ITV Racing Saturday Preview
THE KING GEORGE TAKES CENTRE STAGE FROM ASCOT ON SATURDAY! Also action from York where the feature is the Sky Bet York Stakes. Bring on the winners!
Make sure you scroll right down to the bottom to see any multiples we are placing. These can be added direct to your bet365 bet slip.
ITV Racing Preview Saturday Schedule
1.50 Ascot Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) Class 1 (2yo) 6f
2.05 York Sky Bet “Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe” Handicap Class 3 5f
2.25 Ascot Porsche Handicap Class 2 1m
2.40 York Sky Bet Dash Handicap Class 2 6f
3.00 Ascot Moet & Chandon International Stakes (Heritage Handicap) Class 2 7f
3.15 York Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2) Class 1 1m21/2f
3.35 Ascot King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (Group 1) Class 1 1m4f
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Ascot 1.50 Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies) Class 1 (2yo) 6f
I know System beat DESERT DREAMER when the pair met at Newmarket last month but there was only a neck between them at the line and I thought the latter was unlucky. She was given a lot to do on that occasion and has since backed it up with an excellent second to Sandrine in Group 2 company. She sets the standard on that run and given she can still improve herself I think she’ll be tough to beat here under a red-hot Oisin Murphy.
System is obviously unexposed after just 2 starts and could be the one to give her most to think about. Nazanin made a really bright start winning on debut at Newbury and is also worth a second look. I think she could end up the best of these but lacks the experience of the market principals.
York 2.05 Sky Bet “Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe” Handicap (To Be Ridden By Professional Jump Jockeys) Class 3 5f
The Jump Jockeys’ get a chance over 5 furlongs and with the only one in the field to have a Flat win being Tom Scudamore SOUL SEEKER does look a solid bet. His last 3 runs would be good enough to be bang there at the finish. He has already won 3 times this campaign and is clearly thriving on fast ground so looks a good price to follow up and is a decent each way price in an open race.
James Watt has to be the danger with Brian Hughes on board. He is in fantastic form with 2 wins from his last 3 runs and will likely give the selection plenty to think about. Paul Midgley has won 2 of the last 3 previous runnings of this race so Nibras Again is likely to be popular.
Ascot 2.25 Porsche Handicap Class 2 1m
I can see FANTASTIC FOX going off shorter than 10/3 here for Roger Varian. This Frankel colt looked to be improving fast winning head in chest at Hamilton in May and while things didn’t go to plan at Royal Ascot up in trip I think he’ll be much happier back over a mile here and we haven’t seen the best of him yet. A mark of 94 should be within reach and he has the most potential of these for me. His third to Snow Lantern at Newbury is a good pointer as to his ability given that filly has since won the Falmouth impressively.
Latest Generation has bumped into Trais Fluors and Royal Fleet the last twice and could still be capable of more so looks the danger. Guru missed out to Isla Kai last time but might turn that around. Marsabit has impressed recently but he will find this tougher so it will certainly test his credentials.
York 2.40 Sky Bet Dash Handicap Class 2 6f
This looks a wide open renewal so I’m going to have 2 in this race as its a 16 runner field at the time of writing. Starting with last year’s winner MUSCIKA who looks a big price considering he is only 1lb higher this year. He ran an absolute cracker on Derby Day and has followed that with a few average runs. As a result he is back down to a mark of 88 with a 5lb claimer jocked up he looks ready to win this again and is a bigger price than I was expecting.
The other one I thought was a huge price was MANIGORDO who is 25/1 at the time of writing. He ran a cracker at Redcar on fast ground last time and runs here off the same mark. If in the same form as last week he is surely great value. I really like those two against the field but if I had to pick a danger it would Mondammej as he is running consistently well over sprint trips and could have more to come at 6 furlongs.
Ascot 3.00 Moet & Chandon International Stakes (Heritage Handicap) Class 2 7f
I have no doubt this race revolves around Motakhayyel and if the rain does stay away he is clearly the one to beat. The forecast does suggest there are going to be thunderstorms though especially in the early hours of Saturday and if the rain does get into the ground MATTHEW FLINDERS is a cracking each way bet. He was a big eye-catcher at Newbury in April and while he has been beaten 3 times since he was again seen to be doing his best work late when second to Safe Voyage at Chester last time. He can definitely win off a mark of 98 and I like his chances here.
Motakhayyel will be a bet if the ground stays rattling quick so he is the obvious danger but Danyah is also progressing nicely at present and is definitely worth a second look. At a bigger price Shine So Bright has the ability to win this but has proved a bit frustrating to follow and can often let supporters down.
York 3.15 Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2) Class 1 1m21/2f
Despite the small field this is one of the toughest races to call of the day. ARMORY gets the vote over Mohaafeth but not by much. Armory has been so consistent over this trip at this level and above. He took the Huxley Stakes at Chester before running a massive race behind Love in the Price of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. If in the same form as either of those two runs I think he is the one to beat and there certainly shouldn’t be that much between the front two in the betting.
Mohaafeth is clearly a classy horse and he does get a lot of weight from his rivals but 3 year olds generally don’t have a great record in this race. It is his first run against older horses so we will really see how good he is on Saturday. If he beats this lot it will be another massive step forward. Either way it will be a great race to watch.
Ascot 3.35 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) Class 1 1m4f
A mouthwatering renewal of the King George and a race I’ve been looking at all week in all honesty. Love is the obvious starting point given how impressive she has been in recent times. She made a winning return at Royal Ascot and has now won her last four and is 5 from her last 6. If the rain stays away she is clearly the one to beat but I’m hoping they’ll have one or two showers as that could be enough to tilt the balance towards LONE EAGLE for Martyn Meade. I think this colt has been largely written off in the betting here and 6/1 makes him a play. He really impressed at Goodwood dictating and finding more when called upon. He put in a monstrous run when denied just a neck by Hurricane Lane in the Irish Derby and given that horse has since won the French Derby by 6 lengths I think that can be marked up. He is likely to get on the lead and if Frankie gets this right I do think this horse can surprise.
Derby winner Adayar was so impressive at Epsom and while I can’t rule him out I’m not convinced he is going to back that up and this is a very different test. I actually think Mishriff might emerge as the danger as like the selection he has been largely overlooked in the betting and he shaped to me as though he’d improve for the run when third in the Eclipse. His form prior to that is right up there and I can see him going well. Wonderful Tonight has attracted support and she’ll love conditions if they deteriorate but she has enough to find for me and is passed over.
ITV Racing Win Trixie
A cracking day coming up on ITV Racing on Saturday so we have included a Win Trixie which includes three horses at decent odds on the channel this afternoon. Pays 72/1!
ITV Racing Win Trixie
Ascot 1.50 Desert Dreamer EYE CATCHER
York 3.15 Armory
Ascot 3.35 Lone Eagle
Pays 72/1!
ITV Racing Each Way Double
I’ve also decided to include an Each Way Double from our ITV Racing previews on Saturday. These are two horses at big prices we fancy to go close combined to try and maximise profit. Pays 74/1!