A top quality card takes place at Ascot on Saturday 25 July, with the King George the feature. Andrew Mount heads to the Berkshire track for two selections today, whilst he also has a solitary pick at Newcastle.
Ascot Racing Tips (Saturday 25 July 2026)
Eight races make up Ascot’s feature card, with it all getting under way at 1.10pm. Check out Andrew’s brace of picks
2.55 Ascot – Arctic Dawn (0.5pt e/w 40/1 bet365, William Hill, 33/1 generally)
Three-year-olds and colts have a poor recent record in the 7f International Stakes at Ascot and that’s off-putting where short-priced favourite Extremely Zain is concerned, despite his unblemished record going into this heritage handicap. I’d rather side with something at a bigger price and that’s my Weekend Watch nap Arctic Dawn, who has shortened up since I went for him on Thursday’s YouTube show.
Trained by in-form David and Claire Kubler, the five-year-old is a good trends-fit for this race and like nine of the past ten winners he arrives here on the back of a run at either Ascot or Newmarket. The son of Blue Point prepped with a 24th of 28 in the Buckingham Palace Stakes over course and distance at Royal Ascot, a run that was better than his finishing position suggested. He was one of only six runners to race on the unfavoured far side of the track from very low draws, doing fourth best of that group.
The only other low-drawn runners to make the track since were 27th placed The Lost King, who landed a gamble in a York handicap next time, and 28th placed So Darn Hot, a respectable fifth when well backed in a 6f handicap at Ascot on his next start. Stall 7 is unlikely to be an issue on Friday’s evidence.
5.20 Ascot – Getreadytorumble (1pt e/w – 5/1 bet365, 9/2 generally)
Getreadytorumble needs a big field/strong pace scenario and, after his fourth place to Rumstar in Group 3 company at Sandown last time, I suggested that he might prove capable of reversing the form in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Glorious Goodwood given a more favourable pace set-up.
Jack Channon’s four-year-old has been taken out of that contest and has his sights lowered today, reverting to handicap company for the first time since his Doncaster win last September. His full record in handicaps reads 13221 (2-5) and Tom Marquand, whose record on him reads 32213 (1-5) is back on board. Stall 4 would have been a problem at Royal Ascot but a low draw was certainly no issue on the straight course here yesterday and he’s drawn near to pace angle All Ways Glamorous (stall 6).
Rocking Ends, the one I mentioned on Weekend Watch, has a great record at this time of year but has taken a big walk in the market overnight and, on reflection, perhaps Ascot is not his track.
Newcastle Racing Tips (Saturday 25 July 2026)
An eight-race all-weather card comes from Newcastle as well this afternoon, with Andrew’s best bet running in the 3.15pm contest.
3.15 Newcastle – Shamalza (1pt win – 17/2 bet365, 8/1 generally)
Shamalza, winner of a 1m Navan maiden on her debut for Dermot Weld last year, has been beaten over 7f in her two subsequent starts but the first of those came on heavy ground for her old yard and the other – when fourth of five as the even-money favourite at Newmarket last month on her debut for Ralph Beckett, was also excusable. We were in ‘dead’ rail territory at that meeting and the daughter of Lope De Vega made the running in the ‘swamp’. The switch to Tapeta will hold no fears on breeding and the step back up to 1m will suit on her handicap debut. There’s a headwind forecast today but I’m not expecting her to attempt to make the running in this big field.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets Today
2.55 Ascot – Arctic Dawn (0.5pt e/w – 40/1 bet365, William Hill, 33/1 generally)
3.15 Newcastle – Shamalza (1pt win – 17/2 bet365, 8/1 generally)
5.20 Ascot – Getreadytorumble (1pt e/w – 5/1 bet365, 9/2 generally)
Andrew Mount’s Horse Racing Tips – Friday 25 July
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- Ascot – first race 13:10
- Newcastle – first race 13:35
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s racing tips?
Andrew Mount provides his best bets at Ascot & Newcastle.
Which racecourses run on Saturday 25 July 2026?
Ascot, Chester, Lingfield, Newcastle, Salisbury, York.
Who is Andrew Mount?
Andrew Mount is a leading horse racing adviser, expert pundit and journalist, contributing regularly to the Racing Post, Racing & Football Outlook, Racing Post Weekender and William Hill radio as well as providing a daily tipping column for the GG.co.uk website for more than 20 years. Follow him on X: @TrendHorses
When were today’s Ascot & Newcastle tips published?
Today’s tips were published at 7.22am on Saturday 25 July 2026.
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