Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Ascot , York , Chester, Salibury and Windsor on 26 July 2025.
ASCOT
Race 2 SODEXO LIVE ! PRINCESS MARGARET STAKES (Group 3)
No4 DANCE TO THE MUSIC
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
In the first of a plethora of Group races through Ascot and Goodwood DANCE TO THE MUSIC can take the spoils. The daughter of Dubawi dug deep into her reserves to swoop late on her July course introduction from which she has learned plenty. Two roughies that could also get into the argument are MIDNIGHT TANGO and SUKANYA, but the Godolphin filly will be hard to beat.
Race 3 LONGINES VALIANT STAKES (Group 3)
No11 PINA SONATA (Each Way)
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
Fanshawe is one of the most patient in his profession and it’s therefore no surprise that he’s angled PINA SONATA towards a late summer and autumn campaign. In the colours of Mary Slack the Pinatubo filly has been given time to get over her wide margin Leicester success for which she was backed as if defeat was out of the question. She enjoyed the bit of juice in the ground, and on just a fourth career start looks the joker in the pack, with CAJOLE and BERMUDA LONGTAIL her likely main barriers to completing a hat-trick.
Race 4 No4 NORTHERN EXPRESS (Each Way)
Traner: Michael Dods – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
The International Handicap Is one of the most valuable races of its type in the calendar in which NORTHERN EXPRESS can make a bold fist of making history repeat itself. He was an ultra game winner of the corresponding race 12 months ago whilst troubling the judge in a number of big handicaps. While things haven’t gone totally to plan for him in five 2025 outings, the chestnut signalled with his seventh placing over 1400 metres here last month and frame finish at Haydock that he’s on the way back. In the best betting race on the card YORKSHIRE is one worth saving on as he is closely matched with my selection on Royal Ascot running. ARRAY is one to keep an eye on in the market in the hands of the champion jockey whilst GOLDEN MIND makes most appeal from the roughies. AALTO has been very popular in the ante post market and seems to have been laid out specifically for this.
Prediction: 1st NORTHERN EXPRESS, 2nd Yorkshire, 3rd Aalto, 4th Array, 5th Golden Mind
Race 6 KING GEORGE VI AND QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (Group 1)
No1 CALANDAGAN (Nap)
Trainer: Francis Graffard – Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
Three countries are represented in the traditional mid summer highlight without giving the ‘King George’ its international allure. However, with a Coolmore pacemaker employed for Leger winner JAN BRUEGHEL a truly run race is guaranteed, while any one of the other four contenders can win. JAN BRUEGHEL is with his five successes in six starts a very tough entity to beat, and at the end of a tight knit Coronation Cup he outstayed CALANDAGAN. Half a length separated the pair, but the Francis Graffard-trained colt rolled against the camber and proved less balanced at the business end than the winner. CALANDAGAN had previously beaten this year’s Hardwicke Stakes winner REBEL’S ROMANCE into fourth when second to Japan’s Danon Decile in the Sheema Classic in Dubai, while he was a snug winner of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on his latest outing. As the only filly in the field, KALPANA is in many ways the joker in the pack. A five times winner in her first season last year, she was worried out of it by Whirl in the Pretty Polly last month but remains a class act, and is the one I fear most against the Nap, who has been flying in his work in Chantilly and should operate on this track.
Prediction: 1st CALANDAGAN, 2nd Kalpana, 3rd Jan Brueghel, 4th Rebel’s Romance
YORK
Race 2 No6 POCKLINGTON
Trainer: Geoff Oldroyd – Jockey: PJ McDonald
There’s much to like about POCKLINGTON, for whom this is just a seventh career start. The Newcastle specialist numbers two wins and a second from as many visits to that venue and was on a first outing since a wind op when running well in a valuable handicap at the big meeting here last summer. He was strong in the market when going down by a short head in a blanket finish back at Gosforth Park last month when finishing best of all, a repeat of which would make him the one to beat.
Race 3 SKY BET YORK STAKES (Group 2)
No7 STANHOPE GARDENS (Nap)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
If ALMAQAM is as good as Ed Walker thinks he is this trial for next month’s Juddmonte International Stakes is surely in the bag for the short-pried favourite. Having taken the notable scalp of Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown, the Lope De Vega colt stamped himself as the new kid on the block for the top mile and a quarter races in the late summer and autumn. That form is rock solid but I think he can be tested by the three-year-old STANHOPE GARDENS. This colt made a big move from the foot of Tattenham Hill that took him into third place in the Betfred Derby, only for him to lose two places in the final 50 yards. Various big targets were considered, but this route has afforded him a nice break between races as well as a drop back to a mile and a quarter and he’s delighted Ryan in his latest work at Kimpton. CERTAIN LAD was a late scratch from the Stevenson Stakes at Newbury and can’t be completely ruled out, especially if the ground softens.
Prediction: 1st STANHOPE GARDENS, 2nd Almaqam, 3rd Certain Lad
CHESTER
Race 4 No11 ARABIAN COBRA (Nap)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Aiden Brookes
The draw in this 1200 metres sprint has been kind to the locally trained ARABIAN COBRA. He’s looked a better horse since moving onto turf in the late spring, posting figures of 2113. He produced an impressive burst to pull the race out of the fire for his latest success over course and distance last month, which is strong form to bring to the table.
SALISBURY
Race 1 No4 LOST SIGNAL (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Hannon – Jockey: John Fahy
LOST SIGNAL made the running in a Newbury novice that featured a well regarded colt from the Godolphin operation. The colt was headed a furlong out, but to his credit kept on to claim a minor cheque while that experience is likely to do him the world of good. Juvenile from the Hannon yard tend to step up from their first run to their second.
Race 5 No4 TWILIGHT MOON
Trainer: Marcus Tregoning – Jockey: Trevor Whelan
TWILIGHT MOON has proved costly to follow but the Adaay filly has here a best ever opportunity to put one on the board. The cash for her that went west at Windsor last time can be recouped with interest now that she’s discovered her optimum trip.
WINDSOR
Race 2 No13 STARTLED LADY
Trainer: William Knight – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
Zoustar filly STARTLED LADY upped her game when forcing a picture on her second start at Southwell with Fallon in the irons. She’s learned plenty from that second career start, and should have no issues returning to grass on a track that should suit.
Race 4 No5 MISTER SANDMAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Peter Crate – Jockey: Shane Kelly
Of those running in a handicap for the first time, MISTER SANDMAN is worth a market check. He was a 250-1 shot when posting a midfield finish on his latest start on the Lingfield Polytrack and the switch to grass could bring about some progression.
Race 6 No11 HAVANA HALO (Each Way)
Trainer: Dominic Ffrench-Davis – Jockey: Ben French-Davis
If there were to be an upset in this Class4, HAVANA HALO could be the one to provide it. Although yet to trouble the judge the Havana Grey filly has come up against some useful types and might be one that’s gone under the handicapper’s radar. At a massive double figure price she warrants a speculative investment as she wasn’t beaten far on her previous visit to this course back in May.
Race 7 No6 FANCY DANCER (Nap)
Trainer: Ollie Sangster – Jockey: S D Bowen
FANCY DANCER looked to have plenty to do from an outside draw when scratched from her race at Wolverhampton on Monday. This is a much more attractive option for the dual scorer as she remains on grass following a gritty success at Bath, and she rates a worthy favourite.
