Horse Racing tips: Jason Weaver’s 7 slick picks for Saturday’s ITV races

The King George VI Stakes is the main event but Jason also has best bets for the Ascot and York undercard.

Jason Weaver Flat Racing

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

Ascot 13:50 – Nymphadora

Andrew Balding’s runner looked exceptional on her second lifetime start in Listed company at York beating a big field in comprehensive fashion. Nymphadora seem to lack a bit of pace over the minimum distance when upped in grade in the Queen Mary at the Royal meeting, so stepping up to 6f now is bound to suit.

I cannot believe Paddy is going to let her go off at an each way price and she may even take home the gold medal.

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York 14:05 – Eeh Ba Gum

This jump jockeys race is a bit of fun, allowing the National Hunt riders to go 5f at a speed they would not normally encounter. Tim Easterby’s Eeh Ba Gum already has some fantastic course and distance form in the book from a rating in the high 80’s, but now finds himself down at a lowly 67.

There’ll be no messing once the lids have pinged open and this lad can make every post a winning one off bottom weight.

Ascot 14:25 – Mystery Smiles

Kept to sprinting distances as a juvenile, he produced some solid efforts up in very deep Group company. Mystery Smiles was pitched in against some solid mile performers in the Craven at Newmarket on his seasonal return and despite being short of room at a vital stage, he stayed on strongly to the line for third.

He didn’t perform in the 2,000 Guineas subsequently, when finishing well down the field, but he has been given plenty of time by his excellent handler to get back into top condition. The extra 5lb that jockey William Carver takes off his back will help and although he looks the second string on jockey bookings with Silvestre De Souza rising Fantastic Fox, he may well prove the class act in the field.

York 14:40 – Blind Beggar

Blind Beggar has been building himself a pretty tidy profile in the sprint division against his own three-year-old age group. He stepped up to the long sprint distance of 7f at Newmarket last time but finished unplaced. Back down over a course in distance that he has some solid form at, he looks to have solid claims off 8st 2lb including the 5 lb weight-for-age allowance off the older horses.

With the excellent ‘pocket rocket’ Franny Norton in the saddle and the front-running Manigordo drawn in the stall three beside him, he should get an ideal lead until the furlong pole.

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Ascot 15:00 – Starshiba

This four-year-old gelding has been brought on in typically patient handling by his trainer David Elsworth and that can be rewarded with a huge prize in this 7f cavalry charge. Starshiba bumped into the Britannia Handicap winner Perotto, when going down fighting at Goodwood two starts back and quite clearly didn’t see out the mile trip last time at Salisbury.

Young Jonny Peate takes off a valuable 7lb and Starshiba will feel as if he is running loose carrying just 7st 9lbs. He is drawn on the right side in stall 16, surrounded with a bit of pace and can use the stand side rail to his advantage.

York 15:15 – Mohaafeth

This looks a straight match between William Haggas’ Mohaafeth and the Ballydoyle raider Armory, for this fantastic Group 2 prize. We haven’t seen the full potential of Mohaafeth just yet and gets 9lbs and upwards off his elders and looks very hard to oppose. The galloping nature of the track should suit him down to the ground and his telling change of gear can see him continue the winning run and rock up the five-timer.

Ascot 15:35 – Adayar

It’s fantastic that Charlie Appleby has allowed his Epsom Derby winner Adayar to take on the older horses, in what looks a tremendous renewal of this Group 1 King George VI Stakes over 1m 4f . He got a wonderful ride in the Derby off Adam Kirby but William Buick takes over now.

Adayar should be able to get a perfect lead into the contest and is surely not going to give Love any leeway up front? He can latch onto her tail and let’s hope he shows that same change of gear that saw him slip through on the rail at Epsom last time to become a Derby winner.

Jason Weaver’s picks for Saturday’s races:

Ascot 13:50 – Nymphadora
York 14:05 – Eeh Ba Gum
Ascot 14:25 – Mystery Smiles
York 14:40 – Blind Beggar
Ascot 15:00 – Starshiba
York 15:15 – Mohaafeth
Ascot 15:35 – Adayar

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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