The horse racing broadcaster offers up his five best bets for Saturday's racing at Ascot, including a pick for the Guisborough Stakes at Redcar.
10 races spread across three venues give a bumper 10 race line up on ITV on Saturday, with four more from Longchamp to come on Sunday making it one of the channels busiest weekends.
TENABILITY 13/8 (14:25 Ascot) has done this column proud over the last couple of years and there is no reason to desert him in the Cumberland Lodge. A solid and consistent performer around this level he was runner up in the race last season and comes here off the back of Listed wins at Goodwood and York. He is pretty versatile as regards ground conditions, though it would probably help his chances if Ascot decide to put some water on after racing on Friday and has an excellent record at the track where his toughness and the shortish straight play to his strengths.
Earlier on at Ascot another horse who finished runner up in the same race last year can also go one better in DASH OF AZURE 15/2 (13:15 Ascot). She has yet to win this season but has placed twice in similar races at Chester and the return to 7f will suit her after never getting involved over 6f at Pontefract last time. Both her runs at Chester saw her strong at the finish and a reproduction of the run from last year would see her go close here as this looks a weakish renewal.
Two other horses that are yet to post a success this campaign can also have their day in the sun at Ascot, starting with REGIONAL 7/1 (13:50 Ascot). He is like a bullet out of the stalls but has been a horse that has just fallen short at a higher level but then fluffed his lines when eased in grade. He has twice placed in the Group 1 King Charles III over this course and distance, on the first occasion splitting Asfoora and Big Evs, and his run in the Minster Stakes at York shows even though he has clearly had the odd issue, plenty of ability remains.
The other horse is DIVISION 15/8 (15:00 Ascot) who but for a slow break from the stalls would surely have won here earlier in the season when a strong finishing third behind Coppull. He also made the frame in Group 1 company at Royal Ascot when third in the Commonwealth Cup before being far from disgraced against the older sprinters in the July Cup, which has actually worked out particularly well this season. As long as he jumps on terms, he should make his class tell and Danny Tudhope is an interesting booking for the yard as he is 4/8 (A/E 1.53) for William Haggas in 2026, as well as having a good record at Ascot on the straight course (60/185 A/E 1.13).
Away from Ascot, Night in Vegas and Blue Bolt are both favourites who should oblige at Newmarket but are very short prices, so a more appealing bet is MYAL 16/1 (15:55 Redcar) in the Listed Guisborough Stakes. He has not been the easiest horse to place as there are not many 7f Listed race options in the calendar and he also maintains the theme of the day in that he ran second in the race twelve months ago. He may have found his last race at Newbury coming a bit quickly after being highly tried in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster just six days earlier. A good pace looks assured here and Myal should be able to track the pace and pick off the likes of Audience and Witness Stand.
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