Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Sandown Tips

William Hill ambassador, Nick Luck, previews Friday’s televised racing from Sandown and Perth.

Sandown, Friday

LOOK TO THE STARS may offer a spot of value in the TV opener at Sandown on Friday (1.50). He was a bit fiery for his own good last year, but showed a fairly high level of form despite that. A hood and breathing operation should help and may explain his rather high head carriage. If some improvement can be expected, he should be right on the premises, particularly as he could get a soft time of it in front.

SADDADD can take advantage of the absence of his half-brother Almaqam in the Gordon Richards (2.25). I’m unconvinced that the talented King of Cities wants to run this far, while Almeric might want the ground a little easier. The selection was really progressive last year, is a course and distance winner and has been getting good notices from his trainer.

OPERA BALLO is the most overpriced horse of the day by far in the red-hot Bet365 mile (3.00). He’s been priced up as though his defeat at the hands of today’s rival Zeus Olympios is the only piece of evidence available. Away from Newmarket’s Rowley Mile – a track that doesn’t really suit his physique and raking stride – his record is unimpeachable, and he is really bred to do much better with time. He showed himself in excellent heart when winning a Group One in Dubai, admittedly earning an inconvenient penalty for this, but that will have brought him forward and he has a race fitness edge on his rivals. I think he’ll lead, and he could take a fair bit of passing.

WISE PRINCE could be the answer to a warm-looking Classic Trial (3.35). He bolted up in a tidy little race at Nottingham last backend, which has already thrown up three quite high class prospects, and he did so despite inexperience and doing almost everything wrong in the early part of the race. The Gosdens appear to be long on talent in the three year old division, and he’s evidently held in very high esteem.

At Perth EL GRANJERO (2.05) and ROARING CONQUEST (2.40) are fancied in two very open races that form part of ITV’s Friday show.