Horse Racing Tips: Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing picks at Ascot & York

Matt is sweet on Metal Merchant in the 15:00 at Ascot at some meaty odds.

Matt Chapman at York Racecourse

By / Horse Racing Tips / 4 months ago

Saturday ITV Racing Tips

13.50 Ascot – Mandurah
14.05 York – Strong Johnson (each-way)
14.25 Ascot – Friendly Soul
14.40 York – Trefor
15.00 Ascot – Metal Merchant
15.15 York – Kings Gambit
15.40 Ascot – Rebels Romance (each-way)

*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.

13.50 Ascot – Mandurah

ITV Racing is back Saturday at Ascot and York, starting here with the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes for juvenile fillies over 6f. Simmering will be tough to beat on her Royal Ascot effort, but I’ll chance MANDURAH for the excellent Simon & Ed Crisford combination.

The unbeaten daughter of Kingman looked very useful on debut at Newmarket when defeating Miss Fascinator, and while she got stuffed next time when favourite I wouldn’t read too much into that. Big ride for young Harry Davies.

14.05 York – Strong Johnson (each-way)

ITV start at York here with a jump jockeys handicap over 5f. Good luck to them! This is wide open. STRONG JOHNSON ran well in this last year off a mark of 73 and is just 1lb higher this time. Paul Midgley trains, and the ultra-strong Sam Twiston-Davies is a fine booking for a horse who has run all right on his last couple of starts off slightly higher ratings. He has an each-way chance.

14.25 Ascot – Friendly Soul

Another Group 3 now for female horses in the Group 3 Valiant Stakes over 1m. FRIENDLY SOUL was given a peach by Kieran Shoemark to land the Pretty Polly at Newmarket when she relished going from the front. She was then awful in the Musidora at York when, for whatever reason, she looked ill and at ease the moment the stalls opened. The race may have come too soon. I hope she will go back to positive tactics here, and if back to her Newmarket form will be hard to pass.

14.40 York – Trefor

Here’s a handicap over 6f. TREFOR is in such good shape and loves the ground that maybe he can overcome a rise of 8lb for his Newmarket win last time. The selection stays 6f very strong, and Robert Havlin looks like a good booking for the Charlie Hills runner. In a race where quite a few might like a bit more juice in the ground, he should have every chance of the hat-trick.

15.00 Ascot – Metal Merchant

A hugely competitive handicap in the International Stakes over 7f. METAL MERCHANT would love any rain to come to Ascot before Saturday, but I’m not dismissing him, even if the ground quickens up a bit. Jack Channon’s inmate was a good winner of the Spring Cup at Newbury earlier in the season and probably equalled that effort when seventh in the Royal Hunt Cup. That was good to firm, so the ground – he’s often been thought to need some cut – might not be all-important.

He stays well and the handicap mark is still workable. Flopped at Sandown last time but was never in it after dwelling at the start, and a straight 7f will be perfect for him. David Probert rides.

15.15 York – Kings Gambit

Up in class for the Group 2 York Stakes over an extended 1m2f. This is a cracker despite the small field. Passenger is hugely exciting, and Alflaila could still go to the top. I’m chancing the improving KINGS GAMBIT for Harry Charlton and Callum Shepherd.

My hope should have landed the Hampton Couert at Royal Ascot, but was left with too much to do. He has a few pounds to find on ratings but he might well be in a position to show us he’s better than his current mark. Stays well and improving.

15.40 Ascot – Rebels Romance (each-way)

The big race of the day is the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 1m4f. Auguste Rodin is clearly the one to beat, but I’m happy to back REBELS ROMANCE each-way for Godolphin, Charlie Appleby and William Buick. The globe-trotter has the same BHA rating as the favourite of 123 and is no mug having landed 13 of his 19 starts and gathered nearly £7million in prize money.

He’s a Breeders’ Cup Turf winner and a Sheema Classic hero, and he won a big prize in Hong Kong in May. A strong gallop will suit as he can sit just behind the leaders. It’s tough to kick him out of the frame, at the very least.

So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me, Paddy?

Matt Chapman’s Racing Tips

13.50 Ascot – Mandurah
14.05 York – Strong Johnson (each-way)
14.25 Ascot – Friendly Soul
14.40 York – Trefor
15.00 Ascot – Metal Merchant
15.15 York – Kings Gambit
15.40 Ascot – Rebels Romance (each-way)

*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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