TV TIPS (SATURDAY)

Live action on our ITV screens this Saturday comes from Ascot and York where the showpiece race of the day is the internationally start studded Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

13:30 YORK

Although the scene of the action is one of the UK’s premier flat racecourses its national hunt jockeys that take centre stage in the opener at York.

The annual ‘Jump Jockeys Nunthorpe’ sees riders most know for their prowess over obstacles team up with horses with raw sprinting speed.

The 2026 renewal, as always, attracts a large field and Saturday’s race looks just as tough as it always has been to decipher.

As it stands, at the time of writing, we’ve been able to narrow the cavalry charge down to a shortlist of seven, which we aim to whittle down even further.

Lethal Nymph, Roberto Caro, Mon Na Slieve, Vince L’Amour, Managing Director, Cayman Tai and bottom weight Bayraat should all be given serious thought.

Lethal Nymph went off as race favourite last time out and is clearly considered to be in sold form. Went well here over six furlongs the time before but his only win over the minimum trip came on soft ground. Might find the race a tad too quick early on but should be finishing strongly.

Roberto Caro is a very interesting contender. What peaks the interest is the booking of experienced rider Sean Flanagan. Flanagan is based in Ireland and heads to the Knavesmire just for this ride. The horse hasn’t been seen at his best in his last two starts but as such now resides on a fair rating, one he could capitalise on here. There’s plenty of question marks surrounding the track and trio but could his shrewd trainer have something up his sleeve, especially with the yard operating at a current 36% strike rate?

Mon Na Slieve is one of only two former course and distance winners in the lineup and unlike the majority has already proved he acts over the track and trip. Hailing from a locally based yard who’ve had a plethora of success here at York he demands plenty of respect. Looks primed for a big run with former champion jumps jockey Brian Hughes onboard.

From one course and distance winner to another Vince L’Amour doesn’t have to worry about York’s unique test as he’s already ticked that off the to do list. He represents the yard of Tim Easterby who has a very strong hand in the race. Capable, especially off this mark, but the concern has to be the quicker ground. His better performance at York have all come with soft in the description and this might prove to be too much of a test.

When you see the yellow and black silks of The Bond Syndicate represented at York you simply have to sit up and listen. They’re represented by the lightly raced Managing Director who enters the race on the back of a muddling effort at Beverley. No doubt the horse should come on for that run and having been gelded and switching yards since the winter until his latest start improvement looks likely. One to note especially if attracting market support.

Cayman Tai has been a model of consistency since dropping back to five furlongs and deserves another crack at a race of this nature. He might not be the most prolific but if finding his best form looks to be a contender.

At the foot of the race card Bayraat shouldn’t be dismissed after claiming three places and one victory from his four starts this term. This is obviously a much harder race than the ones he’s been competing in but after such an encouraging start to his campaign so far he deserves a crack at a race of this nature. The concern however is that he’s 3lb out of the handicap and has to carry more weight than he should. Despite the additional burden he looks to be on an upward trajectory and might fair better than others will have you believe.

Of the seven outlined above we’ve settled on a pair that were perhaps a tad more confident with in the form of Roberto Caro and Mon Na Slieve. The pair look to have been campaigned with this race in mind and are both accompanied by some of the more experienced riders in the lineup. Not a race to be overly extravagant when it comes to your wagering but a duo with strong each way claims.

ROBERTO CARO (E/W)

MON NA SLIEVE (E/W)

13:45 ASCOT

Despite the fact that they’re a handful of runners, still with unbeaten records, of which the best looks to be Hugo Palmer’s Glorious Game, others that have been defeated already, make greater appeal.

Two Royal Ascot runners look to hold the best recent form.

Dark Issue finished a close 4th in the Group 3 Albany Stakes and arguably should’ve done better if getting a clearer run.

Moonrise filled the runners up spot in the Windsor Castle also at the royal meeting.

It’s tempting to push the boat out and take the risk on the pair finishing first and second in either order but of the pair, the fact that Andrew Balding seems to have his yard in red hot form is enough to side with Moonrise.

MOONRISE (E/W)

14:00 YORK

Despite the field being larger than the first we’ve not found it as hard a task to narrow the 22-runner lineup.

We’ve outlined a trio worth punting and we kick things off, as with the first race at York, with a Kevin Ryan runner. We Never Stop hadn’t been the horse he once was and a wind op was thought to be the best course of action. Since his surgery he returned to racing and claimed the runners-up spot in a competitive contest at Chester. He should come on for that run, represents a yard with a great course record and has a jockey in the saddle who’s having one of his best seasons to date.

Rousing Encore finished a very credible fourth in this race last term and returns to this contest with less weight to carry. Showed an upturn in form with a much better effort in a hotly contested race at Ayr last time out and looks primed for another bold showing in this.

Havana Rum was a tad unlucky not to finish even closer when third over this course and distance when last seen. The draw might not have been the most advantageous and a repeat of his most recent effort should see him go close once again.

WE NEVER STOP (E/W)

ROUSING ENCORE (E/W)

HAVANA RUM (E/W)

14:20 ASCOT

It’s never wise to be overly confident but this race looks like Touleen has what it takes to dominate. She was mightily unlucky not to claim the Group 1 Coronation Stakes here when last seen. Now dropped in grade and if getting a clearer run looks the one to beat.

Pina Sonata was well fancied when going off the clear favourite at Epsom last time out but failed to deliver, finishing dead last. She can be forgiven that effort and should fare much better here.

At potentially bigger odds Arisaig and the Irish raider Skydance could do better than expected.

TOULEEN (WIN)

14:35 YORK

Last years race winner Royal Champion aims to retain his crown and the globetrotting eight year old looks capable of doing so after a very encouraging effort in Hong Kong earlier in the year. He might be entering the veteran stages of his career but  is still more than capable at the highest level and wouldn’t need to be at his best to be a major player.

Damysus has produced okay results in Group 1 company without threatening to win them so a drop to Group 2 level should be a positive step to see him fair much better.

Item disappointed in the Derby but prior to that hadn’t put a foot wrong. Can be forgiven his Epsom exploits and if capable against his older opposition should see this test more to his liking.

ROYAL CHAMPION (WIN)

ROYAL CHAMPION - ITEM (REV FCAST)

14:55 ASCOT

The unbeaten Extremely Zain did well to win on handicap debut at York and having shown signs of greenness is likely to come on and improve for that effort. Hailing from a top class yard who, despite not being in the best of form, certainly know how to ready a horse to win a race of this nature. He’s gone up in the weights but looks potentially a group horse hiding in handicap company.

Elsewhere if the old adage “horses for courses” is anything to go by then the ultra-consistent Great Acclaim is worth following. He’s never finished outside of the top 4 in all four course and distance starts, with the smallest field size being 15. Off a fair mark and looks set to go close here at Ascot once again.

Winner at this meeting last year Two Tribes demands plenty of respect and should be on any punters shortlist, as should Back In Black who’s knocked on the door of success several times this term without making it to the winners enclosure.

EXTREMELY ZAIN (WIN)

GREAT ACCLAIM (E/W)

15:35 ASCOT

Although Benvenuto Cellini atoned for his disappointing Epsom Derby performance with a strong win in the Irish equivalent, now up against older horses, this looks a steep step up in class. We haven’t seen a horse win the Irish Derby and then this contest in a very long time and although trainer Aidan O’Brien has come out to say he’s improved further since his Curragh performance others make slightly more appeal. Should make the frame but might find a few too good.

The Japanese contenders look very interesting, especially Masquerade Ball who pushed Calandagan all the way in the Japan Cup. Looks set to go close but it’s worth noting the then three-year-old received a weight allowance when they last met and now races off level weights.

The other Japanese runner Wurttemberg isn’t the most prolific but could sneak into a place.

Kalpana has had a great season so far but similar to Benvenuto Cellini looks likely to have a few too good.

Perhaps seen as a boring option but Calandagan makes most appeal having won this contest last year when beating Kalpana and the same sort of outcome should be on the cards.

CALANDAGAN (WIN)

written by Rory Paddock