Five horses to follow at Haydock and Sandown on Saturday

Tipster: Harry Allwood.

Best odds: 4-1.

Despite being sent off at 66-1, this five-year-old ran a huge race when fifth in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out, and that effort can be upgraded considerably considering he was the only contender in the first eight that was drawn in single figures. 

He travelled powerfully throughout and fared best of those drawn on the unfavourable far side as the race developed towards the near side, and Kerdos also got loose beforehand. 

It was an effort that signalled he was in top form, and was arguably a career best from this sprinter who appears to be improving with age. Clive Cox said on racingtv.com at the start of this season that Kerdos had "strengthened physically" and he clearly improved bundles for his reappearance effort.

A repeat of his latest performance makes him the one to beat here, and a strong pace to aim at will be advantageous. Christophe Soumillon, who rode him for the first time at Ascot, is a positive jockey booking, and Cox's team remain in good form. 

This race represents a drop in class and I doubt last year's Temple Stakes winner will have a better opportunity of recording a victory this season. 

Tipster: Page Fuller.

Best odds: 7-1.

I’ve been looking forward to seeing the unbeaten Victory Queen again and she is in action at Sandown on Saturday. 

She has looked tough and versatile on both of her starts. Her latest Ascot victory was arguably a fortunate one as the runner-up was hindered in her challenge by traffic, but a more conventionally-run race here on a stiffer track will suit her better anyway. 

In that race, she broke smartly, taking the least time of the field to reach 20mph, 2.64 seconds, and William Buick used that to his advantage, giving him the ability to dictate his own terms in front. She clocked the slowest Top Speed of the field, but managed to make use of her lovely long stride to repel all challengers as they quickened in the home straight. 

Her long striding in particular is what makes me think she’ll be better suited to a stiffer track here. In both of her starts so far, she has recorded the longest average stride length of her rivals, and that makes her far more efficient as she travels through the race. 

She also occupies one of the most favourable stalls over this course and distance, with this many runners. Her stall historically has given its occupants an advantage of +0.34 lengths over their rivals. For context, Blue Bolt occupies stall three, which represents the least favourable draw with a historical disadvantage of -0.25 lengths.

Tipster: Martin Dixon.

Best odds: 9-1 (each-way).

Paddy The Squire has come back bouncing this year. He landed a gamble at Chester on his return and then finished an excellent third in a very strong York handicap three weeks ago. Ian Jardine's five-year-old is a son of Derby winner Golden Horn. yet he's only tried this mile-and-a-half trip once before, when second in a valuable race at Hamilton in 2023. 

The way he's galloped through the line on both starts this year suggests he's more than ready to step back up in trip now and could well have untapped potential over this distance. I rate him a strong each-way bet at a best price of 9-1, at the time of writing, with most firms offering five places (1/5 odds). 

Tipster: Alex Scott.

Best odds: Evens.

A small but high-class field, and I think OMBUDSMAN will take some stopping, with conditions set to suit. I have great respect for Andre Fabre's challenger Sosie, but with three-year-olds having such a great recent record, he may struggle to fend off Delacroix for the runner-up spot, with Aidan O'Brien's colt set to return to a more suitable trip. He is unbeaten in two starts over ten furlongs.

Tipster: Dave Nevison.

Best odds: 100-30.

Best Adventure is the only contender in this 0-105 handicap who even finished in the frame last time out, which might be some sort of record for such a high-grade contest. 

Andrew Balding’s charge won over course and distance last time out (his second win this season) and looks to be on the up, plus is surely capable of scoring again having been raised just 6lb for that comfortable two-length victory. 

The four-year-old may well have benefited from the application of a tongue tie, which he wears again here, and with Joe Fanning in the saddle, and largely below form rivals in opposition, his chance is clear.