Tips at Ascot and York on King George day
ITV Racing fans will be treated to one of the best flat races we've seen in many years on Saturday, as the winners of 14 Group One races between them clash in a stunning renewal of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Viewers will also take in three further races from Ascot and three from York, where the Group Two York Stakes headlines another stacked card.
You can also listen to my debut on The Final Furlong Podcast, where Emmet Kennedy, Stephen O'Dwyer and myself discuss the 2023 King George and provide our NAPs for the meeting...
Saturday's ITV Racing Schedule
ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 29th July
Race 1 - Princess Margaret Stakes Tips
Soprano and Frankie Dettori remain in the field, despite running in the Star Stakes at Sandown on Thursday, where she didn't seem to get home over six furlongs. I would much prefer to side with SYMBOLOGY (7/2), who made an eye-catching debut at York two weeks ago.
Clive Cox's filly was slowly away and a little isolated down the centre of the track. Symbology moved through the gears nicely in the closing stages, beating a far more experienced favourite quite comfortably in the end.
This powerfully built filly is by Havana Grey, who loved cut in the ground and his progeny seem to as well. Symbology is also a half-sister to 112-rated El Caballo. She could be pretty good.
Race 2 - Jump Jockeys Nunthorpe Handicap Tips
As I mentioned on the Podcast, I haven't got any sort of opinion about this quirky contest. It'll be interesting to see how Paul Townend gets on aboard Ey Up It's Maggie and Speedacus should give the in-form Sean Bowen a good spin, but I'll be taking a watching brief.
Race 3 - Valiant Stakes Tips
I was planning on backing CADEAU BELLE (9/2) at the Curragh on Sunday, before day three of their Irish Oaks meeting was called off.
Jonny Murtagh's raider won nicely on debut at Gowran Park before following up in a Listed race at Navan back in June. It might just be the camera angle at Navan, but I thought the way Cadeau Belle travelled into the race from a tricky outside position was very impressive and she won going away from her rivals in the closing stages.
I don't think the British challenge in this contest is particularly strong and three-year-olds have got an excellent record in the race. Murtagh has also booked Ascot specialist Jamie Spencer to take the ride. All of the signs are positive!
Race 4 - Sky Bet Dash Handicap Tips
Another tricky race for punters to delve into at York. I'm going to give another chance to the elder statesman of the field, HYPERFOCUS (16/1), who I tipped when he finished fourth off a similar mark 12 months ago.
Prior to a poor run at Hamilton last time out, Tim Easterby's nine-year-old had been in excellent form, winning over five furlongs at Ripon before a solid third at Chester. Hyperfocus has been drawn on the right side of the track, where Lethal Levi and Aberama Gold may join him in making the running. David Allan's mount has run well at the Knavesmire on a number of occasions and boasts plenty of winning form on soft ground.
Race 5 - International Stakes Handicap Tips
It pains me to desert Biggles, who I tipped up when he won the Bunbury Cup so impressively at Newmarket. Ralph Beckett's six-year-old is only three pounds for that excellent victory and I wouldn't be shocked if he went in again. 75% of the top five placers in this handicap have been drawn in stall ten or wider, however, so while trends are there to be broken, Biggles' drawn in stall six is enough for me to leave the favourite alone at 11/2.
I was keen on VAFORTINO (10/1) heading into the Buckingham Palace Stakes, where he got a little cut in the closing stages and could only finish tenth. Kevin Philippart De Foy's five-year-old won the Victoria Cup over this course-and-distance last season and ran well again when fourth in that same race this season.
Vafortino bounced back from Royal Ascot with a cracking effort behind Northern Express two weeks ago, on what was his first appearance at York. Kaiya Fraser takes five pounds off his back and he'll definitely appreciate the extra cut in the ground.
I'm also going to have a stab at ORBAAN (40/1) at a crazy price. David O'Meara's eight-year-old bolted up in the Golden Mile last season, before following up in a conditions stakes over this course-and-distance. Orbaan has run well on two of his last three starts, on ground which seemed a little too quick for his liking. He could be competitive off this reduced mark of 96.
Race 6 - Sky Bet York Stakes Tips
For me, this race is all about MY PROSPERO (5/4), who's narrow defeat in last year's Champion Stakes is comfortably the best piece of form on offer. William Haggas' charge ran well in the Lockinge on his reappearance and wasn't disgraced when fourth in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at the Royal Meeting.
Alflaila comes into this on the back of a long absence. Royal Champion has been comfortably beaten on all of his starts at Group level and the other two runners have plenty of catching up to do. If My Prospero doesn't go off at an odds-on price, I'll be very surprised.
