Any 20 runner handicap with prize money as generous as this always going to be difficult to solve. However, there are some strong trends which should help.

Firstly, horses older than four can be readily eliminated. Despite being represented by 47 runners in the past 10 years - only one 5-y-o, Vintage Premium, has been successful.

6-y-o’s and older, despite a large representation, have an even worse record with no wins. The 3 and 4-y-o’s are the group to concentrate on.

Experience as might be expected in such a large field is a requirement. The last 10 winners had won 17 handicaps between them prior to their victory here. All the last 10 winners had a rating of 90 or over.

Ezdiyaad, trained by Marcus Tregoning, is one that catches the eye. By the stallion of the moment Galileo, he fits most of the criteria. His last run behind Sugar Ray at Royal Ascot can be ignored where he ran very freely and did not see out the 1m 4f trip.

His two previous wins in handicaps over 1m 2f were pretty convincing. Five winners have come out of the race he won at Newbury on soft ground in April and any rain won’t be a problem.

The Roger Charlton-trained Proponent also ticks many of the boxes. He ran a fine race over 1m 4f at Royal Ascot where he was 3l behind last Saturday’s Old Newton Cup winner Mad Rush. He will be well suited by the step back to 1m 2f but perhaps would not cope with the soft surface as well as the Tregoning colt.

Click here for horse racing betting

With Royal Ascot soon upon us things are relatively low key this weekend and the best of the action is at York and Sandown.

The Queen Mother Cup Stakes for lady amateur riders is always a very interesting race. It has recently been dominated by Luca Cumani, who has won the last three runnings.

This year he is represented by the ex-Tony Carroll-trained Ask The Butler who has an outstanding chance.

He got off the mark for his present stable when bursting through late last time out at Newmarket to win comfortably by 0.5l and should defy an 8lb rise in the weights.

In the Cadogan Silver Salver the John Dunlop trained Free Offer is well worth considering. A very progressive type he was slightly disappointing last time out at Newmarket but the stable is now in very good form.

The Heritage Handicap over 6f for 3yos looks very competitive. Good Gorsoon, trained by Barry Hills and ridden by son Michael, looks well in with 8st 6lbs.

At Windsor last time over 6f, showing a nice turn of foot, he got up on the line. Being by Stravinsky he should be well suited by the extra furlong here.

Tim Easterby has won two of the last runnings of this race and his Hamish McGonagall certainly looks a danger, but Good Gorsoon gets the each way selection.

At Sandown, Corrybrough looks to hold all the aces in the Scurry Stakes. Most impressive over course and distance last time beating a good yardstick in Chartist he is a very impressive sprinter and must take all the beating.

Click here for racing betting

Three of the most interesting races on Saturday are the Timeform Silver Salver and the JW Lees Stakes at Haydock and the Scottish Sprint Cup at York.

In the Silver Salver one that catches the eye is the Jeremy Noseda trained Perfect Polly a very promising filly by Effisio. She is a stable companion of Fleeting Spirit who was so impressive in the Temple Stakes last Saturday.

Indeed, she has form with Fleeting Spirit in the Group 1 Cheveley Park last autumn when running fourth in a fine finish. Fleeting Spirit was second.

Having her first run for Noseda she ran a satisfactory race on quick ground at Hamilton this month. Being by Effisio any easing of conditions at Haydock will be in her favour (there is plenty of rain about).

In the JW Lees it’s Al Qasi who makes appeal. He will appreciate the drop in grade and distance after his disappointing run in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Seven furlongs here, particularly if there is rain will be right up his street.

Others to consider are the Barry Hills trained Captain Marvellous, a head in front of Al Qasi at Leicester but is 2lbs worse off here, and course and distance winner Appalachian Trail.

At York the Scottish Sprint Cup is very competitive. One that should have a chance is the Brian Smart trained Fathom Five. He ran a promising third in his first race for nine months when behind Borderlescott and Desert Lord at Musselburgh.

As the two ahead of him finished second and third in the Temple Stakes last Saturday the form looks solid.

The front running Ishetoo is another to note. A very progressive sprinter last year he stumbled badly leaving the stalls at Thirsk on May 17. He did really well to get within 2.5 lengths of Manzila at the line.

For all horse racing betting click here.