Today’s FREE horse racing tips: Ascot, Lingfield, Haydock, Nottingham, Thirsk, Warwick and Hexham – Steve Mullen’s betting preview for the racing this Saturday, May 12

MAGIQUE can conjure up a big win in Ascot’s Victoria Cup (4.00).

John Gosden is not usually known for his handicappers but his Pouvoir Magique has got what it takes to win this hot contest.

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He’s packed with potential having won two of his five starts, including a smooth success to sign off last season at Newcastle.

That was on the all-weather but he showed his liking for the green stuff when losing his maiden tag at Ayr last summer.

His last victory came over a mile but Ascot takes some getting — particularly at the pace they will be going today — so the drop back in trip shouldn’t be a problem.

The Gosden horses are in flying form and Kieran O’Neill’s mount looks capable of making his mark in even better races than this.

GET ON TREND Who will win the Victoria Cup at Ascot this Saturday?

He is drawn four and, at the prices on offer, it looks a wise move to back one from the higher numbers too.

SILENT ATTACK fits the bill from stall 19. He came back from more than 12 months off to win with plenty left in the tank at Lingfield last time out.

Missing a year means he’s lightly raced for his age and could yet be a few steps ahead of his handicap mark of 103. He relishes this distance and deserves this hike in class.

Keyser Soze has been well backed all week on the back of his excellent comeback third at Newbury last time out. He travelled strongly there and was just run out of it at the end of the mile trip.

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There was cut in the ground there, which suits well enough, but this faster surface and shorter trip should play to his strengths.

At a huge price, Firmament has come down the weights and has run some good races in big fields here. He wasn’t disgraced in a hot race here in October and the handicapper has given him an each-way chance.

The Lingfield Derby Trial (2.30) could do with producing a genuine Epsom contender as it’s been 20 years since High-Rise won this on his way to Classic glory.

Kew Gardens is the Ballydoyle contender and the Aidan O’Brien team have shown their strength at Chester this week.

Steve Mullen's Saturday tips

1.55 Lingfield - Flattering: 'Cruised home at Cork and looks top-class'

2.30 Lingfield - Corelli: 'Was impressive at Yarmouth and can take another step forward'

2.50 Ascot - Barsanti: 'Run some cracking races and now is his time for a deserved win'

4.00 Ascot - Pouvoir Magique: 'Packed with potential and Gosden's horses are flying'

4.00 Ascot - Silent Attack: 'Could be ahead of the handicapper and he's dangerous'

This son of Galileo needs to step up on a modest comeback run at Newmarket last time where Ryan Moore didn’t ask too many questions once his winning chance had gone.

He is almost certain to improve on that but Gosden runner CORELLI gets the nod under Frankie Dettori.

He could only beat what was in front of him at Yarmouth last time but he did it well without having to come out of first gear.

He has already proven his liking for this distance and looks the type to take a real step forward today.

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It’s O’Brien against Gosden in the Oaks Trial too at 1.55 and this time the Irish contender FLATTERING looks to hold the upper hand over Johnny G’s Stream Song.

The Ballydoyle hope cruised home in a Cork maiden by 10 lengths last time despite the ground being on the testing side.

She’s bred to like these conditions too and won like a top-class horse last time.

Stream Song has not looked so impressive so far but she won a Windsor handicap on comeback well despite looking rusty.

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She should relish the step up from 1m2f but she hasn’t come up against anything of Flattering’s class so far.

There’s another classy contest at Ascot where BARSANTI can end his run of places in the Buckhounds Stakes (2.50).

Roger Varian’s six-year-old ran some cracking races last season without being able to get his head in front. He was a close second on his last visit here when beaten half a length in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He only ran once after that and, with the yard in good form, should be fit enough to do himself justice on this comeback.