Sandown afternoon racing tips: Best bets for Friday, July 5

Let's get cracking with some details on our selected horses at Sandown, with a full set of tips from the race card at the bottom of the page.

Don't forget to check out the full racecard, results and live odds in Planet Sport's racing live centre.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)

 

14:30 (Sandown) Aesterius

Aesterius can benefit from a drop in class in the Dragon Stakes.

The Wathnan Racing-owned two-year-old ran out a convincing winner on his debut at Bath before stepping up to Group Two company at Royal Ascot.

He was prominent on the near side in the Norfolk Stakes with a high draw but chased home stablemate Shareholder when finishing fifth, just one and a half lengths in arrears.

But now dropping back to Listed level, he can get his head back in front.

 

15:40 (Sandown) Aegean Sea

Aegean Sea made a promising debut last month and can make his return to the track a successful one.

The two-year-old son of Kingman travelled in midfield for the majority of the race but once switched to the outside, he finished strongly and can improve on that third-placed finish to get his head in front for John and Thady Gosden.

 

16:15 (Sandown) Prague

Prague can make a successful return to Sandown in the Davies Insurance Solutions Gala Stakes.

The four-year-old son of Galileo started out his career with Aidan O’Brien but never raced for the Ballydoyle maestro.

He switched to the care of Dylan Cunha at Newmarket earlier this season and made his racecourse debut last month at the Esher track, running out a ready winner by four lengths at odds of 40-1.

He can build on that when he steps up to Listed company and make it two from two.

 

16:50 (Sandown) Sleeping Lion

Sleeping Lion can get back to winning ways in the Coral Marathon over an extended two miles.

The nine-year-old has placed in a pair of runs this season on the all-weather and a switch to turf can see him return to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since February 2022.

Last seen at Kempton in May, he was only beaten by two and a three-quarter lengths by Duty Of Care when struggling for room before being switched to the outside.

Once he found room he made headway, so he should improve for that run and come out on top in the hands of Jim Crowley.

 

Sandown tips in full:

SANDOWN: 1.55 Beautiful Crown, 2.30 Aesterius, 3.05 Navello, 3.40 Aegean Sea, 4.15 Prague, 4.50 Sleeping Lion, 5.25 Taritino