Horse racing tips: Sandown, Newbury and Yarmouth – Thursday July 25

Today’s horse racing tips come from Sandown, Newbury and Yarmouth. See our expert’s nap of the day, next best and other selections

There are seven meetings spanning the best part of seven hours for punters to enjoy on Thursday.
Flat racing dominates the schedule, with cards from Doncaster (2.00-5.20pm), Sandown (2.10-4.55), Leopardstown (5.15-8.20), Yarmouth (5.30-8.30) and Newbury (6.15-8.45). Jump racing takes place at Worcester (2.18-5.45) and Wexford (4.25-8.05).
Among our Thursday tips is a Michael Bell-trained stayer who bids to bring up a hat-trick of victories.
Jake Aldrich’s picks for Thursday are below. Scroll down to read the expert analysis behind them.
Odds, correct at time of publishing, may be subject to change.
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Michael Bell’s gelding COCK AND BULL showed little as a juvenile but has taken a huge step forwards this season – and he steps up in class for his hat-trick bid in this Class 3 handicap over 1m 6f. 
Cock and Bull’s three outings as a two-year-old came at 7f and a mile but, upped to a mile and a half on his seasonal return on the all-weather at Wolverhampton in March, he finished a close second. 
A win at Kempton and two more seconds at Windsor and Wolverhampton followed, but what stands out are his two course-and-distance wins in June and early July. In the latter he defied top weight and being hampered in the closing stages, showing great determination to get to the line first.
This is obviously a much stiffer test against some impressive rivals. However, he is the only runner to win over the trip and he clearly enjoys the course, so the hat-trick is certainly on.
Selection: Cock And Bull @ 9/2 with BetMGM
Another interesting and improving type is SMOULDERING, who comes into this Class 5 handicap over seven furlongs on the back of some impressive performances.
The three-year-old filly made her debut this season over 7f on the all-weather at Wolverhampton. Despite showing signs of inexperience, she finished an impressive second and she followed that up with a win at Kempton, where she stayed on strongly in the closing stages.
She had a bit of a blip last time out when finishing third at Haydock on her turf and handicap debuts, but she raced well and led heading to the line only to be narrowly beaten in the closing stages.
However, there is cause for optimism here as she always races prominently. She is well bred, open to improvement and looks well placed here to get her first win on turf.
Selection: Smouldering @ 3/1 with BetMGM
The Racing League 2024 series begins tonight at Yarmouth and this 7f handicap is the fourth of the seven races in week one. 
PEDRO VALENTINO has been steadily progressing this season and showed what he is made of last month when putting in a career best to win at Haydock (7f, good).
He followed that effort up with a respectable second place at Ascot (7f, good), staying on well but proving no match for the winner. 
He likes to race from the front and, while the rise in class makes this something of an unknown test, his form is solid and he could be flying under the radar here.
Selection: Pedro Valentino @ 5/1 with BetMGM
Find horse racing selections for every race, provided by Telegraph Sport’s champion tipster.
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