Dave Nevison horse racing tips: five best bets for Saturday

Is in a rich vein of form both over hurdles on the Flat and cannot be opposed here.

Adrian Keatley’s six-year-old won when well-backed in an 18-runner handicap at the Dante Meeting over course and distance in May, and then went on to win a competitive handicap hurdle at Market Rasen.

He is only 5lb higher than the York win which definitely looks manageable and he probably has several pounds extra in hand with the booking of crack Irish amateur Jody Townend who comes over for the ride.

She has ridden winners on five of her past 12 rides for Willie Mullins, so is clearly the key jockey booking in this. Kihavah is well enough drawn in 7 and will be suited by the likely fast pace.

Three-year-olds in handicaps like this are worth focusing on on as we approach Royal Ascot. Bottom weight here Bordogan looks to have plenty of upside compared to his rivals.

He won a Newmarket maiden comfortably on his last of three starts last season, looking a very promising type. He reappeared at Haydock in the red-hot handicap won by Covey recently and certainly ran well enough to suggest that he has trained on, finishing an encouraging fifth. Charles Hills has his team in good fettle and has booked William Buick.

There is no way Ben Haslam’s seven-year-old’s form figures do justice to his performances this season. He just needs the rub of the green to resume winning ways.

He has been unlucky in running over 6f/7f, including on hi spast two starts. He also “won” his race on the wrong side of the track on another recent occasion.

He is running off a mark 10lb lower than he was at this time last season and I don’t believe he has deteriorated as much as that in the meantime. With a decent draw in stall one (probably close to the pace) I expect him to be finishing strongly for a place at the very least. Haslam has his team in good form.

The Richard Fahey-trained three-year-old has turned into a winning machine over this trip this season and he had no difficulty with the step up to Listed class last time out, winning by his biggest margin yet.

He gets a penalty for that York win, but I generally think that current form far outweighs a few pounds extra with sprinters. The extra 3lb extra certainly would not have stopped him last time. Oisin Murphy is on board once again and I expect Great State to complete the four-timer.

Kevin Ryan’s useful sprinter really deserves a reward for his consistency and might have things drop right for him here.

He was placed in two of the big sales races last season and has run really well in good handicaps this term.

He was runner-up behind the useful Quinault last time and gets a 5lb pull, plus he has fared much better with his low draw and that should bring them closer together.

Jamie Spencer is always an interesting booking in big-field sprint handicaps and hopefully might just be the missing edge to getting Washington Heights home in front.