Saturday Racing Tips: Key Timeform data including a 4/1 Horse In Focus at Ascot

• Pic Roc caught the eye at Newbury

• Upepo has clear claims on ratings

• Counting Cards remains capable of better

Racing... Only Bettor. Listen to the latest episode now.

Ascot, 15:00 - 'Horse In Focus' Pic Roc shaped well last time

Pic Roc was beaten around 12 lengths in fifth in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury three weeks ago, but he shaped better than that result would suggest, earning the Horse In Focus Flag from Timeform's reporter to mark him out as one likely to be of firm interest next time. 

Pic Roc was soon on the back foot and facing a difficult task after he fluffed the standing start. A sticky round of jumping didn't help his cause and he still had plenty on his plate early in the straight, but he stuck to his task and ran on in encouraging fashion without ever threatening. 

He wasn't seen to best effect at Newbury but showed enough to suggest that he's on a decent mark and can make his presence felt under more favourable circumstances. 

Wolverhampton, 18:15 - Top-rated Upepo well treated after escaping penalty

Upepo had been struggling for form but he was returned to a more suitable trip at Lingfield on Wednesday and was able to cash in on his much-reduced mark, justifying good support in the process.

The race was run at just a steady tempo, but Upepo was still able to readily assert his superiority, drawing three lengths clear after moving to the front over a furlong out.

That victory was achieved in an apprentice handicap so he escapes a penalty and is able to run off the same mark here. That places him 3 lb clear on Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings, while he also has the + symbol to show he could be rated even higher based on some of his older form. 

Newcastle, 18:30 - Improving Counting Cards can take another step forward

Counting Cards showed run-by-run improvement in maiden/ novice company last year, and he progressed his Timeform rating again when runner-up on his reappearance and handicap debut at Southwell in October.

Counting Cards, who had been gelded and been given a breathing operation ahead of his return, was no match for the winner who quickened up well in a steadily-run race, but he proved best of the rest despite still showing some signs of inexperience by hanging to his left.

He is going the right way and remains with few miles on the clock so looks likely to carry on progressing. He is the only runner in this seven-furlong handicap with the Timeform 'small p' to denote he is expected to improve.

Read more racing previews here