Five horses to follow at Doncaster on Friday

Tipster: Katie Midwinter

Best odds: 33-1 

In Doncaster's opening Listed juvenile contest, big-priced outsider Dandyman Dan is one to note at the early 33-1 available.

The Oliver Cole-trained colt is more exposed than many of his rivals but has the benefit of experience in his favour. He placed at this level to subsequent Solario Stakes winner Alfred Wallace at Ascot when last seen, outrunning odds of 66-1 in his final start for David Evans and his previous connections before switching yards, and also featured in a Listed contest won by Where Love Lives earlier in the campaign.

There could be more to come from the Dandy Man colt over this 7f trip and the easier conditions could allow him to become more involved than the market expects. Should some of the main protagonists fail to make a successful step up to this level, Dandyman Dan could take advantage for an in-form yard and may fare better than his price suggests.  

Tipster: Ross Millar

Best odds: 13-2 

Pershaada is undeniably the correct favourite for this and sets a clear standard that others will have to surpass. However, she is an out-and-out speedster and the good-to-soft conditions might well not be optimal for her. 

Even accounting for the stiff task she faced in the Nunthorpe last time, I still feel she was below her best and two additional defeats on the all-weather at Wolverhampton and Southwell suggest to me that fast ground is a prerequisite for this daughter of Persian Force.

My alternative would be Flann Sunna. I’m keeping the faith despite a mildly underwhelming performance at this level in the Richmond last time. I was, though, taken by the manner in which he breezed into contention two furlongs out before being unable to sustain his effort. 

It's worth noting that he lacked cover early on and pulled hard and additionally may not have enjoyed the undulating track as he did change legs a few times in the closing furlong. 

The speed he showed at Goodwood points to this drop back in trip potentially suiting him well, cut underfoot shouldn’t be an issue given his dam was a winner on heavy ground, and indeed it might well draw out his stamina at this trip. 

Tipster: Andy Stephens

Best odds: 14-1

Beylerbeyi makes each-way appeal at a general 14-1 in the Doncaster Cup.

Last year’s Cesarewitch hero is up against it on bare ratings but several in this field have questions to answer whereas he seems sure to give his running.

We know exactly where we are with him. He's clocked the top speed 11 of his races, and had the best Finishing Speed Percentage on 13 occasions, admittedly being helped by the fact that he is habitually held up.

He looked in good heart when a keeping-on fifth in the Ebor last time when the only horse to clock a fast sectional in the final furlong. In fact, that was the only splash of red in the final half mile.

Caballo De Mar needs a revival after a couple of tough scraps and is being tried in blinkers, while Queenstown had been off ten month with injury before his comeback win at The Curragh and looks a candidate for the "bounce". 

Tipster: Dave Nevison

Best odds: 2-1

Silver Lake has obvious claims, but the positives stack up so completely that the William Haggas-trained filly has to be the selection for me here. 

I watched her price contract to 11-10 ahead of a very competitive event at the Sky Bet Ebor Festival with amazement, and she only managed to win by a narrow margin, to the relief of her backers. 

However, the winning margin doesn’t tell the whole story as the three-year-old had a terrible run through, and Saffie Osborne had to be at her best to get her home. 

The selection is well worth the 6lb the handicapper has raised her and she could, in fact, still be very well handicapped. 

That contest was run on easy ground, so she will handle these conditions well and, given the amount of stamina in her pedigree, she might well improve considerably for an extra two furlongs here. 

The only downside is that she will be favourite, but it is difficult to select any of her rivals to beat her. 

Tipster: Harry Allwood.

Best odds: 5-1.

He may not be the most straightforward, and will need a bit of luck in running, but Almekarem has looked a winner in waiting on his past two outings, and is worth siding with.

The selection was held up when last seen, which appeared to suit, and stayed on strongly to finish a never-nearer second in a race not run to suit at Epsom. He was again not seen to best effect when attempting to make all on his previous outing, when also finishing second, and I will be surprised if he isn’t given a patient ride again here.

There looks set to be a strong pace, which will suit, and Doncaster should also play to his strengths. He’s also just a pound higher now, and should be capable of scoring off a rating of 81 based on his past two efforts.

Sir Mark Prescott remains in red-hot form having operated at a strike-rate of 24 per cent (at the time of writing) in the past fortnight, and hopefully this is the day for Almekarem.