Horse racing tips: Dave Nevison marks your card for Saturday

Montatham was a very short price when winning this race last year and, while he’ll definitely be towards the head of the market, he’ll be a much bigger price this time.

He is at least a Listed class - and I suspect Group Three level if he could find a decent-sized field and a good pace - but he is clearly suited by these big field handicaps.

I am absolutely amazed that Adam Farragher has not ridden a winner yet in this country, having cottoned on to him riding for William Haggas a couple of weeks ago. However, he claims a very valuable 5lb and that might just make Montatham a very well-handicapped runner here.

It was clearly not the plan to run on Lincoln day and then not reappear until July, but he has a good record when fresh and goes very well at this track. I am sure his trainer has got him right for this race.

Several of the sexy horses in this race seem to have fared badly with double-figure draws, but this very progressive four-year-old has bagged stall 5 and looks set to run a big race.

Valyrian Steel wasn’t mature enough for a big-field handicap when tried at York last season, but he now has another winter behind him and has won his last two races (he got the first on a disqualification) in the style of a horse who will now be suited by stronger-run events than those all-weather handicaps. He only just got up in a tactical race last time, but should be able to just sit off a contested pace here and hopefully occupy a good spot in the straight.

He’s still 10lb lower than when winning the John Smiths Cup in 2019 and also races off a lower mark than at the start of his season three runs ago. The handicapper has really given him a chance and he duly took it at Haydock last time.

Pivoine beat Chichester last time and that one has gone in since, meaning a 3lb rise back up the weights looks generous. This course and distance winner will be suited by the drying ground and can continue his return to form with champion jockey Oisin Murphy on board.

Wink Of An Eye was very weak in the market last time, but those who remained loyal were ultimately rewarded with a narrow win at Newmarket after a very troubled passage through. He has gone up just 4lb for that win, but I remember thinking the victory was quite comfortable at the line and that if things had gone well he might have won by further.

Wink Of An Eye looks as though he will be very well suited by the uphill finish of Sandown, as he hit a flat spot and was shuffled back before finishing well at Newmarket. A big field will probably suit as well and Tom Marquand in the saddle is certainly not a negative.