Horse Racing Tips: Sam Turner's best bets for Saturday including 10/1 Ascot nap

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Haydock, 12.45 - Back Harbour Lake each-way @ 8/19.00

Harbour Lake, game winner of this event 12 months ago, must concede years and weight to virtually every rival here, but he is a class act on spring ground and should make a bold bid to retain his crown if conditions remain good.

Alan King's veteran disappointed at the north west venue in the Betfair Stayers' Handicap last November, but was immediately despatched for a wind operation which appears to have worked judged on his latest showing on Grand National day behind Wade Out at Aintree.

Tackling a field of progressive staying handicappers, the 10-year-old stuck to his task manfully in the straight to finish on the heels of the placed horses with the winner gone beyond recall after the last.

That run should put him spot on to defend his title from a mark just a pound higher than 12 months ago.

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Haydock, 13.15 - Back Helnwein each-way @ 11/112.00

The Barbury Castle handler also sent out Helnwein to finish runner-up to Our Champ in last year's Swinton Hurdle and, although the gelding is one of National Hunt racing's greatest enigmas, double figure odds of him going one better today are enticing.

The experiment to equip the selection with cheekpieces and ride him more aggressively was an abject failure in the Sussex Champion Hurdle with Helnwein weakening when he fell two hurdles from home.

Hopefully, connections will return to patient tactics with their Greatwood Hurdle runner-up whose form figures in fields of 16 or more read 11722 with the seventh place recorded over 2m4f, a trip in excess of his best, in a hot Aintree handicap.

Two miles, good ground and a big field are the selection's optimum conditions and double figure odds with five places on offer constitute a solid each-way bet granted those conditions.

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Haydock, 13.15 - Back Dance And Glance each-way @ 13/27.50

Dance And Glance was a well-backed favourite for this event 12 months ago and was compromised by his track position with Harry Cobden arguably too patient.

Anthony Honeyball's improving hurdler was the only horse to finish in the first six who was 'held up in rear' with the other quintet either settled in midfield or ridden positively.

Admittedly, the son of Dance And Glance has been a little keen on occasions which may have explained the conservative ride, but he is thriving with racing now as was evidenced by his impressive four-length defeat of We're Red And Blue who had previously chased home Mondo Man in the Imperial Cup at Sandown.

Even off a 6lb higher mark here, Dance And Glance ought to be highly competitive and his stable ended a quiet spell when Ballyfinn won during the week.

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Ascot, 14.20 - Back Hickory (nap) each-way @ 10/111.00

This season's renewal of the Victoria Cup looks choc full of progressive four-year-olds so Hickory may have plenty on his plate trying to reprise his win in the race last year.

However, his stable struck at Newmarket's Guineas meeting last week with a 25/126.00 chance and their likeable eight-year-old boasts such a good record fresh that he could be worth chancing here at 10/111.00 or greater, especially with six places on offer.

There appears a good spread of pace for Hickory to run at with front runners drawn across the track and, although the selection must run off a career-high mark, his record following an absence from the track of at least six months, reads 121 so he clearly goes well fresh.

Considering he tackles some of the tougher handicaps the flat season has to offer, Hickory's track stats also bear close inspection with figures of 230471312, improving to 1312 since joining Osborne.

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Ascot, 16.40 - Back Dicko The Legend each-way @ 9/110.00

Nineteen 0-80 sprinters to go to post for the finale and it probably goes without saying that these events are best bypassed the majority of the time.

However, the masochist in me has reared its ugly head and Dicko The Legend is the first of two modest wagers I'll be having.

Liam Bailey's six-year-old was fourth in this race 12 months ago following a sluggist start and he served notice he is finding some form with a decent effort in defeat at Southwell last time.

It could be that the Middleham raider is simply a better horse at York and he will no doubt be taking in the same July handicap he has won for the last two years later in the season, but he is also 1-1 for rider Jason Watson who partners him today so could be worth chancing.

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Ascot, 16.40 - Back Arantes Nascimento each-way @ 9/110.00

At the time of writing, Michael Attwater's last eight runners have produced figures of 32452241 and Arantes Nascimento could be worth a modest wager now he tackles six furlongs for the first time for the stable.

The Charm Spirit gelding, named after the legendary Pele, hasn't quite produced the fireworks on the track that his namesake managed with a football, but he sees out seven furlongs strongly on the all-weather and that is an angle I like at Ascot with horses returning to sprinting.

The five-year-old made his debut for his current stable over seven furlongs at this venue last July and looked dangerous until his stamina appeared to give way and his challenge petered out late.

Hopefully, rider Paddy Bradley can get him settled in behind the speed today and deliver a late challenge.

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