Dave Nevison's Friday tips: Three best bets

The Kublers have their string in very good form, but may not feel it given the  number of second places they have suffered with their last few runners.

Aged nine, their runner here can hardly be described as progressive, but Andaleep is definitely well enough handicapped these days and has won four times at this track in the past.

I am hopeful the return to Esher might bring about a change of fortune for him and his connections and he ran well enough last time out to suggest his turn is near. This is the lowest grade handicap he has contested so far this season, and hopefully the veteran might appreciate the slight drop in grade and reward each way support at least. 

The crack apprentice Warren Fentiman claims 5lb off Sovereign Sea here and that might be the decisive factor in this very competitive York handicap. 

Roger Varian’s four-year-old has finished second on all four starts this season, which could be a cause for concern in some cases, but Sovereign Sea has improved with each run and I have no concerns regarding temperament.

He was beaten half a length by Burrito over this trip at Newbury last time and the Gosdens' runner reopposes here on 3lb worse terms. The weight pull will make it very close between the two, but the extra 5lb the varian runner gets from the claim just edges it for me. 

Westernesse finished a decent third in this race in 2023 off a 3lb higher mark and looks in good enough form to run well in it this season.

He is usually raced up with pace over a mile, but over this trip and in such a competitive field, he seems to be suited by coming from further back. With Danny Tudhope (who is brilliant in these big field York handicaps) on board, I suspect he will be sat just off the pace and produced late.

His run last time at Wetherby was encouraging and suggested his turn was not too far away. I would be further encouraged if there was a market move given his shrewd connections.