Dave Nevison's Friday tips: 20-1 chance among three bets

There are risks attached siding with I Still Have Faith, but I am willing to take a chance on him. Ben Brookhouse has engaged a promising amateur for his five-year-old who, and while Cian Murphy has not recorded a victory from just six rides under rules in Britain, it clearly shows the belief Brookhouse has in him. 

Murphy takes off 7lb, which will obviously help the selection, and he is aboard a contender who seemed to hit top form last time. 

I Still Have Faith met trouble in running twice at Newmarket last time out and definitely would have won with a clear run. He is a habitual slow starter, but over this much stiffer track, it could be an advantage, provided he is not left at the start!

He is drawn high, and that is usually an advantage, too, and it's even better that he is positioned close to all the pace-setters, so he should get a good tow into this race.

John Berry is stepping this young stayer up in grade, and his five-year-old has won his past two starts in handicaps by ten lengths and five lengths respectively. 

It looks a stiff grade but this former Godolphin-owned contender is actually bred to be competing in this grade and higher, and it looks as though Berry has found a way to get him to show what he is capable of. 

The selection has certainly been impressive in those two all-weather wins and this fairly uncompetitive race for the grade looks well within his reach plus could be another stepping stone to better things.

Rock Opera is on an increasingly-long losing run, but is a couple of pounds lower than two decent performances under young rider Ethan Tindall on his recent outings. 

Richard Fahey’s gelding is chalked up at a general 20-1, at the time of writing, and he appeals as the type to side with at big odds here, rather than one at a shorter price. 

He could well be suited by the stiff six furlongs at Ascot, and wide-open spaces, as he tends to do his best work in the closing stages. I have been impressed with what I have seen from the jockey so far, and his 7lb claim looks good value.