'He should have a bright season ahead' - Harry Wilson's tips for every race on ITV on Friday

Harry Wilson returns with his advice for all seven races from Sandown on Friday - plus the two live on ITV from Perth. . .

1.15 Sandown
bet365 Handicap, 5f

Harry's tip: Zayer

Zayer showed useful form as juvenile, building on the promise of two seconds over 6f when powering clear when dropped to 5f at Ripon in August. He was beaten just three lengths in the Group 2 Flying Childers on his next start, and although he couldn't back that up in the Cornwallis next time, it was still a useful performance in finishing sixth. He's a prominent runner who stays further, so this track and stiff 5f should suit him perfectly, and Archie Watson is very good at getting his horses ready first time up. He can make his class count here before bigger targets.

Zayer13:15 Sandown

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Jky: Hollie Doyle Tnr: Archie Watson

1.50 Sandown
bet365 Esher Cup Handicap, 1m

Harry's tip: Seraph Gabriel

Seraph Gabriel has improved his Racing Post Rating with each start, building on his debut fourth when winning a maiden in July before going down by just a short head under a penalty in October when last seen. The winner that day had shown strong form previously and was in receipt of 6lb, so that looks a fine effort, while there have been plenty of subsequent winners from his two starts before that. His opening mark of 91 is no gift, but it does look workable, especially with more improvement lurking now he steps up in trip.

Seraph Gabriel13:50 Sandown

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Jky: Rossa Ryan Tnr: Ralph Beckett

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2.05 Perth
QuinnBet Highland National Handicap Chase, 3m6½f

Harry's tip: If Not For Dylan

If Not For Dylan won this race in 2023, when causing somewhat of a surprise at 22-1 on his final start for Andrew Hamilton, and returns just 3lb higher having managed only two starts since for Lucinda Russell. He clearly appreciated tackling a marathon trip for the first time, and it was therefore no surprise to see him step forward from his reappearance over 2m4f in December to land a competitive 2m7½f handicap chase at Newcastle in January, when he beat Choosethenews and Lord Rocco, who finished fifth and unseated respectively when just 5-1 and 8-1 for the Eider next time, while the reopposing Jacks Parrot was fourth. If Not For Dylan is relatively lightly raced for a ten-year-old and looks slightly overlooked on just his second go at this sort of trip.

If Not For Dylan14:05 Perth

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Jky: Alan Doyle (3lb)Tnr: Lucinda Russell

2.25 Sandown
bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3), 1m2f

Harry's tip: Arabian Crown

There looks to be a lack of pace in the race, which could cause problems for a few of those at the head of the market, but it could work nicely for Arabian Crown, who made all for a comfortable success over this course and distance in the Classic Trial last year. He was the yard's main Derby horse before meeting with a setback and missing the remainder of the season, but he shaped as if retaining much of his ability when fourth in a falsely run race at Meydan last month. His race-fitness counts for plenty against these rivals and he could prove hard to pass with Ryan Moore taking over.

Arabian Crown14:25 Sandown

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Jky: Ryan Moore Tnr: Charlie Appleby

2.40 Perth
Alastair Down Novices' Handicap Chase, 3m

Harry's tip: High Treason

High Treason made a promising chasing debut at Newbury in November, finishing third behind the very useful Masaccio when probably just a bit outclassed in that 0-140. He hasn't built on that in two runs since, but he wasn't suited by the tight nature of Fontwell next time and shaped as if in need of a longer trip when fourth in a race that has worked out well (winner, second and third have all won since) at Leicester in December. There's stamina on his dam's side (sister to the dam of smart staying jumper Ronald Pump) and he's had wind surgery since last seen, so better is expected in this weaker contest.

High Treason14:40 Perth

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Jky: Jamie Brace (5lb)Tnr: Nigel Twiston-Davies

3.00 Sandown
bet365 Mile (Group 2), 1m

Harry's tip: Haatem

Haatem was a bit underestimated last year after his busy juvenile campaign, but proved himself to be very useful, following his 2,000 Guineas third with a head second to stablemate Rosallion in the Irish equivalent before giving weight all round when winning the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. He hasn't been seen since, but he was an impressive winner of the Craven Stakes on his reappearance last year, so he's capable after a break, and he could have plenty more to offer back over a mile this season.

Haatem15:00 Sandown

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Jky: William Buick Tnr: Richard Hannon

3.35 Sandown
bet365 Classic Trial (Group 3), 1m2f

Harry's tip: I Am I Said

Windlord sets the standard courtesy of his Group 2 second and deserves to be favourite, but a chance is taken on I Am I Said. Despite being unfancied on his debut in October, he won a Newmarket novice by four and three-quarter lengths, beating a couple of pretty useful rivals in good style. By Almanzor out of a Galileo mare, he's a half-brother to John Smith's Cup winner Enfjaar and should have no problem getting the extra two furlongs. He should have a bright season ahead.

I Am I Said15:35 Sandown

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Jky: Hector Crouch Tnr: Ralph Beckett

4.10 Sandown
bet365 'Wild Card' Fillies' Novice Stakes, 1m2f

Harry's tip: Star Of Light

John Gosden has won three of the five runnings of this novice, saddling the third in the two years he didn't, and can make it three in a row in this contest for him and Thady with Star Of Light. She comes into this off the back of a winning debut at Wolverhampton last year, just as the yard's 2022 winner and subsequent Group 1 scorer Emily Upjohn did, and could be a big improver, as she displayed obvious signs of greenness when coming from the rear to lead inside the final furlong. By Frankel out of the owner's Irish Oaks and Prix Vermeille winner Star Catcher, she's bred to be smart and holds an entry in the Oaks.

Star Of Light16:10 Sandown

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Jky: Luke Catton Tnr: John & Thady Gosden

4.45 Sandown
Nordoff & Robbins Jeff Beck Memorial Handicap, 1m2f

Harry's tip: Gunship

Gunship has shown plenty of promise in two all-weather runs over a mile, winning at Newcastle in December and never nearer than at the finish when second in a Southwell novice last month – the winner franked the form when beaten little more than two lengths in a Listed race on Good Friday. By Sea The Stars out of a mare who has produced five winners with a peak RPR of at least 104, including two over this 1m2f trip, his pedigree suggests the step up in trip is a big plus and this Derby entrant could prove far better than his opening mark of 82.

Gunship16:45 Sandown

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Jky: Oisin Murphy Tnr: James Ferguson

Read more . . .

'He's shown flashes of brilliance and the yard's fired in plenty of winners' - James Stevens eyes up the Group action at Sandown  

The Punt Acca: Harry Wilson with tips from Sandown and Perth on Friday 

Paul Kealy's play of the day at Perth 

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