Dave Nevison: my top horse racing tips for Saturday

Betting expert Dave Nevison has a strong fancy for the Virgin Ayr Gold Cup plus you can watch who he likes for the free-to-enter Paddy's Pick 5 competition.

1.20 Ayr: Koy Koy at a general 4-1

This three-year-old has been progressing all season with just one bump in the road, on his penultimate start.

On his latest start, he was a good third and might just have a little more improvement to come against some familiar northern handicappers.

The form of his Newbury run last time has already been boosted, with the winner going in again at the St Leger meeting and another who finished behind also scoring.

If Ben Curtis wants to get the lead, then he should be able to as there doesn’t seem many who like set the pace here. Also, George Boughey is equipping Koy Koy with a hood for the first time and that might help him settle. He looks a good option.

Who does Dave like for Paddy's Pick 5? He shares his selections.

2.30 Ayr: Snash at a general 7-1

I backed this horse in the Great St Wilfred and it was painful to watch as he never got a run through. Jockey David Allan passed the post virtually stood up in the saddle as Snash went past beaten horses without hardly having a race.

It goes with the territory if you bet in big-field sprint handicaps but luck does turn and this looks a good opportunity for this improving sprinter to land a big pot.

He won over course and distance on his penultimate start and it very much looks as though this race has been the target for the autumn. Tim Easterby has already shown his sprinters are back in good form for this meeting after a winner on the first day.

3.25 Newbury: Sea The Caspar at 8-1 with bet365

This looks like a race to watch closely as several winners look likely to come out of it this autumn.

Sea The Casper has made a great start and has only been beaten once from four starts. He looks like one with a real future. He is only 5lb higher than when winning a small-field all-weather handicap and doesn’t look to have been overburdened by the handicapper.

The trip looks ideal and Harry Burns, who is doing well for the Crisford team this summer, takes off a valuable 3lb. He looks set for a good run.

3.45 Ayr: Khanjar at a general 9-2

William Haggas won this with a lightly raced four-year-old, Nahaar, in 2020 and that horse has subsequently been contesting Group One and Group Two races.

Khanjar is a year younger but looks to be very much on the same trajectory. He already has a Group Two entry and it is not difficult to see why to judge by his victory in a handicap last time, when he took on older sprinters for the first time.

It looks as though the strongest pace in the race is middle to low, which makes Khanjar Ideally drawn in stall 5. He is impossible to get away from. Hopefully, he will not leave it as late as Nahaar, who got up in the final strides.