TV TIPS (SATURDAY)

There's top class action from Ascot and York this Saturday as the team previews every live race shown on ITV. 13:40 ASCOT

Flowerhead went close in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, and that looks the strongest form on offer. She finished way ahead of the group of nine that she was in that day, and this looks like an easier test. The only worry is the yard is out of form, and that concern is enough to suspect she may find one too good once again.

Of the two unbeaten runners Daneh Of Dandy and Sukanya it's the latter that makes more appeal when finishing ahead of a promising Clive Cox runner in her sole outing.

For punters looking for an alternative option at a bigger price, Midnight Tango finished ahead of a handful of this field when second at Newmarket, and she could finish in the money once again.

The above being said Staya gets the nod. She may have finished behind Flowerhead at Ascot, but she went on to win a competitive listed event last time out. If she continues to improve, she looks the one to beat.

STAYA (E/W)

(Rory Paddock)

14:00 YORK

In a race of this nature, it's often advisable to look for value, but when you look at the form of current market leader Elmonjed it's hard to imagine anything but another William Haggas trained winner here at the Knavesmire. He has more weight to carry than when winning here last term, but a return to this track is undoubtedly a positive, and it'd be a shock if he weren't to make the frame.

Strike Red finished second behind Elmonjed when they met here, and I imagine the Fahey runner can go close once again.

At bigger odds, Korker has been knocking on the door of a big run and, as a former course victor, will also appreciate a return to this venue. Promising rider Jack Nicholls takes 7lbs off the horse's back, and he's weighted to go well.

Of the remainder, you always have to respect any horse trained by Geoff Oldroyd running at York, and Pocklington might improve upon his recent all-weather outing, and Indian Run is capable of going close.

ELMONJED (E/W)

STRIKE RED (E/W)

KORKER (E/W)

(Rory Paddock)

14:20 ASCOT Chantilly Lace takes a notable drop in class here after contesting the Coronation Stakes last time out, and she rightly heads the market, especially with the 3yo allowance tipping the scales further in her favour. Royal Dress, however, was thoroughly impressive in her most recent win and sets the standard among the older fillies; she’s ground versatile and her hold-up style looks ideally suited to the likely race setup, allowing her to cruise into contention and strike late. At a bigger price, Glittering Surf could outrun her odds, she’ll need to bounce back from a below-par performance, but her earlier form suggests she remains capable of being competitive at this level.

ROYAL DRESS (WIN)

(Toby Darby)

14:40 YORK

This renewal of the York Stakes is a case of quality not quantity with only seven contenders. Firstly, Almaqam deserves his place at the head of the betting. The Lope De Vega colt conquered Ombudsman over this distance at Sandown and bypassed Ascot likely because of the firm ground. Ed Walker will have him primed for this outing. I expect a big show with Keiron Shoemark in the saddle. Of the other runners, Stanhope Gardens has not disgraced this season. The Dutch Art dam bred has excelled with a decent fifth at Epsom in the Derby and a facile victory at Salisbury. Ralph Beckett will look to get back into the winner's circle with Rossa Ryan taking the ride again. Of others who will like the course and conditions is Ecureuil Secret, who ran well in victory left handed at Epsom under testing conditions. His run at Royal Ascot in the Wolferton can be dismissed on firm ground, where he was outpaced. Beautifully bred by Wootten Bassett, Richard Faheys' colt is a huge price for this contest.

ALMAQAM (WIN)

ECUREUIL SECRET (E/W)

(John Arnold)

15.00 ASCOT

Quite a few of these have Ascot and race experience and have clearly been aimed at this prestigious handicap.

Northern Express won this race last year from the front off 2lb higher and the Dods yard are running into form nicely, he doesn’t have to lead but should be part of the pace on his side and this could also help Akkadian Thunder who could be forgiven his Newmarket defeat last time.

Fresh is a standing dish here though with a different build-up in 2025 and Bilyjoh also has form over the straight 7f.

Aalto is one of the few relatively unexposed horses in opposition and will be popular under William Buick after his Newmarket 2nd, he wasn’t far behind here last year but I will stick with proven course form.

NORTHERN EXPRESS (E/W)

AKKADIAN THUNDER (E/W)

(Alan Morris)

15:20 YORK

Copper Knight clearly loves it around here, and I'm sure he will be a popular punters' pick. But probably needs his mark to come down slightly to be competitive here. 

Bona Fortuna is the current early market favourite, but I'm not sure the five furlong trip is the trip he wants, and shown all his best form over six furlongs.

Fortunate Star seems to be in good form with the tongue tie added to in last 2 races seen him perform much better.

Lottery here given its jump jockeys, but I'll go with Air Force One, who has only been seen once this season, likes the good to firm ground, so I'm hoping it is a dry day up at York. hope the run last time out was a blowout out and he will be ready to have a go.

AIR FORCE ONE (E/W)

(Luke Tucker) 15:35 ASCOT

A competitive race for which it is worth looking at Royal Ascot for some clues.

Teroomm didn’t have the best of passages at Ascot and could find this easier. However, he’d like some cut in the ground.

Bullet Point was only just denied in the Royal Hunt Cup, and he could improve again. The large weight would be a big worry.

Fearnot was another fast finisher at Ascot, and he remains on a competitive mark, however, the vote goes for Sisyphean. He didn’t get the run of the race behind Bullet Point and was unlucky at York against a good sort. If he does the running, he could prove difficult to peg back.

SISYPHEAN (WIN)

(Kieran McHugh)

16:10 ASCOT

A small but high-class renewal of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Calandagan is the likely favourite after landing his first Group 1 last time out at Saint Cloud but had found one too good four times at this level, including the tenacious Jan Brueghel, who reopposes today. Jan Brueghel has proven many times he's a hard horse to get past, he's rated 1lb higher than Calandagan and if the first time cheekpieces eke out any improvement then Calandagan will have an impossible task at reversing that form. Kalpana has ran well this season without looking capable of landing either Group 1s she's contested, this again looks too competitive for what she's posted in the form book so far. The lovable Rebel's Romance who has won 7 Group 1s and over £10 million in prize money who like Jan Brueghel is hard as nails in a scrap, at the age of 7 he's unlikely to be improving but his form is rock solid and is deserved of his place in this King George. A Jan Brueghel Rebel's Romance scrap would be blockbuster! Continuous who is expected to be the pacemaker and a huge price for this contest shows how badly his form has deteriorated since his three year old campaign. He won the Great Voltigeur and the St Leger before finishing Fifth in an Arc but he's looked a distant shadow of himself and now often gets used for pacemaking duties.

JAN BRUEGHEL (WIN)

JAN BRUEGHEL, CALANDAGAN, REBEL'S ROMANCE (REVERSE FORECAST)

(Liam Hall)