Five key horses to follow from our experts on Saturday

Tipster: Katie Midwinter.

Best odds: 6-1.

The Mastercraftsman filly won her maiden in good style at Nottingham last season, doing all of her best work in the closing stages over the extended mile and shaping as though a step up in trip will suit. 

She's entitled to progress from her debut outing on a sounder surface and the improvement in yard form is an obvious positive.

Tipster: Harry Allwood.

Best odds: 8-1.

Based upon where the pacesetters are drawn, a high draw would appear to be an advantage here. On paper at least, anyway!  

With that in mind, hold-up performer Pearle d'Or could get the perfect tow into the race, which he didn't get when third in last year's Challenge Cup over course and distance. 

David O'Meara's charge travelled strongly into contention there, but found himself out in front with no company due to the stands' side group having the upper hand. Had he been drawn high that day, then the result may have been different, and the selection remains on a rating of 90. 

The six-year-old was gradually improving prior to that career-best effort and his latest effort can be excused as he certainly shaped as though the outing was needed on his first start for 194 days. His handler has also advised that this race has been his early-season target, and Pearle d'Or's form figures at Ascot reads 213. The ground won't be a hinderance, either, and the hood (which was left off on his seasonal return) is back on here.

Silvestre de Sousa is a positive jockey booking and hopefully he can deliver Pearle d'Or in the same style he did aboard Elmalka in last week's 1000 Guineas!

I'll be having a small savour on Hickory, too, as he was the other to make the shortlist, but his draw in stall six may be a disadvantage.

Tipster: Johnny Ward.

Best odds: 5-2.

I think he's capable of defying an 8lb rise following his win in the Boodles at the Cheltenham Festival. I can't see how he doesn't go very close, win, or win very easily.

He was declared a non-runner on multiple occasions due to the ground ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, but they still ran him in fairly soft ground there, and he still managed to score.

JJ Slevin has said in the past that he thinks Lark In The Mornin is top class and he won the Boodles like a horse who could be.

He's 8lb higher now, and while I'm not that keen on four-year-olds taking on older horses, he looks ridiculously well handicapped on better ground here, so is a strong fancy.

Tipster: Jack Nicol.

Best odds: 16-1.

Things went all wrong for Sindoriyno last time out at Wolverhampton. The colt was slowly away and could never land a blow on the turning track, forced wide on the turn for home before switching back inside to take fourth position at the line.

I think that was an above average race for the venue and I certainly wouldn't give up on Charlie Johnston's colt on the back of that effort, which was under a penalty, and think he'll be better served now switching to the turf and going up in trip, with his dam a talented 1m4f winner during her racing days.

The three-year-old colt has been allotted a rating of 80 for this handicap bow and I'll be shocked if there's not significant improvement to come from that opening mark.

Tipster: Danny Archer.

Best odds: 4-1.

For many people on Saturday night, myself included (Switzerland to win and Ireland top 5 finish), Eurovision & the football play-offs will be dominating the headlines.

However, instead of watching the glittering ceremony from Malmo on his comfy sofa, Rab Havlin makes the trip to Leicester for a strong book of rides, the best of which looks to be Rogue Tornado. 

He makes his debut for James Owen having enjoyed a solid 2023 when in the care of Tom Clover. Following a gelding operation, he finished in the top three on his four subsequent starts, rising 10lb in the weights to his current mark of 70.

That looks a very workable mark, given the manner in which he shaped on his final start of the season at Pontefract.

By Cracksman and out of a Monsun mare, he is all about stamina and despite having to shoulder top-weight against rivals who include the red-hot Fiddlers Green, he looks open to stacks more improvement this year and is taken to come out on top.

Hopefully Rab makes it back for the results part of Eurovision! 

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