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.

Mr Carpenter is undeniably well-weighted on his old form, but needs a big resurrection in his performance to be involved here, while stable-mate Golden Melody, along with another course and distance winner Lawn Ranger, also have solid each-way claims.

However, down significantly in class, top weight LOVE IS GOLDEN looks the value call for the Johnston clan. At Epsom last week, in a much better race, he was way too free under Franny Norton and paid for those exertions late on.

He is much better judged on his previous course third in the City and Suburban Handicap in April, with an unlucky in running and close-up third to course specialist Soto Sizzler.

One pound below that mark here, I fancy he will prove very hard to beat if Derby-winning jockey Richard Kingscote can get him covered up and come with a sustained run from the turn out of the back straight.

If he is very prominent again and seemingly running away with his partner, I will lay off on the exchanges.

Of the other races at the Cheshire track, COWBOY JUSTICE looks a very interesting Irish raider in the seven furlong event at 3.20, despite an awkward-looking draw in box number 10.

Still very lightly raced, this son of Lope De Vega will relish the return to good ground and a fast-run race over this trip looks made to measure.

He is taken to prove too strong for the likes of top weight and course and distance winner Outgate, and the locally trained Roman Dragon.

Off a mark of 86, SOAPY STEVENS can finally get off the mark this season following a series of good efforts in the two-mile handicap at 3.55.

Withhold would be a player off 106 if he is ready to do himself justice first time up, but a much bigger danger could well be Oman, a disappointing market leader last time out at Goodwood when he simply didn’t handle the track.

Interestingly his trainer suggested that the reapplication of blinkers would help him, which has happened here.

There are some much bigger fields at York this afternoon and with a fast ground surface almost certain, at least we know where we stand with the going at the Knavesmire.

That should suit the old boy MUSCIKA in the 21 runner, six-furlong handicap due off at 5.22. Last week at Epsom he basically blew himself out by racing too freely at the downland track and York almost certainly suits him better, and he looks very fairly treated as well.

Bearing in mind the size of the field, I will almost certainly be having a saver on bottom weight OUR LITTLE PONY, who showed plenty of promise last time out at Pontefract and will surely be hard to keep out of the first five here.

The opening Queen Mother Trophy for lady amateur riders at 2.00 has attracted 13 runners and is as much about the pilots as the horses.

Preference is for DASH OF SPICE who ran really well at the track in the 2020 Ebor Handicap and showed that he retains plenty of ability when on the all-weather this winter.

He comes here fit from hurdling and as long as his experienced rider doesn't get towed away with the eight-year-old early on, they should put it up to the likes of Throne Hall, (down in the weights by 9lbs for three outings this year) and the lightly raced five-year-old Casilli.

On the rest of this competitive card, I have a strong liking for JOHN LEEPER to finally return to near his best in the Listed Grand Ebor Stakes at 3.05.

Connections have struggled with him since his Newmarket success as a three-year-old, but this could be the perfect set-up for him.

GISBURN may be able to defy top weight in the big three-year-old sprint handicap at 3.40, while I expect a huge run from top weight GARDEN OASIS in the nine furlong handicap at 4.50.

The one proviso for the last named is that partner David Allan doesn’t ride him too prominently, as he could easily go too quickly in a field of this size.

His best performance came when he was repeatedly denied a run when behind Shelir over a mile here last back end.

At Sandown Park, LYNDON B is back on his last winning mark (achieved over the course and distance last year) and ran a lovely warm-up race here also over the C&D last month.

Later on, one of the best handicapped horses in training, INDIANAPOLIS, can finally strike gold for the first time in two-and-a-half years by taking the 5.10.

This is his first run at the Esher track, and the stiff uphill finish should still suit him nicely if David Egan can settle him out the back of the pack.