Five horses to follow on Saturday

Tipster: Dave Nevison.

Best odds: 22-1.

The Sky Bet 'Jump Jockeys' Nunthorpe' is a novelty event and an extremely difficult puzzle to solve, but my eye is drawn to sprint specialist Paul Midgley, who fields three runners, and all seem to have fared well with the draw.

All three seem to have similar chances and it is the price offered that makes me want to throw a few quid at Ventura Express. He is not the oldest in this field at nine years old and, though he is undeniably not as good as he once was, the handicapper has gradually been relenting and I feel he could go well here.

Tristan Durrell, who has his breakthrough season over jumps last season, will likely get a strong lead from Mon Na Slieve who is drawn in stall one and with luck in running, is weighted to go close at big odds.

Tipster: RaceiQ nap of the day (Andy Stephens).

Best odds: 12-1.

Miss Kodi made quite an impression when surging clear on her debut over 6f at Chepstow last month and the 16-1 that Paddy Power offer looks generous.

She was quickest through each of the final three furlongs, being the only horse to dip under 11sec in the penultimate furlong (next best 11.37sec) before signing off with a “fast” 11.79sec easing down.

That was at least 0.87sec (about five lengths) quicker than anything else. Her stride hit a peak of 8.43 metres, which was easily highest. The third home, 1-3 chance Eabha, had previously got to within two lengths of the smart Aperoll on her debut and has since scored at Epsom. 

Tipster: Andy Stephens.

Best odds: 5-2.

Royal Champion has a 5lb penalty to carry in the Sky Bet York Stakes but can prove equal to the task.

He was a superb winner of this race 12 months ago, when clocking a time almost three seconds quicker than the RaceiQ Par (the Time Index was 9 when the meeting average 6.8).

The globetrotter has continued to flourish around the world and now has a home game.

Tipster: Alex Scott.

Best odds: 18-1.

A value alternative in this race could be Bunbury Cup winner Aalto at 14-1, who looks well-in under a 3lb penalty, and this track should suit his running style.

One niggle is that he has disappointed in this race for the past two years when being relatively fancied in the market, but he was denied a clear run (yet only beaten two and a quarter lengths) two years ago, and then last season when 5lb well-in, ran too bad to be true when shaping as if something was obviously amiss.

He has been in good nick in four runs so far this term, running a solid race off a 163-day break in the Victoria Cup, before again finding traffic at York, but followed that up with a second and a win on the July Course.

He arrives here in flying form with ground to suit again, plus a likely strong pace, and is still well-treated having shaped well off a mark of 96 in the Clipper Handicap last August. Expect him to come home fast and late.

Tipster: Nic Doggett.

Best odds: 12-1.

Kalpana ran a stormer here in the Hardwicke, and she looks a better, stronger mare than when a length behind Calandagan in last year's renewal. 

She looks a big player here, especially if able to get first run on some of the more fancied hold-up horses.