Horse racing tips: Pat set to deliver

This is a competitive Pertemps Qualifier and I am reluctant to pass over Harbour Lake, who did me a good turn at Aintree last time, but feel What A Johnny may well be the one with the most potential for improvement here. 

He improved gradually throughout last season, especially when stepped up in trip, and being by Yeats this step up to three miles looks very likely to suit him even better. 

The six-year-old had a wind operation over the summer and he seemed to have a relatively gentle reintroduction last time out, where he raced wide for the most part and gradually faded up the punishing Carlisle straight. 

What A Johnny has a tongue tie for the first time now and, with the Olly Murphy yard being in such good form, I am expecting him to have come on a fair bit for that return effort.

This six-year-old has still only had six career runs and definitely has the potential to improve and win races. 

Ultra Beat came back from a break to make his chasing debut in a 14-runner novices' handicap last time and ran by far his best race, while the way he came home definitely suggests that staying chases are going to be his game. He seemed to blow up at half way in that race after a blunder, but he got his second wind and eventually stayed on to be second at the line. 

Ultra Beat runs off the same mark and the same grade again now and he definitely looks up to winning at this level. Indeed, he could be a value option against the likely favourite Harry’s Hope, who is on a four timer.

Pats Dream has joined a crack outfit and could well be an improved performer judged on his winning reappearance at Ayr earlier this month. 

Pats Dream is described as a chaser on looks by Timeform and his dam won a point while he is a half-brother to a winner over three-and-a-quarter miles, so he probably did well to win over two and a half miles on his debut for the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.

Stepping up to just short of three miles now is definitely going to be in his favour and, even though he is 7lb higher in the weights, he is still rated just 90.

I would be confident there is more to come and he is a solid choice here.