Ask our King George Tip at 9/1

Ask Racing Diary About The King George…

The feature race of a busy Saturday is without question the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (4.25) at Ascot. I have already looked at this race, and have put up Ask as a solid each-way bet. I honestly don’t think it is a great race and can easily see Conduit getting turned over. You can read a full preview of the King George and get the full racecard as well as getting a £25 free bet from sponsors Betfair, by visiting Racing Diary’s King George preview.

5.35 Ascot- History Lesson, Win

The Royal runner should dish out a History Lesson (5.35) at Ascot. Her Majesty’s colt was a very good winner at Windsor and looks to have a very big chance of landing a double.

Those are my best two bets at Ascot, but I will be off to York as I think that the best betting opportunities run on the Knavesmire on Saturday and I think it is worth having a look at the full York card for Saturday. I will highlight the recommended bets at the end of the piece.

2.05 York- Singeur, Win and Place

Robin Bastiman is an excellent trainer with sprinters and he has a decent type in Singeur (2.05) who having only had three career starts is already looking to land the hat-trick. This is a Nursery Handicap (a handicap for two year-olds) and Singeur won very cosily last time out at Redcar. I made a note that it is worth backing him again next time and in truth I would have liked that to have been in a less competitive race than this but I think he is a very decent type. The booking of Neil Callan is a wise move by Bastiman who will have this colt fit and trained to the minute. At the prices Singeur is one of the better bets of the day and certainly each-way is a very strong place bet.

2.35 York- Antigua Sunrise, Place

Antigua Sunrise (2.35) is the one I am backing here, for a place, but this is a trappy looking all age fillies handicap. Richard Fahey is the man to follow at York, he loves the track and this filly has been very progressive, but blotted her copy book, as far as her form figures,  last time out. However, that was over 1m 6f, and she didn’t get home. All her wins have come over 1m 4f but over today’s 1m 2f I think she has a good chance, certainly of being in the places. If this were over an extra two furlongs I would be backing her strongly, but I think we should stick to place betting. You may want a small win bet to avoid being sick as a parrot should she get up, but the bet is to place.

3.10 York- Kirkless, Win (NAP)

Kirkless (3.10) is, for me, one of the best bets of the day anywhere. You may recall we backed this last time out at Sandown when he was well backed and won very readily under Frankie Dettori. The master is aboard again today and I have never seen anyone ride York as well as Dettori, who rarely leaves without a winner. Certainly the Godolphin stable do very well at York. I do not think this is the strongest of group two races and if Kirklees can reproduce that Sandown effort then he should be home for all money. I have long thought this to be a very good horse and I am sure we will be rewarded for backing him again today.

3.45 York- Roker Park, Win and Place

This is what I call a nightmare. There is not much on form between many of these but I will plump for Roker Park (3.45) who has been in very good form, narrowly being denied the hat-trick last time at Hamilton in the Scottish Stewards Cup where Knot in Wood was a neck behind. That is how close this form is but I am taking Neil Callan to make the difference. He is a never say die jockey and rides this horse very well but there are many in with chances. This is not a race I will be heavily investing in but think we have a solid each-way bet in Roker Park.

4.15- this is a no bet race for me at this stage. Key Art and Loveinthesand are both nice types but there is not enough to go on. Unless I get some information I will be getting a good pitch to watch King George.

4.50 York- Nemo Spirit, Win

Nemo Spirit (4.50) won well last time over course and distance and is in great heart. Hawk Mountain was back in second that day and his trainer John Quinn is not having too many winners, (Thursday stats showed 1 winner from 33 in the last 14 days). Having said that he has had 7 seconds and 8 thirds so his horses are running well and John can consider himself unlucky. Hawk Mountain was a good winner at Doncaster and has to contend with a six pounds rise in the weights for that victory. Nemo Spirit, beat Hawk Mountain over course and distance, six weeks ago, which came on rain softened ground. There has been plenty of rain about and Hawk Mountain is on five pounds worse terms here today.  Neil Callan is on Nemo Spirit and I think will win this readily.

5.25 York- Summer Dancer, Place

This is a difficult handicap and if you need this one to salvage the day my advice is to take it easy and live to fight another day. I like Summer Dancer (5.25) for a small place bet. Summer Dancer has run of higher marks than today and having been on a winning streak went off the boil last time at Catterick, a race won by Bold Marc who is a pound better off, but I will stcik with Summer Dancer, and Neil Callan to get a place, which if backing in the Betfair place market will pay first four and will not be affected by any withdrawals.

Saturday’s Best Bets…

2.05 York- Singeur, Win and Place

4.50 York- Nemo Spirit, Win