Sandown Betting Tips for May 31, 2026 - Tempesti to Salute in the Cup

Martin Pennington

Editor

Last updated: Fri 29 May 2026 13:29

Martin Pennington 3 hours ago

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Sandown’s May 31 card features the Listed Sandown Cup plus premier jumps races
Key value bets include Tempesti, Beautifully, Mr Waterville & Impending War
Wet-track and stamina are crucial factors in Sunday’s challenging conditions

Sandown's Sunday program features the Listed Sandown Cup alongside the Australian Hurdle and Australian Steeplechase. (Getty)

Sandown hosts a unique Sunday program with the Listed Sandown Cup joined by two of Australia's premier jumps features, the Australian Hurdle and Australian Steeplechase.

Sandown Tips May 31
Sportsbet Australian Hurdle Tips (Race 2)
Sportsbet Race Preview Handicap Tips (Race 3)
Sportsbet Sandown Cup (Listed) Tips (Race 6)
Sportsbet Fast Form Handicap Tips (Race 7)

A mix of proven stayers, emerging jumpers and wet-track performers shapes as the key theme across the eight-race card, with testing conditions expected to play a major role.

For the latest previews and betting coverage across all codes, visit Live Racing & Sports Updates.

Sandown Tips May 31

Sportsbet Australian Hurdle Tips (Race 2)

Sandown Next Best Bet - Race 2 No. 3 Mr Waterville

The Irish-bred gelding recorded some good efforts on the flat earlier this preparation, including a third in February’s Colac Gold Cup when resuming.

Clayton Douglas’ galloper failed to shine in three subsequent flat starts before switching to hurdles at the May Carnival at Warrnambool earlier this month.

The seven-year-old was beaten just over a length in a 3200m maiden on his hurdling debut, however, he made amends in emphatic fashion two days later when taking out the John Rule Champion Novice Hurdle over the same track and trip by seven lengths.

The son of Camelot shaped as though the extra 700m he tackles here will suit, while heavy going is again expected for this event.

Mr Waterville heads into the race on the back of a third in a Traralgon steeplechase trial behind The Storyteller and remains open to improvement on just his third start over obstacles.

Sportsbet Race Preview Handicap Tips (Race 3)

Sandown Best Bet - Race 3 No. 4 Beautifully

The three-year-old is lightly raced, having made just five race appearances, including a down-the-field effort at Sale on debut in September.

The filly has performed much better in four starts this preparation, registering top-five finishes on each occasion, including two victories.

One of those wins came in a 1400m Benchmark 62 contest at Cranbourne last month, where she overcame a slow start and comfortably defeated her rivals on a Soft 6 surface.

The runner-up from that race subsequently won at Pakenham, while Beautifully backed up the performance with a two-length fifth in a 16-runner Benchmark 70 at Warrnambool.

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained filly appeared to handle Heavy 10 conditions there, wears blinkers for the first time and was scratched from Caulfield Heath on Wednesday in favour of this assignment.

Sportsbet Sandown Cup (Listed) Tips (Race 6)

Sandown Feature Bet - Race 6 No. 3 Tempesti

The Italian-bred galloper has failed to score in four starts this season, however, he has registered a couple of strong efforts in defeat.

His latest run produced a third placing in the Listed Warrnambool Cup over 2350m, where he was beaten less than two lengths.

That race has already produced multiple subsequent winners, including fourth-placed Khor, who scored on the Hillside track at Sandown last weekend.

The son of Albert Dock stayed on strongly at Warrnambool and, while his stamina has to be taken on trust, he appears worth a try over this distance.

Tempesti brought an unbeaten five-from-five Heavy-track record into the Warrnambool Cup and, with Damien Thornton retaining the ride, looks capable of taking out the feature.

Sportsbet Fast Form Handicap Tips (Race 7)

Sandown Value Bet - Race 7 No. 14 Impending War

Ben, Will and JD Hayes’ representative catches the eye after performing well in a pair of Pakenham jumpouts this month.

The gelding finished third in both hit-outs, having ended his previous campaign with a below-par last-of-nine finish in a Cranbourne Benchmark 70 in December.

Impending War is better judged on his prior third placing in a Werribee Benchmark 66 over 1400m, where he was returning from a spell.

The three-year-old has a good fresh profile, having also won on debut at Wodonga just over a year ago.

That victory came on a Soft 7 surface and, with Harry Coffey taking the ride from an inside draw, Impending War looks value to return with a win.