Action 9/10 Headlines Sandown as Strong AI Picks Dominate Friday's Card

Action Ready to Deliver at Sandown's 15:35

Aidan O'Brien isn't one to send horses to the UK without purpose, and Action looks perfectly poised to justify his short price of 9/10 in the 15:35 at Sandown. This 1m 1f 209y Listed Class 2 event appears tailor-made for this Galileo colt, who displayed his ability to handle varying ground with a solid second in the Prix Dollar last October. The going is officially Good, with the sprint sections edging towards Good to Firm in places, which should suit this versatile performer perfectly.

With Ryan Moore taking the reins, punters know they're getting one of the best in the saddle. Moore boasts a 28% strike rate at Sandown over the last three years, and his partnership with O'Brien sees a 24% success rate over the same period. Action's chief rival is likely to be last-time-out winner Kingdom Go (5/2), who boasts solid form on similar ground. However, O'Brien's charge has run against stronger opposition and has too much class for this field.

This is a high-confidence pick, and savvy punters are likely to double up on today’s other short-priced selections.

Misterdoc Should Walk the Perth 13:30

Second on our list is the almost bulletproof Misterdoc, who goes off at 2/5 in the opening Novices' Hurdle at Perth (13:30). Trained by Dan Skelton and ridden by his brother Harry, this gelding looks head and shoulders above the competition on paper. The Skelton team has a red-hot 35% strike rate at Perth, and Misterdoc delivered an eye-catching victory at Uttoxeter last month over this 2-mile trip on similar Good ground.

His closest rival appears to be the Gordon Elliott-trained Swordplay, but with the Irish trainer only shipping two runners to Perth today and Swordplay carrying an unproven record over hurdles, Misterdoc's overwhelming confidence rating of 95% is difficult to oppose.

Although odds-on, Misterdoc could form the basis of an accumulator; combine him with Action and another AI pick for a potentially lucrative return (use our betting calculator to check your payout).

Is The Kemble Brewery the Banker at Chepstow (19:07)?

The evening racing at Chepstow brings us another enticing prospect in The Kemble Brewery, who lines up as the 5/6 favourite for the 19:07 2m Handicap Hurdle. This Kim Bailey-trained hurdler looked in commanding form when scoring by four lengths at Newbury last month and appears to have improved significantly since stepping up to this trip.

The race’s tight field of eight runners should work in his favour, giving jockey Thomas Bellamy every opportunity to judge the pace perfectly. The Good to Soft going with Good patches should also pose no challenges, as The Kemble Brewery has performed well on softer terrain in the past. For those chasing a late-evening banker, this one looks dynamite. If the short price puts you off, a double with Action could be the shrewd move.

Each-Way Fancies Worth Watching

For those looking to capitalise on some longer-priced runners today, here are a few worth considering:

Goodwood Galaxy (13:50 Sandown) – At 33/1, there’s an argument to be made for this outsider, who drops back to a more suitable 1m trip. David Probert in the saddle is always an asset, and the horse has shown potential in faster-run handicaps. It could sneak into the frame in this Class 4 contest.
Balmoral Boy (14:50 Doncaster) – This massive-priced 125/1 outsider may be worth a small punt, especially given Faye McManoman’s knack for eeking out surprising results in similar races. A reach, but stranger things have happened in large-field handicaps.
A Man's Horse (18:45 Cork) – A massive 100/1, Luke McAteer’s mount has shown flashes of ability in his early career, and on Yielding ground, he may surprise a few in this tight handicap.

If you’re keen to explore more speculative punts, head to our each-way section for ideas.

Perth 17:15: Strong Run Leading the Market

Perth plays host to another key AI selection in Strong Run (5/6), who takes to the 2m 5f 164y Novice Hurdle at 17:15. His form figures of 21-2 signal a horse on the up, and Fergal O’Brien has a healthy record at this Scottish course. Jockey J J Burke has a 23% strike rate at Perth, and the gelding’s strong cruising speed should serve him well in this smaller eight-runner field.

His main opposition comes in the shape of High Flyer, but with ground conditions leaning towards Good to Soft, Strong Run has the edge based on his all-weather resilience and previous hurdles experience. Backers looking for a banker horse in the late afternoon races should look no further.