Dave Nevison's Friday tips: selections at Ascot and Catterick

This is a seriously competitive handicap for the grade, but there are reasons for thinking Princesse Milania is still ahead of her mark. 

She was cheaply bought out of Olly Murphy’s yard after managing to win a 3m1f handicap hurdle in October, and definitely hasn’t gone backwards for the move to Mark Walford's yard as she won quite impressively on her stable debut at Wetherby last time out. 

The runner-up has scored since, and the form has a strong look, while she is back up in trip once more, which I think should suit her well. 

I am sticking with Dan Skelton’s Fortune De Mer, who was pulled out of a race at Cheltenham last weekend when the ground apparently went against him. 

I tipped him there, and the argument for him here is pretty much the same as he struck at Grade Two level last time out, and is making his handicap debut off a rating of 124, which looks generous.

The case could be stronger in this event as he is not carrying a welter weight here, and the yard could not be in better form, so his chance is obvious. 

The booking of Harry Cobden for David Pipe's six-year-old definitely catches the eye, and Vision De Maine may be able to make a winning reappearance off what could still be a favourable mark. 

The six-year-old had a productive first season over fences and won on his first two starts last season. He might have gone over the top when he was a shade disappointing on his final start last season, although the marathon distance might have been too much for him at that stage of his career. 

I believe he still has plenty of upside in him, and could therefore progressive again this season.