Lucky 15 Tips: From a magnificent Sandown evening card, Thursday

For Thursday's Lucky 15 tips it's a very easy decision to head Sandown-way, as they have a superb six-race evening card featuring a couple of Group contests and the same number of Listed heats.

The jockeys on view are top-drawer and then some, too - Esher is definitely the place to be on Thursday, no question. 

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

18:35 - Clear Force @ 13/8

A fitting contest with which to start proceedings on a fantastic evening of high-class flat racing.

Talented two-year-olds clash, over this stiff 5f - and two appear to deservedly dominate the likely betting. Karl Burke's Clear Force is a very fast Supremacy colt out of a Kodiac mare, perhaps surprisingly beaten on debut at Musselburgh but making no mistake whatsoever next time at Ripon - both over 5f.

Richard Hannon meanwhile fields First Legion, impressive scorer at York's Dante meeting on debut a fortnight ago, needing most of the 6f trip to assert. He's going to be a very tough nut to crack.

However - I'm hoping that over this 5f, stiff though it is, Clear Force will be away and gone and able to resist the near-certain late attack that First Legion will mount. The 4.5l second at Ripon, Secret Hideaway, has subsequently taken a Listed race (again at York's Dante gathering), and the way the selection hit the line was impressive indeed.

He's had 33 days to recover, and is of course a little more experienced than his rival (two runs to one). First Legion's York success was 14 days ago and if he's feeling it even a tiny bit it might just make all the difference.

No kidding - for me this is the race of the night.

19:05 - Coltrane @ 5/1

An old favourite of many - and at eight, certainly no back number in the staying game at this G3 level.

Coltrane ran a blinder on seasonal debut at Ascot in late April, finishing a one-length second in the G3 Sagaro - a race he took 12 months ago. Eight wins from 30 career starts is testament to his ability and longevity, and he's won on this demanding track before.

Oisin Murphy, in searing form, is doing the pushing and of course Andrew Balding trains, at Kingsclere. Only four line up but what a treat we've got in store over the 2m distance.

19:35 - Almaqam @ 5/2

Godolphin dominate in terms of potential winning chances with three entrants, but I'm siding with a Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum-owned colt with a fine run to his name over course-and-distance 34 days ago.

Ed Walker trains, and once again Oisin Murphy has the riding assignment. That run alluded to was in this G3 category, and Almaqam was beaten just 1.25l into third, staying on well when getting a little squeezed late in the piece.

He signed off for 2024 prior to that reappearance spin with a head-second in a Longchamp G2, and this four-year-old Lope De Vega individual out of a G1-placed Cape Cross mare I'm sure has his very best days ahead of him.

Another sensational contest, frankly, and a very strong G3 for me.

20:05 - Opera Ballo @ 9/4

This time I'm siding with the boys in blue - a three-year-old colt who dotted up in two Kempton heats around the turn of the year but who found the step up to G3 company in the Craven at HQ a bridge too far when last seen 43 days ago.

I haven't given up on Opera Ballo - let's not forget who took the Craven (Field Of Gold), a subsequent narrow second next time in the Betfred 2000 Guineas, before resoundingly landing the Irish equivalent last weekend. High-class form indeed.

The selection failed to settle at Newmarket, and this Listed contest around a couple of turns should be an easier proposition for Will Buick to switch him off than over the yawning straight expanse of Newmarket Heath. He's still in the St James's Palace at the Royal meeting, a tad fanciful perhaps, but this might just be his cup of tea.

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 £240 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.

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Lucky 15 tips from Betfred Insights.