Five horses to follow on Saturday at Haydock and Newmarket

Best odds: 5-2.

Tipster: Ross Millar.

Best odds: 100-30 (Advised at 5-1 ante-post).

Tipster: Harry Allwood.

Detain, who made my shortlist of two for the Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes, may not be best suited by conditions on Saturday based on his disappointing effort on fast ground at Royal Ascot when last seen. He would have a strong chance on the form of his close third in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club prior to that, where he appeared to relish some give underfoot, but I expect connections will be on weather watch. 

One contender who will relish drying ground is ROYAL DUBAI, and preference is for the Owen Burrows-trained five-year-old who showed considerable improvement for his new handler when landing the BetVictor Steventon Stakes last time out. 

Admittedly, that race did turn into a sprint (the RaceiQ data shows he clocked a FSP of over 109%), but he did pull nicely clear with the 113-rated Rashabar, who he was conceding 9lb to, and he remains unexposed over this trip. 

Interestingly, Burrows, who has had three winners from his past seven runners, said afterwards that his charge had been working nicely at home with his better horses, and the step up to ten furlongs proved to be beneficial. Burrows was also quick to nominate the Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes as his next target. 

He clearly improved bundles on his first start for Burrows, and his Newbury win may be underestimated given two of the leading protagonists underperformed. He also clocked a decent time, despite the steady early pace, and I'd ignore his sole run at Haydock, which came on heavy ground.

The selection is the highest-rated contender in the field, and a repeat of his latest victory should see him go close again.

Tipster: RaceiQ selection.

Best odds: 11-2.

Venetian Lace has plenty going for her in the Newsells Park Stud Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The Charlie Johnston-trained filly will be back against her own sex after fine efforts to finish fourth in the Chesham and Superlative Stakes on her past two starts, being beaten little more than a couple of lengths on each occasion.

That gives her solid form claims and her RaceiQ data suggests she could boss her five rivals from start to finish.

She made a bold bid from the front in the Superlative Stakes over the same course and distance last time, being swiftly into stride (easily quickest to 20mph) and leading for the bulk of the Group Two contest until buckling in the latter stages.

Venetian Lace did not help herself by hanging left towards the business end of proceedings, initially seeming to shy away from the crowd as she raced on the stands’ side from stall 1. I would put that down to greenness, rather than any waywardness, and this time she’s on the flank in 6, so you would imagine Callum Shepherd will stick to the centre of the track on her.

None of the times on July Cup Day were quick, with the ground seemingly much slower than the official good to firm after watering following a scorching week.

For instance, the Bunbury Cup, surely won by a Group horse in disguise in More Thunder, was run in a time just 1.55sec quicker earlier in the day.

Interestingly, Venetian Lace was the best part of half a second quicker than him through the first furlong, carrying only 8lb less (weight for age she would get 38lb from More Thunder at that time of the year plus her filles’ allowance).

In the Chesham, Venetian Lace had again been quick away (0-20mph in 2.24sec) and was in contention throughout, being one of only three runners to dip under 13sec in the final furlong. The way she saw the race out suggests she has no problems staying 7f, as befits a daughter of Masar whose dam was successful at up to 1m 2f.

To digress for a moment, the owner of Venetian Lace, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, could be forgiven for thinking that Masar owes him. After all, it was his Dee Ex Bee who chased him home at Epsom in 2018.

The quickest any of Venetian Lace’s rivals have reached 20mph is 2.47mph and it’s not hard to see Shepherd being able to dictate his own fractions, especially with several of the opposition moving up in trip and likely to be patiently ridden to preserve stamina reserves. If nothing else, you can see the general 11-2 chance, whose yard have a fine record in this, trading shorter in-running.

Dance To The Music, absent since winning on her debut over 6f at Newmarket in May, on the Rowley Mile, is 6-4 favourite in the early betting, but that looks skinny given the race she won was slowly-run until halfway (the RaceiQ is a sea of blue, indicating sluggish fractions) and developed into something of a dash, where she was well placed to attack. The form is a mixed bag, too, and her time on the sidelines suggests she’s had some kind of niggle.

A bigger threat may be True Test, a tenacious winner over course and distance last time when carrying a winners’ penalty. Her RaceiQ numbers do not quite add up, but she’s a long strider who was strong at the finish last time. 

Tipster: Martin Dixon.

Best odds: 9-2.

He’s had an excellent first season already with Mick Appleby, and his sole win this year came at Haydock. This is his first run at the track since that victory, and he ran very well in the Moet & Chandon International Handicap at Ascot a fortnight ago. It looked like he might win that a furlong out, but the stiff seven furlongs at Ascot just seemed to find him out in such a competitive race. 

Seven furlongs at Haydock is a bit easier, and he’s got a good draw plus there should be a strong pace for him to aim at. Easier ground is also a positive and this is a slightly less competitive handicap than he contested at Ascot last time out. He's my nap of the day.

Best odds: 4-1.

Tipster: Dave Nevison.

A strongly-run mile seems to be ideal for Billyb these days, and with his stablemate Intinso, and other front-runners in this mile handicap, a strong pace looks assured. 

Billyb has produced his best form on his past two outings and won a very competitive 19-runner handicap at York last time out. A 4lb rise was definitely the least he was going to get for such a win, and I think that, given his hot form, he should be able to defy the rise and score again off his new mark. 

He has won off a pound higher in the past and with a good draw at a track he knows well, a good run looks assured.