ITV Racing Tips: Two To Back On King George Saturday

Glorious Goodwood is on the horizon, but first we have a brilliant Saturday of action to get stuck into, with the highlight of course the star studded King George at Ascot. Billy Grimshaw is keeping his powder dry for the most part, enjoying the racing without skin in the game in most races, but does have a couple of fancies and makes the case below...

14:00 York - Sky Bet Dash

There are bundles in here with chances, as you'd expect in a Dash with 22 runners on the Knavesmire, and I was drawn to last year's fifth Pocklington - beaten under a length in a bunched finish and arguably in better form this season. His trainer Geoff Oldroyd has two with great chances in here, but I'd rather have Pocklington on side than Air Force One given he has the favourable low draw and is comfortable either taking a lead or making it and were he not five pounds higher in the weights than last season here I'd probably make him the pick. My issue is I am not sure he has as much improvement in him as one other specific runner and potentially a few younger types in here. Air Force One is also drawn low which should be a plus and should relish returning up to six furlongs, but has a less consistent profile than his stablemate.

Red Spells Danger for Tim Easterby is the one in here who could blow the race apart, receiving weight form plenty as a three year old and looking markedly progressive in each of his last three starts. He has only managed second and fourth but I'd argue that fourth was his best run yet and he is a huge danger to my pick, at a bigger price than I expected, MUSICAL TOUCH for the Faheys.

He was last seen winning here off a four pound lower mark, but the length winning distance does not tell the story of how well he put that race to bed and I can see this five year old improving again now with a 3lbs claimer on his back rather than the 7lbs claimer who perhaps switched him a touch early last time out. It mattered not as he was the best horse in the race, but he looks progressive even as a five year old and with course form so crucial at York, I am willing to chance him at around 12/1 in the hope there is enough pace from his high draw. Perhaps his draw is the reason for his price, but I'd have him closer to 8/1 so will hoover up the discrepancy.

15:35 Ascot - King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes

This is a phenomenal renewal of the King George and perhaps the best we have seen since the turn of the century, a claim I don't make lightly. Dual Derby winner Lambourn being available to back at triple figures is testament to that, albeit one suspects he is in here to make the pace for his more well fancied stablemates Benvenuto Cellini and Minnie Hauk. There has not been much confidence in the antepost market in the former, despite his brilliant Irish Derby success last time out while the filly has steadily been backed into a similar price as the three year old colt. Both could be in the mix up, however I feel they will find at least a couple too good and that couple will come from France and Japan respectively.

Kalpana lost nothing in a hot renewal of the Hardwicke here last time out and on that run has the beating of Goliath, but again I don't think those two are in the league of the duo I fear and - predictably - the market thinks will fight out the finish. Masquerade Ball is not a horse I am an expert on but his form in Asia is rock solid, last time out just a length off the ultra impressive Romantic Warrior. I think the way this race is set to pan out, given Lambourn is almost certain to make it a test, will suit this fast finishing Japanese raider and he will almost certainly come there cruising. His issue, however, will be there'll be another horse being wound up from the back next to him who may just outbattle him at the line.

That horse is of course the favourite CALANDAGAN, a brilliant racehorse who is tarred as a poor traveller across the Channel by some British racing fans but unfairly so. All his best form is on quick ground and every time he has ventured to these shores he has been tasked with winning with soft in the description. He will not have that obstacle to overcome on Saturday, mercifully, and I am banking on this being his breakout British performance. Make no mistake, this is a gelding out of the very top drawer in racing history and it would be a crying shame if he never showed his true ability in Britain. He has the race conditions, the ground and the draw to do just that on Saturday and I cannot wait to roar him home as he begins his trademark last to first move,