13:50 Ascot

Tip 1: Bad - 2pt EW

Best odds of 4/1 at PricedUp during publishing.

The Ben Pauling stable remains in fantastic form, and BAD (best priced at 4/1) looks a fantastic bet in this contest. The six-year-old has a superb record at Kempton in his career, so it is surprising that he hasn’t won at Ascot so far. He has form figures of 633223F with that fall coming when in contention in this race last season.

Since then, connections have worked out that blinkers are important to him in a finish, and he has a superb record since. Bad finished 5th in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last time at a track where he has struggled previously, and given his owner, this would have been a logical target. The return to a smaller field should suit him, and I find it difficult not to see him involved in the finish.

15:00 Ascot

Tip 2: Victtorino - 1pt EW

Best odds of 13/2 at Unibet while publishing.

This looks like a more competitive renewal of the Silver Cup than VICTTORINO (best priced at 13/2) has won for the past two seasons, but you are getting a higher price as a result. The Venetia Williams-trained seven-year-old has a fantastic record at the track with form figures of 11411, including victories in this race off marks of 142 and 143.

Victtorino won the Swinley Chase over this course and distance in February off this mark of 146 and once again had his prep run in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. With his stable slowly turning a corner, he should hold strong claims in his hat-trick bid.

15:15 Haydock

Tip 3: Gege Ville - 0.5pt-EW

Best odds of 6/1 at William Hill while publishing.

Trainer Nicky Richards looks to have some good chances at Haydock today, but the one I prefer is GEGE VILLE (best priced at 6/1), who won the opening handicap hurdle on the card 12 months ago. The lightly raced nine-year-old won that race after a 588-day break, staying on strongly over 2m3f before finishing a good 2nd at Ayr in February off a mark of 107.

Gege Ville runs here off a mark of 110 but now steps up in trip to 3 miles for the first time, and I expect him to relish that distance.