Katie Midwinter's Friday tips: A brace of 8-1 picks at Ascot and Dundalk

The top tipster and former Tipstar champ has a selection at Ascot as well as one at Dundalk, which is live on Racing TV.

The James Owen-trained Far Above Dream must defy top weight if he is to record his third win of the year, but he has been in great form for most of the season, performing consistently well, and is only 2lb higher than when narrowly denied by Sondad at York in his penultimate start.

The four-year-old gelding has form at the track having finished a good fourth to Double Rush in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot when rated 99, and he can be forgiven for a disappointing effort when joint-favourite for the hugely competitive Ayr Gold Cup in his latest start.

If able to bounce back, Far Above Dream holds a solid each-way chance. He has amassed plenty of experience in big-field handicaps and, following a brilliant season so far, could give another good account of himself under Kieran Shoemark.

Course-and-distance winner Kerdos could make his presence felt in this field under 5lb-claiming Reese Holohan. He has to find improvement at the weights but has been rated as high as 111 during his career when competing at Group One level, and proved he still retains ability when winning here in his penultimate start in first-time blinkers.

Whilst he couldn't match his winning effort over 6f here last time, he could be worth keeping the faith for Stephen Thorne.

A formidable contender on his day, he has won once and finished second twice in four all-weather starts, therefore could be capable of putting in another bold bid back over the minimum distance.