Horse Racing Tips: Al Azd to make amends for Royal second

A total of eight meetings take place across the UK & Ireland today. First they go at Ascot and then Uttoxeter, Thirsk, York, Cork, Killbeggan, Sandown and Chepstow.

Among our fancies is a runner-up at Royal Ascot for Roger Varian, looking to go one better on Friday. You'll find my Horse Racing Tips below.

16:05 Ascot - Al Azd @ 6/5

The Roger Varian-trained Al Azd took a major step forward when finishing second in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot, keeping on strongly to chase home a useful rival in a big-field handicap.

He was not helped by the trouble in running that day, having to wait for a clear passage before staying on to good effect, and he shaped like a horse who still had more to give.

Prior to that, he had impressed when winning over this trip at Doncaster and has continued to progress with each start this season.

The three-year-old remains relatively unexposed and looks capable of making his mark at a higher level. With another step forward expected and conditions in his favour, he should prove a class above this opposition.

18:20 Sandown - Personal Best @ 6/4

The Jonathan Portman-trained Personal Best has developed into a reliable staying handicapper and looks to have another excellent opportunity to add to her two career wins.

The four-year-old arrives in consistent form, having finished a close second over this course and distance last month, staying on well to be beaten just three-quarters of a length. She backed that up with a solid third over 2m at Newbury and has now produced a string of competitive efforts at this level.

She has won over this trip before as well as placing several times; she has also been placed twice at Nottingham over the same distance.

Still lightly raced for a stayer, there could be more improvement to come, and her current mark remains workable based on recent performances.

She's a reliable type and is bound to put in another good performance on Friday.

19:50 York - Diamond Rain @ 8/13

The feature race at York this Friday evening is the British EBF Lyric Fillies' Stakes.

And the likely winner looks to be Diamond Rain, who sets a high standard on form and looks to have found her easiest assignment of the season.

The five-year-old has performed with great credit in Group company this year, finishing third in the Group 2 Middleton Stakes at York before chasing home a smart rival in a Group 3 at Newcastle.

She has also mixed it with the very best internationally, placing in two Group 1 contests last season; she also boasts a perfect two-from-two record at Listed level, suggesting this slight ease in class is a major positive.

If reproducing the level of form she has shown in stronger races, Diamond Rain should take plenty of beating and looks the class act in the field.

Check out our NAPs Table daily to find a list of the experts' best bets