Dave Nevison's top tips for Saturday: Rely on Arctic Fox at York

York is one of my favourite courses but, while I have left there punching the air and amazed at my own ability to find winners, there have been several afternoons where I have left the place feeling Dick Turpin got off lightly when he was hanged on the Knavesmire!

It is a beautiful course and has attracted a record number of runners this Saturday afternoon and, if I get just one of the seven winners, it should be enough to secure a good day.

I have fond memories of this race over the years which would have been even fonder if Serena Brotherton had motivated Pacify a bit earlier last year.

It looks a very competitive renewal this year, but I have a strong view that Arctic Fox is a blot on the handicap off 86 and I fully expect her to be running off marks approaching 100 later in the year.

She is a lightly-raced and progressive three-year-old filly, so hardly typical of a horse contesting amateur riders races, and the handicapper has been unable to overburden her because she has won her last two races narrowly, but I believe she has done so with great authority.

She has demonstrated a real turn of foot on both occasions in steadily run affairs, coming from the back of the field on both occasions.

She clearly acts on the course and by Mastercraftsman out of a Montjeu mare I expect her to absolutely relish the softer conditions plus also improve for the trip.

Amazingly, in my view, Carol Bartley, one of the outstanding lady amateurs of recent years, has not had many live chances in this race, but did win it on the fabulous Nanton not so long ago.

She has only ever had one ride for Richard Fahey which won, so let’s hope the 100 per cent record is still intact by 2.00pm on Saturday!

This one encountered very heavy ground for the first time at Haydock last time but was still heavily backed and went off the 11-8 favourite.

That might not have been the shrewdest punt in such awful conditions, but the horse only gave best close home and I believe his backers have a solid chance of getting their money back and more here. The ground is obviously no issue and Wise Counsel looked a really progressive type last year.

His form when third behind San Donata and Hello Youmzain makes a rating of 87 look a very lenient assessment.

Philip Makin has made a terrific start to his training career despite not having had many winners and I firmly believe he is going to have a hot streak soon which, hopefully, this four-year-old may be the start of.

Makin seems to be starting off his training career with some relatively cheaply bought handicappers who may have lost their way with previous yards which I feel is a strong policy.

It has already paid off with Galloway Hills who gave Makin his first winner as a trainer when scoring at Redcar from a subsequent winner.

I felt he might really go on from that, but he has been a little disappointing. My hopes for him on Saturday rest on the reapplication of headgear which has sparked him up last season where he was placed in better races than this off higher marks.

He will be a price and the track suits his running style. Sean Davis is now down to a 3lb claim - which will make life tougher for the crack apprentice – but, in a race as competitive as this, 3lb could easily be the difference between victory and defeat, so it is well worth having in our favour.