Saturday tips: Harry Allwood's two ante-post picks for York

Best odds: 3-1 (Ladbrokes and Coral).

I expect bookmakers were presuming Lake Forest would not run here having finished fifth in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last week. He's a best-priced 3-1 with Ladbrokes and Coral, and I believe he should be chalked up much shorter, which is why I'm suggest him as a bet at the odds available. 

Connections revealed on Tuesday that they are thinking of running their high-class four-year-old, and would "like to get another run into him before the weather changes”.

The going at York on Saturday is good, good to firm in places, at the time of writing, and with minimal rain forecast, that is unlikely to change, so conditions should be ideal for Lake Forest who relishes fast ground. 

The biggest concern is, of course , the relatively quick turnaround from Royal Ascot, but I don't think connections would consider running him if he had not come out of the race well, and this looks a good opportunity.

Aside from Audience and Prague, Lake Forest looks a class above his potential rivals here, and the former, who is rated 6lb higher than the selection, has produced three lacklustre runs now, so comes with risks attached, and the latter would probably prefer some give in the ground. This will also be Prague's first run for 252 days, so is sure to strip fitter for it. 

Lake Forest produced a career best when defeating Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Lazzat in the $10m Golden Eagle in November, which is smart form, and after a pipe-opener at Longchamp, he was not seen to best effect at Royal Ascot in what looked a strong renewal of the Queen Anne Stakes.

He impressed when winning the Gimcrack Stakes on his sole start at York in 2023 and, provided he does run, which sounds likely, he should take all the beating. 

Best odds: 6-1 (William Hill).

This mare produced a shock when scoring at 28-1 over course and distance in May, although it did not come as a surprise to connections who aimed her at the race.

That was her first outing over five furlongs for almost a year, and while she did win three times over a furlong further after that run, she appeared to relish the step back down to the minimum trip last time out. 

Her victory is also worth upgrading given she raced alone when kicking for home, and was well on top at the finish, which suggests she should be capable of defying a 6lb rise. She also remains unexposed over this trip, and clearly relishes this track.

JM Jungle, who is also entered here, boosted that form when landing the Aston Martin "Dash" Handicap at Epsom next time out, and the runner-up has also won a decent race since. 

A repeat of her latest effort will see her involved in the finish again, and this is her only entry.