We have another busy Saturday ahead of us this week, with seven meetings taking place across Britain and Ireland and the Ayr Gold Cup is the day's most prestigious event.

There's also Group 3 action to look forward to at the Scottish track, as well as the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury. Ireland's meetings are hosted by Navan and Gowran Park, while there are also fixtures from Chester and Newmarket and an evening card from Newcastle.

Our expert has been tasked with picking out three strong fancies to follow across the afternoon and among them is a Joseph O'Brien filly with a big future.

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Saturday's tips

  • 14:12 Newbury - Arapaho Gold @ 6/5
  • 15:40 Ayr - Flash Harry @ 14/1
  • 15:50 Gowran Park - Star Performer @ SP

14:12 Newbury - Arapaho Gold @ 6/5

Newbury's main event is the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes and it's hard to look past the unbeaten runner ARAPAHO GOLD here. Michael Dods' two-year-old has progressed through the ranks and has already proven himself at this level.

The 110-rated gelding showed plenty of speed when winning a 5f maiden at Thirsk on debut in May and he coped well with the step up to 6f when following up in a novice at the same course next time, pulling almost four lengths clear of the runner-up, despite a 7lb penalty.

Victorious over course and distance next time, he got the better of Nabati on that occasion and he went on to score again in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York when last seen. That form makes him the one to beat here and a 3lb penalty won't make much difference.

15:40 Ayr - Flash Harry @ 14/1

There's a big prize fund on offer for this prestigious handicap, so it's no surprise that a competitive field of 25 has been declared for the race. Finding the winner will be no easy task, but the potentially unexposed FLASH HARRY can run another huge race here.

Clive Cox's gelding could hardly have been more impressive when landing his maiden at Wolverhampton last term. Always up with the pace that day, he took up the running with a furlong or so to go and pulled further and further clear, scoring by more than eight lengths.

The four-year-old then went on to win a decent 6f handicap at Goodwood and he returned to winning ways in the very same race this year. It's hard to argue with a 4lb rise off the back of that success and a similar effort will surely put him bang in the mix here.

15:50 Gowran Park - Star Performer @ SP

Joseph O'Brien has a very smart group of three-year-olds this term and his fillies have been particularly strong, with him winning the Oaks and Irish Oaks with different horses. He runs the very promising STAR PERFORMER in Gowran Park's feature Group 3 event.

Declan McDonogh takes the ride on the twice-raced filly and she has shown a fair amount of potential already. She won a maiden at the Curragh on debut and did well to do so under the circumstances. Slow to get going, she recovered well and won with plenty in hand.

Contesting a course-and-distance Listed contest next time, she was even more impressive that day and kicked four-and-a-half lengths clear of the runner-up. O'Brien's three-year-old should be up to winning at this level on that evidence and a big run is expected.

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All odds correct at time of writing.

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