Five horses to follow on Saturday: best bets from our experts

The Flat Out Podcast team, Tom Thurgood and Harry Allwood share their top tips for Saturday's action on Racing TV.

Relief Rally

Tipster: Jack Nicol.

Best odds: 2-1.

I've followed this filly all season and it would nice if she could win a Group One. It doesn't look like she is going to train on, and this isn't a horse to get excited about for next year, but I think she's the standout filly here.

I think her performance at York last time out was overlooked as she got Tom (Marquand) out of a bit of trouble there, I thought, and her turn of foot was something to behold on quicker ground, especially as her connections believe she's suited by a bit of ease. She proved at York she doesn't mind quicker conditions, though.

I struggle to see past her here, even at a general 2-1, and I certainly wouldn't put you off her at those odds.

Despite being a Group One, this isn't too much of a step up for her, and I couldn't have Soprano at all, so I'm quite keen on Relief Rally.

Vandeek

Tipster: Tom Bull.

Best odds: 9-4.

Tom Bull, Joey Laver and Jack Nicol are joined by a special guest, French Racing expert Jordan Hopkins, to preview all the key action ahead of a stellar weekend of action. Watch the full show for plenty more top tips!

I think Vandeek should be odds-on here - I'm amazed and I think it's mad that he's not shorter than 9-4!

He's got the best form in the race so far, and the Prix Morny that he won last time out was such a strong race. He beat a very, very good filly there, with River Tiber back in third, and that rival is joint-favourite alongside the selection here.

Vandeek has the star quality to win the Middle Park and I think he will win it well, so he's my best bet on Saturday.

Oviedo

Race:bet365 Cambridgeshire - 3.40pm, Newmarket.

Tipster: Harry Allwood.

Best odds: 14-1.

Watch how Oviedo fared at York last time out

This three-year-old was quickly pitched into a Group Three contest last year after winning impressively on debut, a sign that connections have always held him in high regard, and although he has failed to land a blow in Listed/Group company since finishing third behind Chaldean in the Acomb, I still think he has the potential to be a Group performer.

Given the promise he showed as a two-year-old, it was no surprise to see him take advantage of a rating of 96 with an impressive victory in the Racing TV Zetland Gold Cup in May where he scored with plenty to spare (his rider struggled to pull him up afterwards, too).

He had the tendency to race keenly last year, and he has again raced with exuberance this season, which was probably his undoing when a shade disappointing in Listed and Group Three company following his Redcar victory.

However, he ran well when returning to handicap company at York when last seen, especially as he had a much wider draw than the winner and runner-up who both got first run on him.

A strong pace over nine furlongs is going to be right up his street, and fast ground will be ideal, so although stall one is a slight concern, he does have plenty in his favour, especially as he fits plenty of the required trends to win this race.

A rating of 103 should also be within reach, based upon his latest outing, and he ought to have more to offer with just nine runs under his belt.

Envoi Allen

Tipster: Harry Allwood.

Best odds: 8-11.

This isn't a tip, but a race not to miss on Saturday, with Envoi Allen returning to action in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park, live on Racing TV at 4.35pm.

Henry de Bromhead's star chaser was last seen finishing a below-par fourth in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup, but was probably feeling the effects of his brilliant win in the Ryanair Chase on that occasion, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup could be on his agenda this term as his handler mentioned that race after his Cheltenham Festival victory last season.

Envoi Allen's first time out record over the past five years reads 11111, with four of those victories being at Down Royal, so he's likely to be lacking for much fitness here. The de Bromhead team have been operating at a strike-rate of 24 per cent (7 winners from 29 runners) in the past fortnight, too.

Although he's 5lb clear of his nearest rival (Easy Game) on ratings, he does have a penalty to carry, and Willie Mullins' charge has run twice over the summer, so may have a fitness edge.

High-class hurdler Gentlemansgame, who scored in good style when defeating Irish Grand National winner I Am Maximus on his chasing debut nine months ago, is another intriguing contender among the six runners.

When discussing Envoi Allen on Racing TV on Thursday with Johnny Ward, de Bromhead said: "He's in good form. He's been working well, and schooling well, so we'll get him started and see. It's a competitive race, and he's got his penalty, but we have to start somewhere, and it seemed an ideal race to start in."

Key To Cotai

Tipster: Tom Thurgood.

Best odds: 4-1.

Key To Cotai caught the eye last time out

This imposing filly will surely improve for a winter given her physical stature but she still hasn't done too badly so far, most notably last time in a valuable nursery at the Ebor Festival in which she was keen and raced a little awkwardly from the widest draw in stall 20 but nevertheless made up ground really nicely late on to finish fifth.

That York race has worked out a treat, with the runner-up winning the Group Three Sirenia Stakes next time and the third landing a big sales race at the St Leger meeting. Others to win since include the fourth, 8th, 10th and 11th in a field of 14 runners.

A 1lb drop in the weights for Key To Cotai must be considered something of a bonus, then, as does stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time given the way in which she stayed on last time.

She has been a bit errant in her races so far, but she is genuine and the first-time cheekpieces might just hone her concentration a little more in a compressed handicap in which she has to give no more than 5lb to all but one of her rivals.