Heads Up: Ascot specialist Excellent Guest a value bet at 16-1

In nine career starts at Ascot, often in big fields, Excellent Guest (3.45) has recorded a victory, been runner-up twice – including at the Royal meeting this year – and has also finished third. This is clearly a track which suits him, and after luckless trips to Goodwood and York on his last two starts, he returns on just a 3lb higher mark than when finishing just half a length behind Prince Of Johanne in the Royal Hunt Cup. This is a fiercely competitive race, but at a morning price of 16-1 with BetFred, track form alone gives him an obvious each-way chance. One more to consider at a big price, and each-way, is Tom Hogan's Gordon Lord Byron (3.25) in the big race at Haydock, the Group One BetFred Sprint Cup. He has a fair bit to find on the balance of his form, but his win – over seven furlongs – at York last time out was a career best and he does not have to find a great deal against a field with some in-and-out performers to stand a chance of making the first three. He is worth an interest at 25-1 with Bet365, who pay a quarter the odds on the first three places.