Dante Meeting tips: Dave Nevison likes a trio 18-1 and bigger

We are at the time of the season where William Haggas has just about every favourite in these big meeting handicaps and plenty of them are going to win. He has trained two winning favourites in this race in the last five years and there is no doubt The Reverend has a great chance here.

However, this is tight, and I reckon the much more exposed La Pulga might be a little overpriced, especially as it is possible he will get on to the lead easily enough. He was challenged for the lead throughout on his reappearance in a strong race at Musselburgh on his reappearance and did well to be beaten just over two and a half lengths into fifth place.

He might strip fitter for that, and given an easier time of things up front, may get into a place at least at big odds. 

Conor Beasley is on board stable stalwart Commanche Falls, but the booking of Rossa Ryan for Michael Dods’ other runner Glenfinnan is definitely encouraging. 

This gelding often pulls too hard and ruins his chances, but did till win twice last season and there was plenty of encouragement on his Doncaster reappearance, despite ultimately finishing down the field once more. The five-year-old gelding got stopped in his tracks a furlong out and had no possible chance to make a challenge subsequently and finished with plenty left

 He is only a pound higher than his latest winning mark and he progressed significantly from first to second run last season. 

Masekela has fallen an awful long way since he ran a fine fourth in the Derby of 2022, but this former Listed race winner looked as though he may finally be ready to win another race last time and might well have done so if there had been stronger pace at Hamilton

 His Derby effort came in a strongly run event and he has ended up in an inordinate amount of slowly run affairs which obviously isn’t the sole reason for his decline, but a strong pace seems very likely in this big field.

He can certainly win a race off his current mark of 68, and with Tim Easterby in such good form, Masekela looks a big price for one of his at this meeting.