Ascot’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Day forms the centrepiece of this Saturday’s ITV Racing broadcast with four races from the Berkshire circuit supplemented with three from York.
Our last tipping trip to Ascot delivered 8/1 and 22/1 winner on the final day of the Royal Meeting and all three of this weekend’s selections – including a couple of favourites who should arguably be shorter still – run there.
ITV Racing Tips – Saturday July 27
1.50 Ascot – Simmering to win @ 7/4
2.25 Ascot – Devoted Queen to win @ 5/2
3.00 Ascot – Metal Merchant to win @ 12/1
Bet on the latest horse racing odds at Betzone
Royal Meeting form puts Sangster runner in the driver’s seat
The booking of Ryan Moore is a major plus for the chances of Olly Sangster’s SIMMERING, whose three-quarters of a length second to Fairy Godmother in the Group 2 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot is by far the best form on offer here.
Moore rode the winner on that occasion so it’s a significant vote of confidence that he comes in for the ride. The form of that contest has already received a boost with the third and fourth Mountain Breeze and Heaven’s Gate finishing third and second in the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket’s July Meeting next time.
Once-raced winners Mandurah, Handcuffed and Definitive all lie in wait, but the form of their victories hasn’t worked out particularly well and none have proven form with regard to the specific test that Ascot has to offer.
Tip: 1.50 Ascot – Simmering to win @ 7/4
Unbeaten Appleby filly could easily be a far stronger favourite
The Charlie Appleby team have been enjoying a very profitable fortnight at the time of writing, with seven winners from their last 20 runners at a strike rate of 39% and the yard’s DEVOTED QUEEN could easily be sent off a good deal shorter than 11/4 to win the Valiant Stakes (2.25)
She’s the joint-least exposed filly in the field along with John and Thady Gosden’s Friendly Soul but unlike that rival, Appleby’s daughter of Kingman has yet to taste defeat in her three career outings.
The form of her most recent win at York’s Dante meeting has been franked since with the Gosden’s Spiritual (second in that Knavesmire event) winning a listed contest at Sandown on her next start. Soprano, who is likely to go off second favourite here, was third in the same contest.
Tip: 2.25 Ascot – Devoted Queen to win @ 5/2
Step back in trip to Ascot’s stiff 7f could suit Channon campaigner
The Moet & Chandon International Stakes brings us the latest instalment in the season-long saga of great Ascot handicaps over 7f and a mile and it looks a typically open example edition.
Jack Channon’s METAL MERCHANT gets the vote as he boasts a previous win at the track over 1m on his CV and has won twice in six outings on good-to-firm ground.
The four-year-old is 5lbs above his last winning mark but, having contested his last 14 races over a mile the step back to a trip at which he won his sole previous race could bring victory within reach.
Tip: 3.00 Ascot – Metal Merchant to win @ 12/1
