Five to follow at Ayr, Thirsk and Newbury on Saturday

Tipster: Ross Millar. Best odds: 9-4.

Showed good form in the early part of his juvenile season, winning both his starts and beating future Group One winner Power Blue in the process.

He returned from a 307-day lay-off in the Gladness Stakes three weeks ago and performed below expectations, even when accounting for the heavy ground and longer trip.

It's interesting that his connections persist at this trip. The fitting of a hood and better ground mean he's worth chancing against higher rated Zavateri, who may well have peaked already given he didn't look an obvious candidate to mature much from two to three.

Tipster: The Data Detective (RaceiQ). Best odds: 8-1.

All In You got stuck in the mud when well fancied for the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury last time but can bounce back under better conditions. The ex-Flat racer has plenty of gears, as his impressive closing sectionals have highlighted.

He had previously swept from last to first when scoring at Sandown, completing the final two furlongs in 30.07sec. The next best in the field managed 30.87sec, with Dance In The Glance (second) and Hot Fuss (fourth) subsequently franking the form.

All In You would have achieved a similar swoop at Ascot the time before, too, but for making an error at the final flight. That day he motored through the final two furlongs in 28.49sec, while the winner took 29.34sec.

He is 5lb wrong at the weights but his present mark almost certainly underestimates him. His jumping is a bigger niggle – his Career Jump Index score of 6.7 is the worst in the line-up - but that is offset by his price. He looks a solid each-way candidate at the general 8-1 on offer.

Tipster: Martin Dixon. Best odds: 5-2.

Regular readers of my columns will be aware that looking at the pace map and how a race is likely to develop, in particular in shorter distance races on the Flat, is an approach I take regularly and I like that Kings Merchant is drawn close enough to a couple of front runners in this sprint, with Iris Dancer in stall 7 and Lord Abama in 9.

A dual course and distance winner in 2024, he's dropped a long way in the weights over the past 12 months but shaped like he was back in top form at Newcastle on his most recent start, travelling well and just pushed further towards the centre of the track than ideal to make his challenge.

Callum Rodriguez is a positive jockey booking, going back to Thirsk is surely ideal and he's thrown in if building on the positive signs of that last run. 

Tipster: Dave Nevison. Best odds: 5-2.

A hat-trick of wins looks very much on for this Skelton-trained mare. She has been on a roll since switching to handicaps and being upped in trip. 

This open handicap represents a big step up in class but it still not the most competitive of events and it is difficult to spot a rival that is as unexposed and upwardly mobile as her. 

Three miles suits her well and soft ground is no issue.

Tipster: Andy Stephens. Best odds: 7-4.

This six-year-old chestnut was heavily backed and delivered in style on his hurdling bow here in February, having previously won a bumper at Listowel in similar fashion. He has since joined Gordon Elliott from Noel Kelly, with an entry in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hudle being resisted in the interim.

Others in this race have achieved more than him, but he’s an exciting prospect. His jumping was good first time out, earning a score of 7.5 and gaining him 9.51 lengths, and he powered clear in the final couple of furlongs, being 2.68sec quicker than the runner-up.