Dave Nevison's Saturday tips: Growl can prove a Cup cracker

Watching an instalment of “The Verdict” I heard my much respected colleague Martin Dixon declaring that he had not bought in to the Proschema “project” and was very glad he hadn’t.

Well nor had I until last time out at Newbury but I bought a fair-size ticket and was still licking my wounds days later after he traded odds-on in-running but did not finish in the first five

I only got caught up in Proschema’s web after a terrific effort in the Northumberland Plate and, now that I have got over it, I recognise the Newbury run over two miles in soft ground was a terrific effort.

Richard Kingscote made a decisive move turning into the home straight and ultimately that contributed to him getting beat as he just couldn’t sustain the run up the punishing Newbury straight.

It seems logical that a two furlongs drop in trip will suit and he has run well at Goodwood before.

Outbox is a lightly raced type who could still have pretensions to winning Group races for Simon Crisford.

He is 7lb better off with King’s Advice compared to when they met at Newmarket.

Things went right for the winner that day but Outbox had to be switched outside and did not have anything left close home. There is more to come.

I have always collected with this horse every time he has run in the Stewards’ Cup and I feel this could be a real chance to make it fourth time lucky.

With the concessions I definitely feel he is worth a decent shot each-way and make him my best bet of the day.

Growl arrives here in really good form, is lower in the weights and definitely suffered more than most at York last time behind Dakota Gold.

It would not be the first time that Growl has suffered in running, as his win record suggests, but he is still usually quick enough to get himself some prize-money and he has a good draw on the fresher ground and sandwiched between pace horses like Lake Volta and Justanotherbottle.

I am sure several horses have made regular appearances in this event and the race clearly suits.

Mick Easterby must have been pleased with the narrow yet convincing margin of victory at Carlisle because it meant he could only get a 4lb rise for winning a very competitive race for the grade.

He runs off 81 here and I do not think that is close to the ceiling with him as yet.

The easy ground will be a big plus for Where’s Jeff and the course definitely suits horses ridden prominently.

There is not much evidence of pace in this race but I wouldn’t be worried or surprised if Where’s Jeff attempted to make all.

I was impressed with Angus Villiers last Saturday when he rode a very strong yet cool ride against Danny Tudhope in a stayers’ handicap in desperate ground.

I decided then that I would back him if I saw him claiming against other apprentices and feel Richard Hughes has put him on an improver in Harbour Spirit here.

The handicapper put him up 7lb for his impressive win at Kempton last time but that would not have stopped him.

His draw is good and he looks like he may now get the extra furlong. He looks worth an each-way bet to me.