IN advance of next week's glittering Royal Ascot meeting, York takes centre stage on Saturday.

There is prize money of over £200,000 on offer over the two-day meeting, which begins today (Friday).

It's the 30th Timeform Charity Day on Saturday, which has raised over £2.5million for various charities, principally Macmillan Cancer Relief, since its inception in 1971. The seven-race programme begins at 2.10 and features Britain's most valuable sprint handicap for three-year-olds, along with Europe's richest race for lady amateur riders.

Televised action kicks off at 2.40 with a competitive 1m 1f handicap, in which the booking of Pat Eddery for Mick Easterby's Pension Fund, third on his seasonal debut, holds appeal.

The 1m 4f ladies race at 3.10 could well fall to Mary Reveley's in-form Bhutan, while in the £52,000 six furlongs handicap at 3.45 expect big runs from the Willie Haggas-trained pair, Rendition and Peacock Alley. Both horses are on a three-timer, so note the market in this one.

John Dunlop's Don't Surrender should be right there at the shake-up under Pat Eddery. John Reid's booking for Mark Johnston's unbeaten Carousing should be noted in the extended 1m 2f handicap at 4.15. In the opener, each way interest in Kevin Ryan's Cool Prospect is recommended.

The other two Scoop 6 races come from Sandown. Champion jockey Kieron Fallon appears to hold the key to the seven furlongs handicap at 3.25. At the midweek stage, he was down to ride either David Nicholls' T ayseer or Ian Balding's Celtic Exit and his chosen mount should be followed.

John Dunlop's Marah is a tentative selection in the 1m 1f handicap at 4.00 with Richard Hills due to take the ride.

I got the Derby completely wrong last week, which ruined our Scoop6 bet after pinpointing the first four winners, Supply and Demand, 4/1, Atmospheric, 9/2, Hannibal Lad, 4/1 and Trans Island 5/4. Pipalong was also a winning favourite at Haydock, while Proud Native finished second at Epsom at 7/1.

Our horse Pix Me Up was also recommended at Haydock's evening meeting last Friday and finished second at 11/1. The filly made a quick reappearance at Pontefract on Monday evening, coming home fourth after being carried wide at the final bend, while also finding the going on the firm side. She'll now take a short break before returning when there's some cut in the ground.

As well as having Royal Ascot to look forward to next week, there's also a feast of racing in North Yorkshire - Thirsk on Tuesday, followed by action at Ripon on Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon. Racegoers will be able to watch all the action from Royal Ascot on closed-circuit television screens situated throughout the enclosures at both courses.

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