THE WEEKEND before Royal Ascot is, not surprisingly, full of more quantity than quality. Still, there are some good prizes up for grabs on the level specifically at Chester, Sandown Park and at York.

The first venue, alongside the River Dee, is sure to be packed to the rafters for a seven-race card and yet, disappointingly, only three of the events have attracted a double-figure entry.

The race that takes my eye from a punting point of view is the class four handicap, over an extended mile-and-a-quarter at 2.45.