Top tips from Katie Midwinter: five fancies for Saturday

is seeking a hat-trick of wins in the contest and is 2lb higher than when victorious 12 months ago. 

He won the 2021 renewal off a mark of 83, and a current rating of 68 appears workable enough, despite recent poor showings. 

The return to York should suit and he his fourth at Haydock earlier in the season shows he retains ability. At generous odds, he holds strong each-way claims for an in-form David O’Meara team. 

This is a step up in class for the seven-year-old gelding, but he’s on a workable mark of 87 and could outrun his likely huge odds. 

He ran well on his sole appearance at the track, when third to Highfield Princess in the Buckingham Palace Stakes three years ago, and he has shown he possesses the ability to be competitive in tough handicaps on several occasions. 

With two wins already this season, and other solid efforts in defeat, should not be overlooked. I fancy he could sneak into the places at the least. 

The gelded son of Kodiac showed promise as a juvenile when second in the Woodcote Stakes, ahead of Haatem, and when performing respectably in a Group Three contest at Chantilly. 

His form has deteriorated this season, but his second at the track this month gave hope that a second career success may not be far away. 

This looks like a good opportunity for the Hugo Palmer-trained gelding to return to the winner’s enclosure and, with in-form 5lb claimer Jack Doughty in the saddle, he is an attractive prospect at the weights. 

Galileo colt Theory Of Tides drops significantly in class as he takes on his elders on handicap debut. 

John and Thady Gosden-trained three-year-old was unable to get involved from off the pace in the King Edward VII Stakes last time but is back in calmer waters here. 

The quicker ground is of slight concern, as it may have been one of the reasons for his poor showing at Ascot, but he has won on a sounder surface in the past. 

He holds entries in the Great Voltigeur Stakes and the St Leger, and will need to be winning this, off a mark of 95, to justify engagements like that. 

The likable five-year-old often runs well at this track and can go close from a mark of 98. 

He’s 2lb higher than when victorious on his penultimate start last November, coming from the rear of the field to win in dramatic fashion under Billy Loughnane, who resumes the partnership. 

Likely to come on from his reappearance at Hamilton, and with the George Boughey yard in flying form, this gelding holds strong claims now dropping back down to 5f.