Horse racing tips: Dave Nevison's best bets for day three at York

The weekend is really hotting up on the channel, with the last day of the Dante meeting and also really strong cards at Newbury and Newmarket. Hopefully these can go well.

This is by far the least competitive race he has run in for ages and, with his drop in the weights as well as the 7lb claim of his rider, I feel Major Jumbo is well worth a punt.

He took himself out of handicaps for a good while after some sterling performances a few seasons ago in the best races, and he even tried Group One level a couple of times. He is not up to that level nowadays, but a couple of disappointing efforts - including last time - have meant his mark has dropped below 100 for the first time in ages.

7lb claimer John Shinnick didn’t exactly excel aboard this horse last time when taking a wide course around Wolverhampton, but the young jockey is clearly a very quick learner and has a couple of wins and three runner-up places from very few rides. He looks really good value for the claim.

I put up this lightly-raced type last time and, though he never figured with a genuine chance, he certainly could have been closer but for meeting trouble close home and he was never knocked about at any stage. He went straight into the tracker as one to be with for a good handicap this summer.

Whether this race or possibly Royal Ascot is the main plan I don’t know, but he will have to start earning some of his massive purchase price back soon. Ryan Moore is on board again and if this presumably fragile beast comes on for that run he should show up very well.

He is drawn stall 1 which is never a negative around here, and I expect he will be able to hold his position and hopefully show his true ability.

Ryan Moore has drawn stall 1 again here, which is absolutely ideal for this filly who likes to be ridden from the front.

She didn’t cut it in Listed company at Deauville on her final start last year, but that was just about her only disappointment of a long and busy season. She really never stopped improving and was able to win several races because she never did much more than enough in her races.

Highfield Princess only went up the handicap in small stages and she begins this season only 3lb higher than her latest win. It would be no surprise if she progressed again and got some black type, and I very much doubt she will be short of work for this seasonal reappearance.