The pick of the prices on Saturday....

Friday, 24th April 2026

The pick of the prices on Saturday….

>>>> Get my Key 2000 Guineas stats….

In ATC today….

…. I bring you my best picks in Saturday afternoon’s biggest betting heats….

I’m on HENRY’S FRIEND in the 3.30 at Sandown – up at 16s….

…. I’m on CABURN at 8s in the 2.35 at Haydock….

…. and I’m on FIVETHOUSANDTOONE at 10s in the 2.05 at Leicester….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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…. the bet365 Gold Cup – Sandown – 3.30....

Three of the top five in the betting for this had been set to run in last week’s Scottish Grand National at Ayr….

…. but – pulled out on account of heavy ground – they show up here instead….

Does the extra week matter?

…. I’m not a trainer and I couldn’t tell you for sure….

…. but if you’re preparing a horse for one day – balancing it on a knife-edge of fitness and race readiness – and then it turns out to be another day….

…. that has to be something less than ideal – and I’m happy to look away from those principals….

I’m swinging the bat here – he’s up at a general 16s….

…. but one that does look to have been trained specifically for tomorrow’s contest is HENRY’S FRIEND….

You might recall – it seems like a long time ago now – that this column was on him when he won the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup at Ascot back in November….

He was very impressive that afternoon – doubly so when you consider trainer Ben Pauling said post-race that he wouldn’t even have been fit….

Nothing went right afterwards – with a sequence of underwhelming performances at Cheltenham, Ascot & Kempton….

…. but I’m mindful that Pauling was telling reporters as long ago as early 2024 – when he won the Reynoldstown at Ascot – that Henry’s Friend required every last inch of the 3m trip….

…. and the 9yo has looked a little on the slow side for the top 3m handicaps….

He stays all day and I think he stands a strong chance of finding another level for a proper trip on proper good ground – which he will certainly get tomorrow….

He’s bypassed other potential targets this spring – the Eider, the Ultima, the Grand National at Aintree, and the Scottish Grand National….

…. I reckon he’s been aimed at and trained for this specific race for some time….

…. and I reckon he can outperform a big double-figure quote and get competitive – big weight and first-time cheekpieces notwithstanding….

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…. the Epic Boosts Handicap – Haydock – 2.35....

I certainly get the respective cases for the top two in the betting – Cosi Bello & Khafiz….

…. but at the bigger price – he’s up at the general 8s – preference is for CABURN….

He did nothing wrong on seasonal debut in the Listed-class Cammidge Trophy over 6f at Doncaster….

Beaten 2.5 lengths….

…. on weight terms that were not in his favour….

…. he’s entitled to come on for the run….

…. and back down in handicap company – from just 3lb higher in the rankings – he can make his presence felt….

I like the step up in trip to 7f….

…. I thought he got just a little outpaced at the quarter-mile pole last time – Hector Crouch was certainly working harder at that point than any of the jockeys around him….

…. but he stuck to his task nicely and the extra furlong is definitely worth having another crack at….

I also think the slightly better ground he’ll get tomorrow will be to his favour….

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…. the King Richard III Cup – Leicester – 2.05....

If FIVETHOUSANDTOONE is ever going to add to his single victory on turf….

…. he’s not going to have many better chances than he gets tomorrow in this….

He turns up on the back of a decent spell on synthetics….

…. his last time out effort at Newcastle is particularly noteworthy – he finished a very good second in the valuable sprint on Good Friday….

His AW mark rose 2lb to 98 on the back of that….

…. but he turns out tomorrow for this on his lowest ever turf mark – 86….

…. with in-form 7lb claimer Harry Vigors taking off a very useful 7lb….

At 8 he’s not getting any younger….

…. but there’s no doubt that right now he’s fit as a fiddle….

…. firing on all cylinders….

…. and racing on weight terms that simply must give him a chance….

…. if he can transfer a bit of something to turf….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back with more next week….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

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