Friday Lucky 15 Tips: Russell raider bids to advertise Festival credentials

Our example Lucky 15 comes from a fantastic Sandown card today; Friday, Dec 8th, 12.40 - 15.35.

The default weather setting at present seems to be rain and more rain, but we're hopeful that the wonderful two-day Tingle Creek meeting in Esher will go ahead unhindered.

Prices can of course 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 were successful, would return around £427 for your total £7.50 stake.

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

13.15 Sandown - Fast Buck @ 4/1

A handicap chase, over the minimum trip of just shy of 2 miles.

Fast Buck is a 9-yr-old gelding with, it's fair to say, something of an eventful past. A couple of wind ops. Spells at the prestigious stables of WP Mullins, P Nicholls and D Skelton. He's presently in the care of Jane Williams, and has had a couple of distant sighters so far this term.

But - I know, you were hoping there was a but - he can take a few runs to bring him on, and crucially seems to love deep ground. Last win? Around this time last year, on heavy. It's officially soft as I write, but any more rain, and don't forget that punishing, finishing hill - only proven mudlarks need apply.

13.50 Insurrection @ 11/4

A quality novices' hurdle with entrants from some of the top yards.

Insurrection is a 6-yr-old gelding who dotted up on hurdling debut last month at Exeter. Housed with the mighty Paul Nicholls, and Harry Cobden rides. Won a point, ran modestly in a bumper after which a wind op occurred, and then that taking first hurdles experience.

Henderson and Skelton are among the adversaries today, but I'm hoping the Ditcheat yard has a good 'un here to go to war with.

14.25 Sandown - Giovinco @ 7/4

My colleague Owen flagged this up as one to watch many weeks ago - a Lucinda Russell novice chaser who was a pretty fine hurdler too.

Giovinco debuted over the larger obstacles at Carlisle, and was about to take the measure of Good Risk At All when stumbling and unseating his pilot 3 out. Amends were handsomely made at Aintree, and he arrives here with Brown Advisory hopes for Cheltenham in March.

Similar dreams are entertained by the likely favourite Stay Away Fay, for Nicholls/Cobden. Another quality hurdler previously, and an Albert Bartlett hero no less last term. This is a fantastic heat and will be so informative going forward. Horses with tall reputations and aspirations, at a proper Grade 1 track.

3m, and those iconic fences. Bring it on.

15.35 Sandown - West End Boy @ 6/1

A handicap hurdle for novices, at the minimum trip.

West End Boy has me thinking about potential Pet Shop Boys' follow-up hits, but in reality this is a promising 5-yr-old gelding for whom the penny really seems to have dropped this term.

Trained by Joe Tizzard, the excellent Brendan Powell rides, whose Dad won the Grand National back in 1988. After easy successes at Wincanton and Plumpton he steps up here to more rarefied Nicholls/Henderson-infested waters, but I'm hoping he can take it in his stride.

Yet another really exciting race on the card - we're in for a real treat this afternoon. Enjoy!

Lucky 15 tips, from Betfred Insights.