Great Britain does not host many races for the global racing audience, but there is no doubt the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes is just that this Saturday. Ascot‘s card is superb, while York provides a superb accompaniment meeting too.
Matty Sutcliffe has two selections at each card this weekend, siding with a defending champion on the Knavesmire, and a 50/1 shot in Ascot’s big weekend handicap.
York Racing Tips (Saturday 25 July 2026)
The Group 2 York Stakes is the headline race on the Knavesmire on Saturday. Matty has two tips, one of which runs in that contest.
13:30 York – Sky Bet ‘Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe’ Handicap (To Be Ridden By Professional Jump Jockeys) (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-80) – Ventura Express 22/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
Paul Midgeley has had great success in this contest, winning it on three of the last 10 occasions, landing the forecast in the latest and finishing twice in 2018 and 2021. While he hasn’t won it for the last three years, that can change this time with the well-handicapped Ventura Express.
The nine-year-old is winless since July 2024, but he peaked at a mark of 89 there and was still competitive off marks in the mid 80s last season. He made a solid seasonal debut when beaten a nose at Newcastle off 6lbs higher, and caught the eye staying on when short of room at Pontefract to be beaten two lengths last time out.
He’s dropped to his lowest mark in handicaps since April 2021, and that season he was third in this race off 12lbs higher. He was also only beaten a neck by course specialist Copper Knight in 2023 so he clearly goes well around here, and he’s had a month off to presumably be freshened up for this.
Given he has a 6lbs swing in the weights for a neck gap behind stablemate Emerald Harmony at Beverley in May, he looks incorrectly priced and is well birthed in stall three.
14:35 York – Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Royal Champion 11/4 1pt WIN
A small but talented field of five take to post in the York Stakes including two Dante winners in Item and Pride of Arras. However, if Royal Champion returns in the same form he was in when winning this by two lengths last season then he’ll prove very tough to beat.
He was travelling all over the field two out, before delivering an incredibly smart turn of foot to pull nearly three lengths clear of Almaqam. The time backed up the performance, and it was interesting Karl Burke said he’d prefer the ground to have been quicker.
Since then, he’s done very little wrong having finishing third to Delacroix on ground less than ideal for him in the Irish Champion Stakes. He then won twice overseas, including the Bahrain International Trophy where he had Pride Of Arras three lengths in behind.
He backed that up when a four lengths winner of the Neom Turf Cup, posting a career best RPR of 123. He did little wrong when fourth to 3/10 favourite Romantic Warrior in the QEII Cup at Sha Tin, and he was only a length behind Masquerade Ball who’s 4/1 for the King George.
He gets his prime conditions here and since joining Karl Burke, his record fresh reads 1147114. If bringing his recent form to the fore, he looks more than fairly priced at 11/4.
Ascot Racing Tips (Saturday 25 July 2026)
Ascot’s Saturday card revolves around a sensational King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, but the undercard has plenty of strength in depth. Matty has a pair of selections at the showcase meeting.
13:45 Ascot – Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (2yo) – Miss Kodi 16/1 1pt EW 3 places
The Albany has often provided clues to this contest which brings into contention Dark Issue and Dee’s Funny Girl, but the form looks open to question and I think it’s worth chancing Miss Kodi, who made a seriously promising impression at Chepstow on debut.
She travelled strongly in behind leaders, looking professional throughout for a filly making her debut on an undulating course. She hit the front a furlong out and powered away, with Rossa Ryan not having to get serious.
Performances like thatch often deceive, but it was impressive on the clock as they went a fair gallop throughout, with the rest of the field posting a finishing speed percentage below 99% whereas Miss Kodi’s was 102.7%.
She displayed a large stride length there and combined with the ability to quicken, she looks to have some serious potential and can be suited to this stiff track. From the family of Arcano, I’d suggest she’s a way above average filly.
14:55 Ascot- Moet & Chandon International Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+) – Philanthropist 50/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
Extremely Zain may well be the group horse in a handicap his connections have stated he is, but at 15/8 in this ever competitive handicap I’m willing to let him go unbacked and instead chance Philanthropist for a yard that won this in 2022 and had the second in 2023 at 50/1 for the same owners.
The Sergei Prokofiev gelding was in good form as a three year old last season, including posting a good effort here in a 0-105. He struggled to return to the winners enclosure, but when equipped with first time cheek-pieces, he got off the mark this season by a short head from a 2lbs lower mark.
He was then third from a wide draw at Goodwood, having to from midfield with the first and second having the benefit of a prominently run race on the rail. He again caught the eye last time out on the July course, making good headway to the outside of the field and coming with what initially looked like a winning run.
However, he conceded enough ground by not staying straight there and the three ahead of him came up the near-side/centre. The second subsequently won the Bunbury Cup to boost the form, and he’s the type to thrive in this big field scenario under Silvestre De Sousa for the in form James Fanshawe.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Tips for Saturday 25 July
13:30 York – Sky Bet ‘Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe’ Handicap (To Be Ridden By Professional Jump Jockeys) (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-80) – Ventura Express 22/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
13:45 Ascot – Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (2yo) – Miss Kodi 16/1 1pt EW 3 places
14:35 York – Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Royal Champion 11/4 1pt WIN
14:55 Ascot- Moet & Chandon International Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+) – Philanthropist 50/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets at York & Ascot meeting on Saturday 25 July.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 5.05pm on Thursday 23 July.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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