Saturday’s tips

• Dee’s Funny Girl (Ascot, 13.45) – 1pt each-way @ 9/1- Paddy Power
• Evening Blues (York, 14.00) – 1pt each-way @ 14/1- Bet365
• Amazing Journey (Ascot, 14.55) – 1pt each-way @ 13/2- Betfred
• Calandagan (Ascot, 15.35) – 2pts win @ 7/4- BOYLE Sports

It’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes day at Ascot and horse racing correspondent has come up with selections on both that card and at York on a busy Saturday of action using the best odds from betting sites.

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1) (15.35, Ascot)

What a race we have in prospect but which way will it go? The last time we got odds-against on CALANDAGAN I sided with him in Epsom’s Coronation Cup but sadly it turned out to be his only defeat from his last seven starts.

However, and with hindsight these things sometimes make more sense, perhaps it is the track there that he’s not totally in love with, as he’s also been turned over at odds-on in last year’s renewal of that race.

It’s a different story at this venue, where he is 3-4 and was a close second to Anmaat on soft ground in the race here that he didn’t win. I think that’s proof enough that he loves it here and we know he goes on pretty much any ground.

He has the best form on offer in this contest and neither of the three-year-olds is obviously well in with him despite their allowances. It’s not difficult to see why Benvenuto Cellini is second favourite as a three-year-old in receipt of 11lb from the favourite but he still has it to prove against a great performer who still looks to be at the height of his powers.

Aidan O’Brien’s runner got back on track after his Epsom antics with a win in the Irish Derby. He’s certainly not dismissed but for me he’s the one with it to prove in a race this deep.

Masquerade Ball brings some fine form with him and would be a big player if producing his best while Kalpana, who was second in this last year and let us down when outpointed by Giavelloto at Royal Ascot, Arc second Minnie Hauk and 2024 winner Goliath are all high class opponents capable of having a big say if things drop right.

It’s a fascinating race but the market leader on horse racing betting sites is very much the one to beat as he defends his crown.

Saturday racing tip 1: Calandagan (Ascot, 15.35) – 2pts win @ 7/4 BOYLE Sports

Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes (Group 3) (13.45, Ascot)

Lots of promise involved in this contest, including Alta Regina, Dark Issue and Moonshine who all won on debut and showed improved form next time in defeat.

The same can be said of DEE’S FUNNY GIRL who, given the unknown quantities she’s up against, looks worth siding with to small each-way stakes as I think she’s one who’ll come on again for joining Donnacha O’Brien’s team.

Ryan Moore is booked for the mount on this Cotai Glory juvenile, who won at Thirsk (5f, good) on her introductory run, when trained by Michael Keady. She finished behind Dark Issue in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot but hers was a big improvement, after which she changed hands for £150,000.

She’s clearly caught the eye of connections and her new stable may have been able to squeeze more out of her than most, after two or three weeks with them. We’ll see.

Saturday racing tip 2: Dee’s Funny Girl (Ascot, 13.45) – 1pt each-way @ 9/1 Paddy Power

Sky Bet Dash (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (14.00, York)

Never an easy race to solve, as the fact that last year’s winner was the first favourite to do so in nine years will testify.

The ante-post honour for market leadership has gone to Red Spells Danger and he’s trained near the track by Tim Easterby and is enjoying a good season. However, there are many in with chances and as you know, I like to go with a low draw in fast ground York sprints wherever possible.

You can’t get drawn any lower than stall one and that’s with EVENING BLUES, who showed improved form when second over C&D last time.

He’s a working man’s price at 16/1 at the time of writing and I’d put that down to the fact that he’s up in grade for this and he’s largely been running over further until he dropped back in trip last time and tried to win it from the front and bring stamina into play.

I suspect he’ll have to try that again and my concern would be that if he doesn’t quite have the pace early on against some of these, he may end up relinquishing a good pitch to race from.

We’ll not know that until the race unfolds but I think at his price we can play to small stakes each-way and if you can get more than four places on betting apps, than it might be worth doing so for some extra insurance.

Saturday racing tip 3: Evening Blues (York, 14.00) – 1pt each-way @ 14/1 Bet365

Moet & Chandon International Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (14.55, Ascot)

A valuable handicap which sees the unbeaten Extremely Zain head the market after wins at Newcastle, Newbury and most recently York, improving in particular last time. The handicapper hasn’t missed that, however, giving him an 8lb rise and for me he’s a favourite who may be vulnerable stepping up in grade.

Mezcala and Back In Black can both have cases made, as can Completely Random, although the form of the Wokingham in which he finished second has taken a couple of big knocks since.

At the prices, I think we have an each-way bet here with AMAZING JOURNEY, who is living up to that moniker based on his four starts this season. Since being gelded before the first of those he’s done nothing but improve and readily won a Class 3 race over C&D (good to firm) last time.

He’s back out under a penalty and with in-form Saffie Osborne up, I think this three-year-old has a better chance than his current odds of 8/1 suggest.

Saturday racing tip 4: Amazing Journey (Ascot, 14.55) – 1pt each-way @ 13/2 Betfred

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