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Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Ascot and York

The King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes from Ascot (15:35) is one of seven races being shown live on ITV on Saturday, July 23 and we've a tip for each.

Not long to go until the 'Glorious' Goodwood Festival next week, so the perfect time to warm-up by pocketing some extra loot with our red-hot tips.
Here's a quick checklist of Saturday's tips. Full details on the reasons behind our selections are further down the page and we'll also steer you towards Planet Sport's Racing Live Centre, as it's here you'll find the highly informative race cards for Ascot, York and all of Saturday's other meetings.

Selections:

13:50 (Ascot) Lezoo

14:05 (York) Val De Travers

14:25 (Ascot) Novemba

14:40 (York) Silver Samurai

15:00 (Ascot) Accidental Agent (e/w)

15:35 (Ascot) Mishriff

13:50 (Ascot) Lezoo

Lezoo can make amends for a slightly unlucky second at Newmarket on her most recent outing in the Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes.
Beaten half a length by Mawj in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, the winner did take her slightly across the track and while it probably did not prove decisive in the result, it certainly would not have helped her cause.
Glenlaurel was visually very impressive at Thirsk on debut and looks an exciting prospect. Royal Charter was green on debut but still managed to get up in the latter stages and she will likely improve for that experience.

14:05 (York) Val De Travers

Val De Travers produced a career-best effort on his latest start at Musselburgh when scoring in impressive fashion.
The four-year-old, who went up 8lb for that display, remains open to further progression for a stable currently in fine fettle.
Stone Circle has benefited from being dropped to 5f on his last couple of starts, winning at Chepstow and Nottingham, while others for the shortlist include Son And Sannie, Eeh Bah Gum and last year's winner Soul Seeker.

14:25 (Ascot) Novemba

Novemba can make the most of a dip in class for the Group Three Valiant Stakes.
The German raider found Saffron Beach on a different level to the rest when fourth as a 20/1 shot at the Royal meeting, but this appears a more suitable task on paper.
Other challengers include Jumbly who didn't get a clear run when sixth in the German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf last month and the drop in grade represents a fine opportunity for the daughter of Gleneagles.
Zanbaq went close in the Sandringham despite being hampered by the winner in the closing stages and she must enter calculations, along with Oscula, who has been a model of consistency since her effort in Saudi Arabia earlier in the year.
The unexposed Kind Gesture is another name to note.

14:40 (York) Silver Samurai

In this competitive Sky Bet Dash Handicap, marginal preference is for Silver Samurai, who was was by no means disgraced in the Wokingham on his last outing and scored two winners and a third in May.
Mondammej, who hit the line with plenty of conviction when runner-up to a classy rival in a Listed race here, has a strong chance too. The five-year-old could relish the step back up in trip and looks poised to give another good account.
Lucky Man only found a subsequent Listed winner too strong on his penultimate outing and he rates the most immediate danger.

15:00 (Ascot) Accidental Agent (e/w)

In an open event a chance can be taken on Accidental Agent, who was second in the Victoria Cup over course and distance in May.
There's not a lot of pace in this race and it could pay to be drawn high, so that could help this veteran following his encouraging effort in the Bunbury Cup last time.
The draw may also help Chiefofchiefs, although a slow early pace may not help this fast-finishing nine-year-old.
Tactical has the ability to go well if stall two doesn't prove to be a problem, while similar comments apply to Bless Him. Others to note are Dark Shift, Fresh and Jumby.

15:15 (York) Dubai Honour

Dubai Honour makes his long-awaited British return in the Sky Bet York Stakes on the Knavesmire.

He went from strength to strength for William Haggas last year, graduating from a Newmarket handicap win in July to lift two Group Two races in France.

The gelding marked himself as a Group One performer when chasing home Sealiway in the Champion Stakes before notching a close-up fourth in Hong Kong, but he cut little ice in what proved to be a blanket finish to the Sheema Classic on his only run this year.
Haggas has been waiting for suitable conditions to take the wraps off Dubai Honour and while it may not be his perfect ground at York, his class should see him prevail.

15:35 (Ascot) Mishriff

Those that keep the faith with Mishriff can be rewarded in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot.
He banished the memory of a particularly disappointing Saudi Cup run when pushing Vadeni all the way in the Eclipse earlier this month, eventually being beaten just a neck at the line.
The result does not tell the full story, either, as Mishriff could not find a clear passage when the race began in earnest, with the five-year-old fairly flying home when he did get space to finish an unlucky runner-up in the 10-furlong showpiece.
Mishriff moves back up to a mile and a half here, having last competed over the trip when finding Derby hero Adayar nearly two lengths too good in this race last year, giving away lumps of weight.
It does appear on first glance as though 12 furlongs is not his optimum, but it should not be forgotten that he won the 2021 Sheema Classic over the distance, with two excellent Japanese runners filling the places behind him.

Mishriff is the highest-rated horse in the field and while the likes of Westover and Emily Upjohn of course have any amount of improvement to come, and will be the ones in receipt of the allowances, John and Thady Gosden's star older performer should have conditions in his favour and arrives here on the back of a much better run than 12 months ago.

James Doyle takes over in the plate this time, which is certainly not a negative, and Mishriff can be relied upon to put up another good performance.

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