Thursday Racing Tips: Sweet William can hit the spot at Sandown

We’ve got a fairly busy Thursday to look forward to with six meetings taking place across Britain and Ireland. Four Flat fixtures are joined by a couple of Jumps cards and it should be an enthralling day. 

Among our Thursday racing tips, which all come from Sandown Park, is one for trainer Harry Charlton that looks well placed to back up a last-time-out win. 

19:07 Sandown - Sweet William @ 5/2

The Group 3 Henry II Stakes over 2m is shaping up to be very competitive and there are plenty of horses with chances. Trueshan warrants consideration in these staying events but is worth taking on after a below-par return. 

John and Thady Gosden run SWEET WILLIAM here and there could be more to come from him as he gains experience in Group company. He graduated from handicaps in the middle of last season and was a fair second to Trueshan in the Doncaster Cup in September. Outstayed that day, he can turn the tables over two furlongs shorter. 

The son of Sea The Stars was a close second behind Willie Mullins’ Absurde in the Ebor at York and that has proven to be a rock-solid piece of form. His finishing effort at Ascot on his reappearance suggested he was in need of the run and we should see a sharper Sweet William this time.

20:12 Sandown - Kikkuli @ 10/3

There are certain pedigrees that stand out a mile and KIKKULI’s certainly does. Harry Charlton’s colt is half-brother to the mighty Frankel and he’s by lightning-fast miler Kingman. With that in mind, there’s always going to be some interest when he runs. 

Kikkuli only made one start as a juvenile and he finished second to a subsequent Listed winner. It’s also worth noting impressive Dante winner Economics was back in fourth that day. 

He went one better on his first start this season over 7f at Newmarket and it would be no surprise if plenty of subsequent winners come out of that race. Kikkuli overcame some traffic problems early on to win and the extra furlong is very likely to suit. 

Harry Charlton has been successful with both of his runners at Sandown this season and there’s every chance this impeccably bred colt can add to that tally. 

20:42 Sandown - Classic @ 6/1

Sandown’s finale is a wide-open handicap over a mile and last-time-out winner Crack Shot is likely to head the market. That horse’s form closely ties in with Richard Hannon’s CLASSIC, and we think the lesser-fancied runner can get the job done. 

Crack Shot narrowly got the better of Classic at Newbury in August and he was in receipt of 9lb that day. There’s a significant weight swing here, however, as Classic is 7lb better off this time. Richard Hannon’s colt was carried left by the winner that day and might well have finished closer. 

The son of Dubawi won here over 7f off a 5lb lower mark in July and the runner-up went on to win a Group 3. This looks like a good starting point for the season and he’s entitled to be bang in the mix.