeting (18:07 - 20.42) boasting a couple of Group 3 heats and a brace of Listed contests. So - without further ado ...

18:37 - Hawaiian @ 5/6

A Listed race, the National, for two-year-old, five-furlong flying machines.

The selection appears in the colours of owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, for whom this could be a very big night indeed. Hawaiian is trained by Richard Hannon in Wiltshire, and Sean Levey rides.

The Kodiac colt has had just the one start to date, winning an eight-runner Newbury maiden narrowly last month despite stumbling leaving the gates. Berkshire form is invariably strong, and his victims that day have been winning or going close in some decent contests. The form has a decidedly solid look to it.

One of a couple of fillies in the race, Enchanting Empress, could prove his most potent challenger, as she took an Ascot conditions stakes earlier this month, but given that Hawaiian is almost guaranteed to improve I'm more than happy to row in with him.

His sire got 7f and was highly competent over a furlong less. This is a stiff 5f and demands bags of resolution in the crucial, final fractions.

19:07 - Caius Chorister @ 2/1

Some accomplished and promising stayers assemble for the Group 3 Henry II Stakes.

Caius Chorister reappeared for the season in last month's Sagaro Stakes at Ascot. One of her key rivals on Thursday, Sweet William, did similar, and there was little between them at the finish behind narrow scorer Coltrane.

The selection is trained at Pulborough in West Sussex by red-hot David Menuisier (33% strike-rate in the last fortnight). Riding the horse for the first time is the brilliant Rossa Ryan, who I was lucky enough to see up close last week on the Knavesmire.

In the Group 2 Middleton in Yorkshire Rossa was aboard Bluestocking, a Camelot filly trained by Ralph Beckett, with whom Ryan has struck up a prolific partnership. Carrying the legendary Frankel silks, the pair cruised up to Sapphire Seas at the distance and sauntered to a deeply impressive 6l win.

Though Ryan has Group-winning experience his profile seemed to me to visibly rise several notches in the sunshine - an ice-cold ride in the famous Juddmonte colours, on a brilliant filly, on one of the grandest of stages. A young man irrevocably claiming, nay demanding, his place at racing's top table.

Thursday's contest should be a cracker, and with Caius only 14s for the Ascot Gold Cup itself next month a win here would see that price under pressure.

She's a five-year-old Golden Horn mare who looks to have inherited plenty of her father's ability, and in just over two years has gone from winning a basement Yarmouth handicap off 53 to taking a Saint-Cloud Group 3, and a current official mark of 109.

The presence of Hollie and Trueshan adds even more spice, but I'm hopeful that Caius Chorister can do the business at the Esher venue on Thursday.

19:37 - Royal Rhyme @ 4/5

Another appearing in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum - a Karl Burke-trained four-year-old Lope De Vega colt, with Cliff Lee on top.

Royal Rhyme looks to take a first Group contest after securing a Listed Ayr success last backend. He then signed off for the season with a respectable fifth in Ascot's G1 Champion Stakes, beaten just over 5l, behind King Of Steel.

The selection is top-rated, just, of Thursday's entrants, and his powerful yard have consistently been among the winners. The 10f trip looks ideal and the scene is set for a winning return to action. If an entry in the Royal meeting's G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes is to be seen as realistic a win here would be just the ticket.

20:12 - Kikkuli @ 7/2

Those stirring Enable, Dancing Brave and Frankel silks once again, carried by a three-year-old Kingman colt in the care of Harry Charlton (three winners from 14 runners in the past fortnight).

Kikkuli ran well in a Newmarket novice last autumn, then on seasonal reappearance took a maiden at the same track in mid-April. Ryan Moore was in the saddle last time, and the partnership is encouragingly maintained on Thursday.

The horse has an optimistic entry in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, and there's no doubt that considerable improvement needs to be shown to justify such a plan, however tentative at this stage.

But that's the beauty of racing - at this age, and after only two starts, this beautifully-bred individual (out of a Danehill mare, Kind), could quite literally be anything. He evidently gets the ability to stretch out to a mile from his sire, and whether he'll get further is probably open to doubt.

This Listed heat will be most informative, and some highly promising types oppose. There couldn't be a better fella on board than R Moore, and Harry Charlton is making a great fist of flying solo from his decorated Derby-winning father Roger.

If you're playing, have fun, take care, and good luck.

This is an example of a Lucky 15. If you can improve upon my selections (of course you can), then go for it!

The odds can fluctuate between publishing our pieces and race-time. As a guide, a £0.50p win Lucky 15 on today's selections, at the prices, and assuming all four won, would return around £85 for your total £7.50 stake.

Fred, 'The Bonus King,' invented the 'Lucky' series of bets and their bonuses. My colleague Adam has set out all you need to know with this handy guide - take a look by clicking here.

Lucky 15 tips from Betfred Insights.