Horse Racing Tips Today – Ed Quigley’s Best Bets for Saturday 25 April

Written By Ed Quigley | Published at April 25, 2026

CRANBOURNE - MAY 27: Stanzior ridden by C J Davies races to the front to win the Celebrate Party Hire Hcp on May 27 2012 at Cranbourne near Melbourne, Australia.

Ed Quigley was amongst the winners in his last column, and he is here to serve up his best bets for a cracking afternoon of action on the Jumps season finale day at Sandown.

All prices correct as of 8am, on 25 April 2026 via PricedUp.

Sandown 1.13 - La Luna Artista

La Luna Artista created a strong impression when bolting up in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton in February, and if she turns up in that sort of form here, she will take a lot of beating off top weight back in Handicap company. She enjoyed the greater test of speed on quicker ground at the Sunbury venue last time out, and conditions should suit her here, where she is open to any amount of improvement.

Ciaran Gethings is in the saddle for the Jane Williams team, and this combination look to have outstanding claims in this assignment.

Sandown 1.45 - Last Round e/w

Ben Pauling continues to fire in the winners, and with his string continuing in fine fettle, Last Round looks the each-way play in a wide-open race. The 5-year-old moves into much deeper waters here after a facile success at Fontwell last month when he absolutely pulverised the opposition. He will need to pull out more here, but is clearly on an upgrade and in Handicap company off a mark of 120 he looks more than capable of making himself competitive.

He seemed to really appreciate the spring ground he encountered last time out, so underfoot conditions should help aid his cause once again. Ben Jones takes the ride.

Sandown 2.20 - Matterhorn

We have a below-par renewal of the Oaksey Chase; last year it was won by subsequent Gold Cup winner Gaelic Warrior, and we don't have a horse remotely near that individual's calibre. However, it makes it a very trappy looking encounter where you can make a case for most of the field. With there appearing to be little separating them, I will be siding with the Paul Nicholls trained Matterhorn. The 8-year-old adores a sound surface, there will be no excuses on that front, and it is interesting that the Ditcheat handler steps his representative up in distance to this extended 2m6f trip.

He has shaped in the past as though this test of stamina will suit - he wasn't stopping when he won over 2m4f at Uttoxeter last year, and further improvement could be in-store over this longer trip with Harry Cobden taking back over for steering purposes.

Sandown 2.55 - Thistle Ask

I am looking forward to this, and a lot of eyes will be on the legend that is Jonbon as he goes in search of his 13th Grade 1 win. He could do it, but he has had a hard season, and I think he might not be able to overturn the Dan Skelton trained Thistle Ask this time around. The two horses clashed in an epic race in the Clarence House at Ascot in January, where Thistle Ask's petrol light came on on soft ground, as Jonbon wore him down in the closing stages. However, with conditions looking more in the favour of the Harry Skelton runner this time around, he could prove hard to peg back around the Esher venue.

Thistle Ask has been a huge improver this campaign, rocketing 45lbs up the handicap in 6 months. Jonbon is a star, but might just have to settle for the silver medal position this time around. Solness looks the best of the rest on paper, but he had a hard race when runner-up to Grey Dawning at Aintree a couple of weeks ago, and may struggle to back that up with a relatively short turn around.

Sandown 3.30 - Henry's Friend e/w

Resplendent Grey won this 12 months ago, and is back for more. However Olly Murphy's charge will have to try and defy a 10lb higher mark which he might struggle to overcome. At a price, I am going to take a chance on the Ben Pauling trained Henry's Friend to bounce back to winning ways. Off a BHA rating of 144, the 9-year-old is just 1lb higher than last successful, and should come into the equation here with a sound surface in his favour. He's disappointed in his last three starts, but if he can get in a good rhythm towards the head of affairs, he should be more than capable of serving it up to his rivals returning after a small break.

Ask Brewster and Road To Home are naturally respected given their Cheltenham exploits, and Havaila arrives here seeking a hat trick of wins. This is a good looking contest, but at an each-way price I think Henry's Friend is more than capable of getting in the mix for the team that have had a very good season.

Sandown 4.02 - Kabral Du Mathan/French Ship f/c

Kabral Du Mathan has been most progressive this season, and looked like capping it all off with a win in the Grade 1 Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham as he jumped the last - only for his stamina to give way in that gruelling encounter over 3m. He tanked into contention on the bridle but quite simply did not get up the hill. Sandown has a big hill, but for this race it comes at the end of an extended 2m5f, so this niche trip looks ideal for him. If he is on song, he can win this, and do so quite convincingly to round off an excellent season.

I don't think there is a great deal between the rest of the opposition, and I wouldn't be surprised if French Ship bounced back to form. He was unlucky to unseat in the Rendlesham, and it looked as though his confidence had been dented heading into his run at Uttoxeter. Freshened up since, he is my selection to follow home the Dan Skelton trained hotpot.

Sandown 4.40 - Calimystic

Nicky Henderson and Nico De Boinville team up with Calimystic who has been thriving over fences and arrives here looking for his third win in a row. Larger obstacles seem to have really brought out the best in him and he has winning form at Sandown too. Quicker ground and a shorter trip pose a different question for him, but I imagine he will be ridden positively and can stamp his authority on his rivals here utilising his good jumping. Palamon may well be the best of the rest for the all-conquering Dan Skelton outfit.

Sandown 5.15 - Listentoyourheart

The salient point is the drop in trip here for Listentoyourheart. She is a very strong traveller, and the return to this intermediate distance should suit her much more than some of the battles she has tackled over 3m, and on this ground, there will be a much greater emphasis on speed which will really suit. This looks a really good opportunity for the Dan Skelton team to sign off with a winner for the Jumps finale, and this Mare looks to have outstanding claims here.