How to bet £20 on Saturday: Knotted looks a good bet at 10-1

The wet weather has continued to cause problems for racecourses in Britain this week and the meetings at Leicester and Worcester on Saturday have already been abandoned.

The conditions are soft at Sandown and York – which will both be shown live on Racing TV - and, although the racing on Saturday may not be as strong as recent weeks with Royal Ascot on the horizon, it is certainly competitive.

My only ante-post bet for the Royal meeting is Spanish City in the Wokingham Stakes on the final day of the five-day bonanza and I am hoping he manages to sneak in at the bottom of the weights.

Roger Varian’s gelding caught the eye at Epsom on Derby Day before finishing third at Newmarket and the return to Ascot – where he has gone close in competitive handicaps before – is certain to suit. He will have an each-way chance if he lines up in that race which he is a general 25-1 chance for.

Here are my four best bets for Saturday’s racing. Best of luck.

Get Knotted may have disappointed at Thirsk last time out but looks capable of bouncing back here at his beloved York.

His form figures over course and distance read 21391321 and is now 3lb below his last winning rating plus finished second in this contest last year off a rating of 95.

Paul Mulrennan – who has been operating at a strike rate of 23 per cent in the past fortnight and is seeking his 1000th winner – is back aboard and has guided the seven-year-old to victory four times.

The step back up to seven furlongs will also suit and the ground conditions will not pose a problem to the course specialist who has won on soft in the past.

Get Knotted has also attracted support this week and ought to make his presence felt here with plenty in his favour.

Aljady caught the eye at York on his seasonal debut and the extra furlong is certain to suit him. He is open to further progress this season and looks the main danger.

Owen Burrows has always held Sawwaah in high regard and his youngster looked to have a bright future when winning the Wood Ditton on his debut last year.

He failed to build on that success on his next two starts but got off the mark at the first time of asking in handicaps when successful at Newmarket in September and has run two good races in defeat since.

Shaped as though the run was needed when third at Newmarket last time out and connections now reach for cheekpieces which should benefit the son of New Approach who can race keenly.

Has gone close on soft in the past and a rating of 93 looks fair plus there should be more to come from him the season.

Mark Johnston continues in flying form and has a good chance of landing this valuable 6f contest with Blown By Wind.

The three-year-old ran respectably in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last season and was well fancied for the Group Two Superlative Stakes at Newmarket, but something was clearly amiss in that race as he trailed in last and was not seen again until May this year.

He has shaped with promise in two handicaps this season and Charlie Johnston, assistant to his father Mark, believes he will have needed both his runs this year, so is hopeful of a big run.

A career best will be needed but Blown By Wind should be primed for this and I think the drop back to six furlongs will suit as he certainly shows plenty of speed.

The assistance of Ryan Moore – who has a strike rate of 27 per cent when riding for Johnston this year - is also a positive and his debut win came on heavy ground, so conditions should not be a hinderance.

Wise Counsel could only manage third when sent off the well-backed favourite at Haydock on his seasonal debut last weekend, but I thought he shaped with promise in the conditions.

The son of Invincible Spirit travelled well before the lack of a recent run and heavy ground took its toll and he should strip fitter for that run now.

He is potentially well treated off a rating of 87 having finished a close third behind San Donato and Hello Youmzain – who are both rated over 110 now – at Haydock on his penultimate start last season and remains unexposed over seven furlongs.

It would be a surprise if Wise Counsel could not get off the mark in handicaps off this rating and can provide the in-form Oisin Murphy - who recorded a double at Sandown on Friday – with another winner.

2.25 York: £4 each-way on Get Knotted at 10-1 with Bet365

3.15 Sandown: £2.50 each-way on Sawwaah at 6-1 with Bet365

3.35 York: £1.50 each-way on Blown By Wind at 12-1 with Paddy Power

3.50 Sandown: £4 win on Wise Counsel at 7-2 with Bet365 or Coral

£0.75 each-way Yankee

2.25 York: Get Knotted

3.15 Sandown: Sawwaah

3.35 York: Blown By Wind

3.50 Sandown: Wise Counsel

Plus £1.75 each-way on Get Knotted at 10-1 with Bet365