Today's Racing Tips: Top Rank bet on Saturday

There are five bets for today’s fantastic racing at Ascot, York and Newmarket (total stake = 4 points).

Ascot Tip

15:00 – 1m Betfred Summer Mile Stakes (Group 2)

The classy TOP RANK (NAP – 1 point win bet at 9/2) has run well in all four starts this year and can land a deserved Group 2 victory. After winning a Listed race at Doncaster on his seasonal reappearance, he went on to finish third in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, albeit well beaten by Palace Pier and Lady Bowthorpe. He then went for the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and was far from disgraced in fifth place (within 5.25-lengths of Palace Pier). His latest effort came at Windsor, where he finished second behind the reopposing Century Dream. However, he is better off at the weights today and can reverse that form. With six wins from just 11 career starts, James Tate’s five-year-old still looks capable of plenty more improvement.

York Tips

16:05 – 1m2½f John Smith’s Cup Handicap (Class 2)

The ultra-consistent ASTRO KING (1 point win bet at 5/1) is yet to finish out of the first three places from seven career starts and arrives here following a career best effort when second in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot. A typically progressive type from the Sir Michael Stoute yard, he won the battle of those drawn high at Ascot, finishing 1st of 20 in his group. However, they were no match for the impressive winner on the other side of the track. This race looks ideal for the son of Kingman and he’s nicely weighted off 8-13.

At a bigger price, I also rate the chances of FISHABLE (0.5 point win bet at 18/1), who was a winner at Ripon last time out. He is out of a Group 1-winning mare and looks a progressive type. He has previous experience at York and will be well suited by any easing of the ground.

Newmarket Tips

16:25 – 6f Darley July Cup Stakes (Group 1)

This looks a stunning renewal of the July Cup and a strong case could be made for most of the runners. Despite the presence of Oxted, Starman and Dragon Symbol, my main fancy is Godolphin’s rapidly improving three-year-old CREATIVE FORCE (1 point win bet at 11/2). Charlie Appleby’s son of Dubawi has won his last four races and has only been beaten once in six career starts. His latest success came in really good style at Royal Ascot (Group 3 Jersey Stakes), and although that was over seven furlongs, the drop back to six won’t cause any issues. He has plenty of pace, travels well and has the proven stamina to handle the uphill finish at Newmarket.

I also can’t ignore SUPREMACY (0.5 point win bet at 16/1), who appears to have been completely overlooked in the betting. On such a good/busy day of racing, it is interesting that this will be Adam Kirby’s only ride of the day. Too much significance seems to have been placed on his disappointing seasonal reappearance at Ascot back in April.  Prior to that, he won the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood before landing the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes on the Rowley Mile course here at Newmarket. Blinkers have been applied and he has a good draw in stall 19.