It’s the calm before the Royal Ascot storm this weekend but in many ways this afternoon’s racing is even more interesting from a punting point of view and of huge interest to me is Saptapadi in the opening amateur rider’s race at York at 2.05.

This eight-year-old has been taking on much better rivals through the last 12 months including a cracking fifth in last year’s Ebor Handicap followed by a close-up fourth behind Lahaag over course and distance in October.

The veteran performer has already run with credit this term, most recently at the Epsom Derby meeting seven days ago when he didn’t get the best of runs through the middle part of the race when sixth of 15 behind Miss Majourie.

Now demoted in class and with the likely fast pace on here that he needs over this distance, I think that Brian Ellison’s charge has an outstanding chance of recording his first victory since way back in April 2010. 

My intention is to back him each way if I can secure odds of 6/1 or bigger which shouldn’t be a problem with the likes of Pearl Castle, Kings Bayonet and Tiger Lilly in the line-up. 

The rest of the card looks very testing for us punters but with the ground drying out all the time I fancy we shall get a real run for our money from Tarikhi in the 2.40. 

A second in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot was followed by a good third over a mile and a quarter in the big three-year-old handicap at the Newmarket July meeting, so this intermediate trip should be right on the money for him.

Later on, the big race of the day is the BetBright Charity Handicap at 3.50 and with 20 going to post this looks a real conundrum. 

Last year’s winning stable is represented by Ventura Mist and See the Sun and both have each-way claims, but the best value bet in the race could come from Charles Molson and Henry Candy’s charge is made the value nap of the day. 

This son of former smart sprinter Monsieur Bond has being crying out for a test like this over six furlongs and gets the each-way vote over Eastern Impact and Royal Celebration.

Elsewhere across the country I am pretty sweet on the claims of that grand old boy Noveere To Go in the 5.30 at Bath after he didn’t get the run of the race at Kempton Park last time out. 

Hopefully Dreams of Glory and New Decade will set the race up for this definitive hold-up horse.

At Chester I fancy Strictly Silver each way in the 4.15 and Celtic Sixpence in the 5.55, while over at Musselburgh the big race is the William Hill Scottish Sprint at 3.35. 

Some old “friends” meet up here and it could finally be the turn of Hawkeyethenoo to finally land a big pay day for connections if he can gain a clear passage through late on.

I make the consolation event at 2.30 between Robot Boy and the mud-loving Jack Luey. The former still has improvement to come and may well be better than his handicap mark. 

But on really soft ground I shall also be having a saver on the latter following a good run at Redcar last time out.