ITV Racing Tips on July 25th - Saturday's selections on King George day

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Fri 24 Jul 2026 11:37

Jon Vine 1 hour ago

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Free tips for the ITV races on Saturday 25th July
Ascot and York feature on the ITV Racing schedule
Sukanya, Pride Of Arras and Back In Black feature in our selections

Sukanya (near) beating Touleen in the Fred Darling Stakes. (Getty)

Saturday's Tips

ITV Racing Schedule
1:30pm York - Jump Jockeys' Nunthorpe Handicap Tips
1:45pm Ascot - Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes Tips
2:00pm York - Sky Bet Dash Tips
2:20pm Ascot - Valiant Stakes Tips
2:35pm York - York Stakes Tips
2:55pm Ascot - International Handicap Tips
3:35pm Ascot - King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes Tips

One of the world's most famous Group One races will be run on Saturday afternoon, as a global field does battle in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes. ITV Racing will be showing four races live from Ascot on King George day, along with a trio of competitive races live from York.

Here are my best betting tips for Saturday's ITV races at Ascot and York.

ITV Racing Schedule

Time	Track	Title
1:30pm	York	Sky Bet 'Jump Jockeys' Nunthorpe' Handicap (To Be Ridden By Professional Jump Jockeys) (Class 4) 5f
1:45pm	Ascot	Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes (Group 3) 6f
2:00pm	York	Sky Bet Dash (Heritage Handicap) 6f
2:20pm	Ascot	Longines Valiant Stakes (Group 3) 1m
2:35pm	York	Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2) 1m2½f
2:55pm	Ascot	Moet & Chandon International Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 7f
3:35pm	Ascot	King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1) 1m4f

ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 25th July

1:30pm York - Jump Jockeys' Nunthorpe Handicap Tips

Paul Midgley likes to target this unique race, and will saddle the top two in the betting. I quite fancy his third runner, VENTURA EXPRESS (33/1), at a wild price.

Midgley's nine-year-old hasn't won since 2024, but has gone close on a number of occasions over the past two years, and has shaped well in defeat a couple of times this season. Tristan Durrell hasn't had many opportunities to ride for the in-form Dan Skelton of late, but he'll jump into Ventura Express' saddle in Saturday's opener, and they've been drawn well on the inside part of the track.

1:45pm Ascot - Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes Tips

Richard Hannon has won this Group Three a couple of times in the past, and looks to have an excellent chance of adding to that tally on Saturday. DARK ISSUE (3/1) ran a cracker in the Albany Stakes during the Royal Meeting, finishing a fairly close fourth behind Libertango and Sun Goddess.

Pat Dobbs' mount went into Ascot having bolted up on her racecourse debut at Goodwood the previous month. Dark Issue was slow to get into stride from her low draw in stall six, but went through the gears nicely to eventually finish just two and a half lengths adrift of Libertango.

Dee's Funny Girl has three lengths to find with Dark Issue from their clash in the Albany, and her market rival Alta Regina is yet to prove her stamina over the distance. The pace seems to have been drawn low here, so Dark Issue could be ideally placed to track the front-runners from her draw in stall three.

2:00pm York - Sky Bet Dash Tips

Sprint handicaps at York would be one of my least successful betting avenues. I can never seem to get them right. This race looks to be particularly difficult to unravel, so I'll just have a small each-way bet on ROCK OPERA (20/1).

I backed Fahey's sprinter when I was at York on John Smith's Cup day. Oisin Orr's mount missed the break and sat near the rear with two furlongs to travel, before making up some late ground to cross the line five lengths adrift of Magic Boy in ninth. Rock Opera went into that handicap in excellent form, and will carry a much lower weight in this higher-quality contest. I'd have preferred a lower draw to stall 14, but I still think the bottom-weight will run well at a decent price.

2:20pm Ascot - Valiant Stakes Tips

Touleen dominates the betting for this year's Valiant, following a runner-up finish in the Coronation Stakes. However, as long as three paid places remain available, I'll happily take the favourite on with SUKANYA (14/1).

Jack Channon's filly beat Touleen when the pair met in the Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury in April. Channon then opted for the Irish 1000 Guineas, where Sukanya endured a tricky start and failed to pass a single rival.

Tom Marquand's mount was again slowly away in the Coronation Stakes, and found herself stuck on the rail at a crucial stage. Sukanya rallied pretty well, eventually finishing fourth, two and a half lengths adrift of second-placed Touleen.

There seems to be a lack of pace in Saturday's contest, which should suit Sukanya, who showed a lovely turn of foot over seven furlongs at Newbury. Marquand's mount proved during the Royal Meeting that she could handle fast ground, and Sukanya has been drawn next to Touleen in stall six.

pride of arras — Rossa Ryan riding Pride Of Arras win The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes at York. (Getty)

2:35pm York - York Stakes Tips

A small field, but there's plenty of York form on offer. Royal Champion returns to defend his crown, and will carry a Group One penalty after his success out in Saudi. This year's Dante winner, Item, will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing run in the Derby. Damysus finished second in last year's Dante, and steps back up in trip after two flat performances over a mile.

PRIDE OF ARRAS (11/2) is two from two on the Knavesmire. Ralph Beckett's star beat Damysus in the 2025 Dante, and returned to winning ways in the Great Voltigeur Stakes over 12 furlongs last August.

In between those victories, Pride Of Arras has largely struggled. Beckett's four-year-old finished last in both Derbys, was beaten four lengths behind Royal Champion in the Neom Turf Cup, suffered a setback soon after and trailed home last on his comeback in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

Returning to York did manage to bring about a resurgence last summer, so maybe coming back to the Knavesmire will have a similar effect on Pride Of Arras this weekend.

2:55pm Ascot - International Handicap Tips

BACK IN BLACK (15/2) was my 14/1 ante-post selection for this handicap, and I still think James Fanshawe's charge has got a huge chance despite the obvious confidence behind firm favourite Extremely Zain.

It's been a season of near misses for Back In Black so far. James Fanshawe's four-year-old finished fourth behind Linwood on his reappearance in the Spring Cup at Newbury, before going down narrowly on two all-weather starts. Danny Muscutt then endured a troubled passage from stall one in the Bunbury Cup, before flying home late to finish a very close second behind Aalto.

Muscutt's mount has recorded Racing Post Ratings in the low 100s on three of his four starts this season, so there's little doubt he's well treated off an official mark of 94. Many of the fancied horses here have been drawn low. His draw in stall three could turn out to be a positive.

Of those sitting at longer prices, ATA RANGI (33/1) is interesting. Ed Walker's recruit won on his stable debut over a mile at Kempton last April, and has scored twice at Haydock since. Ata Rangi is two from two over seven furlongs on good ground, and I fancy the course at Ascot will suit this powerful traveller.