Friday Racing Tips: Nostrum the one to beat at Sandown

There are seven meetings taking place across the UK and Ireland on Friday April 26 and there’s also the added bonus of some ITV action. The bumper offering begins at Sandown and is swiftly followed by meetings at Doncaster, Perth and Cork before evening action from Downpatrick, Chepstow and Newcastle.

We have three strong fancies across the day, including a colt trained by Sir Michael Stoute who could be set for a successful 2024.

15:00 Sandown - Nostrum @ 5/2

This Group 2 over a mile looks particularly interesting as there’s no standout contender in the seven-runner field. The one horse who has the most scope for improvement, though, is Sir Michael Stoute’s NOSTRUM.

Stoute is one of the most patient trainers around and his record with older horses certainly supports that. More often than not his horses don’t tend to peak until they turn four and Nostrum could be another case in point.

He was a Group 3 winner at two and went on to finish third in the 2022 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. Plenty was therefore expected of him as a three-year-old and he started last season well, winning a Listed race by three lengths at Newmarket in July.

It was therefore disappointing that he was beaten at Goodwood afterwards and his subsequent run at York in August was too bad to be true. The son of Kingman clearly possesses loads of natural ability and we could see plenty more of him this year.

14:25 Sandown - Okeechobee @ 3/1

Harry Charlton’s OKEECHOBEE could be one to look out for at Sandown. He runs in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes and is another one who can find plenty of improvement this year. This five-year-old has had only five starts to date and has already won three times.

Ryan Moore has been on board for two of those victories, so clearly gets on well with the 108-rated gelding, and the son of Time Test put in an almighty effort to finish second to Dubai Honour at Kempton last time out on his first start for 550 days. He’s entitled to improve significantly for that hugely encouraging reappearance.

All of his wins have come by wide margins and he looks well up to competing in this grade. Having been off the track for such a long time, his effort at Kempton indicates that he retains all of his potential and the best should be yet to come.

14:05 Perth - Houston Texas @ 8/1

Nicky Richards’ HOUSTON TEXAS has a good record on soft ground and should therefore appreciate the underfoot conditions at Perth on Friday. He could be the one to side with in the Highland National and deserves another shot at a marathon trip.

Particularly good at Carlisle, he stayed the 3m2f trip at the stiff Cumbrian track well which offers hope that he can get the extended 3m6f at less-demanding Perth. His current mark is just 3lb lower than his last winning one.

His latest effort was far from a disgrace when running from out of the handicap and he should be capable of better off a 2lb lower rating.

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.