Andy Newton’s Saturday ITV horse racing tips: 25th July 2026: Side with 10/1 Ascot NAP

Catch my top 1-2-3 ITV horse racing tips for every race broadcast live on terrestrial TV this Saturday from Ascot and York.

It’s a massive weekend of racing with seven live ITV contests on tap.

The action is headlined by the prestigious King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (3:35) at Ascot-where all eyes will be on whether last year’s champion, Calandagan, can pull off ‘back-to-back’ victories.

While on the Knavesmire the G2 York Stakes is the York

I’ve also lined up a strong 10/1 Ascot NAP on a horse that suffered a seriously unlucky run last time out.

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Andy Newton’s Quick-View ITV Horse Racing Tips (Saturday 25th July, 2026)

• 13:30 York: LETHAL NYMPH / Bayraat
• 13:45 Ascot: ALTA REGINA
• 14:00 York: AIR FORCE ONE / Commanche Falls
• 14:20 Ascot: TOULEEN
• 14:35 York: PRIDE OF ARRAS (NB)
• 14:55 Ascot: AKKADIAN THUNDER (NAP) / Two Tribes
• 15:35 Ascot: CALANDAGAN

You can also tune into the Final Furlong Podcast each week where I join the team to break down all the weekend action.

ASCOT ITV Horse Racing Tips: Classy Calandagan To Retain King George Crown

13:45 Ascot – Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes (Group 3) | 2yo | 6f

I’m siding with ALTA REGINA here. She put in a really encouraging effort to finish 6th in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot last month, having previously shown plenty of ability when winning on debut at Lingfield.

Stepping up from 5f to 6f looks well within her scope.

That Queen Mary form received a major boost recently when the runner-up, Senorita Bonita, came out and claimed the July Stakes.

Looking at the opposition, Dark Issue (4th in the Albany) will naturally draw support, though the Richard Hannon stable is a slightly concerning 3-for-67 with their two-year-olds here.

Dee’s Funny Girl (6th in the Albany) gets the services of Ryan Moore, while Windsor Castle runner-up Moonrise deserves respect.

At a bigger price, the unbeaten Glorious Game is worth watching for the Hugo Palmer yard-the same team that took this contest 12 months ago.

Still, I expect Regina to reign.

🥇ALTA REGINA
🥈Glorious Game
🥉Moonrise

14:20 Ascot – Longines Valiant Stakes (Group 3) | 3yo+ | 1m

TOULEEN brings the standout form into this contest and should prove difficult to beat.

She was a touch unfortunate when finishing second in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot under Saffie Osborne, where she endured a rough trip behind Precise (amid plenty of talk regarding potential Ballydoyle tactics).

Dropping down to Group 3 level, her official rating of 112 puts her a full 7lb clear of her nearest rivals, Kon Tiki and Skydance.

William Buick takes over the reins today-he knows this classy Owen Burrows filly well having won on her previously, and I expect him to deliver the goods again.

Kon Tiki, who ran a solid 4th behind Blue Bolt at the Royal meeting, looks the main danger for the exactors.

A quick mention goes to last year’s surprise winner, Cheshire Dancer; she hasn’t scored since, but she clearly enjoys this track.

🥇TOULEEN
🥈Kon Tiki
🥉Cheshire Dancer

 

14:55 Ascot – Moet & Chandon International Handicap (Heritage Handicap) | 3yo+ | 7f

AKKADIAN THUNDER (e/w) went off as the starting favorite for this very race 12 months ago, ultimately finishing 11th.

However, David O’Meara’s six-year-old returns today off an 8lb lower mark.

While he’s rarely an easy horse to win with, his current handicapping position looks extremely generous.

He suffered a nightmare run with nowhere to go last time out, and connections have booked Jamie Spencer-always a massive bonus over Ascot’s straight course.

The unbeaten three-year-old Extremely Zain will have plenty of backers following an easy win at York, but he’s been bumped up 8lbs and 10 of the last 11 winners of this race were aged 4 to 6.

He may well be a graded horse in disguise, but at his current odds in a 17-runner field, there isn’t much value.

Last year’s winner, TWO TRIBES, returns to defend his crown.

He’s 12lb higher this time around, though he did score off just a pound lower in Meydan earlier this season.

Last year’s runner-up, Sword, is back on the same mark (85) but needs to rediscover his form.

Ryan Moore’s mount Completely Random and Buckingham Palace winner Mezcala (up 4lb) are others to keep on the shortlist.

But I’ll side with Two Tribes to ‘go to war’ again or Akkadian to ‘thunder’ home.

🥇AKKADIAN THUNDER (e/w) (NAP)
🥈TWO TRIBES
🥉Completely Random

Outstayed them!

Two Tribes wins the International Handicap at @Ascot! 🥇@DavidEgan99 | @Richspencer89 pic.twitter.com/bJbls4lLaX

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) July 26, 2025

15:35 Ascot – King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1) | 3yo+ | 1m4f

It’s hard to build a case against last year’s King George winner, CALANDAGAN.

His only recent slip-up came on deep ground in the Coronation Cup at Epsom-a track that simply didn’t suit him (where he’s 0-for-2).

He quickly bounced back with a dominant win at Saint-Cloud, and getting back onto his favoured quicker surface makes him the one they all have to beat.

His course record at Ascot is exceptional (1-2-1-1), and he arrives here following the exact same preparation as last season.

Having already amassed over £9 million in earnings, he can break the £10 million barrier with another victory today.

While trainer Francis Graffard can win the race for the third year in-a-row (won with Goliath in 2024) and join Saeed Bin Suroor and Noel Murless as previous treble winners.

 

Benvenuto Cellini Receives 11lbs From Calandagan

Among the challengers, Japanese contender Masquerade Ball is a serious threat having pushed our selection close in the Japan Cup late last year.

However, this is his first start outside Japan, and Calandagan’s course experience gives him a distinct upper hand.

Irish Derby champion Benvenuto Cellini will have plenty of supporters given he receives a handy 11lbs from the older horses.

That said, older horses have dominated this race recently, with 9 of the last 11 winners aged 4 or older.

Furthermore, Aidan O’Brien’s current stable form is a slight query (4 wins from 44 runners at writing), though that could easily turn around quickly.

Cellini is bidding to become the first horse since Galileo to complete the Irish Derby / King George double in the same season.

O’Brien also saddles last year’s Arc runner-up, Minnie Hauk, who joins Kalpana as the top-class mares in the line-up.

Fillies and mares have a notoriously tough record here-winning just eight individual renewals since 1951 (most famously Enable’s historic treble).

With ideal conditions underfoot, Calandagan simply looks to have too much class for the field.

🥇CALANDAGAN
🥈Minnie Hauk
🥉Benvenuto Cellini

YORK ITV Horse Racing Tips: Take Pride In Course Lover Arras

13:30 York – Sky Bet “Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe” Handicap | 4yo+ | 5f

I’m giving the vote to LETHAL NYMPH in this unique 5f dash for jump jockeys-and thank goodness there aren’t any fences involved!

He represents Paul Midgley, a trainer who targets this race with incredible success (winning 3 of the last 8 renewals).

The seven-year-old arrives on the back of a narrow second at Pontefract and drops in here just 2lb higher.

Jonathan Burke, who finished runner-up in this race last year, takes the ride.

Midgley also runs Ventura Express and Emerald Harmony (who runs off the same mark as her 3rd-place finish at York last time).

Bayraat, who finished third in this race last year, returns on a 3lb lower mark and looks dangerous under Caoilin Quinn. But Lethal Nymph gets the primary vote.

🥇LETHAL NYMPH
🥈Bayraat
🥉Emerald Harmony

14:00 York – Sky Bet Dash (Heritage Handicap) | 3yo+ | 6f

AIR FORCE ONE won on this very card last year when taking the jump jockeys’ handicap for Geoff Oldroyd.

He races off a 12lb higher mark today, so he clearly has more on his plate, but his recent performances suggest he remains competitive at this level.

Stepping up to 6f is a minor query given most of his racing has been over 5f or 5 1/2 f, but the way he finishes his races off suggests he’ll handle the extra furlong well.

Notably, jockey PJ McDonald has chosen him over Oldroyd’s other runner, Pocklington.

Red Spells Danger and Addison Grey both warrant respect, but at a price, veteran COMMANCHE FALLS looks extremely interesting.

The nine-year-old will have needed his return run at Hamilton eight days ago following a layoff.

While he’s on a 25-race winless streak, his rating has dropped significantly to 94, which is 4lb lower than when missing out by a nose in a similar York contest last August.

The Michael Dods yard has won this race twice in the last seven years, and jockey Connor Beasley boasts a 3-for-7 record in recent renewals.

🥇AIR FORCE ONE
🥈COMMANCHE FALLS
🥉Addison Grey

14:35 York – Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2) | 3yo+ | 1m 2½f

A fascinating contest featuring the last two winners of the Dante Stakes: 2025 winner Pride Of Arras and 2026 victor Item.

Throw in the talented Damysus, Dancing Gemini, and 8-year-old defending champion Royal Champion, and we have a high-quality field where a case can be made for almost every runner.

Item has a point to prove after dropping out in the Epsom Derby, though that performance came on soft ground and he could easily bounce back today.

Defending champion Royal Champion has likely had this target in mind all season and should run his race.

However, PRIDE OF ARRAS (NB) looks overpriced for a horse with such a proven track record at York.

Ralph Beckett’s runner transforms on the Knavesmire-running like a 5lb better horse here-and having won at odds of 12/1 and 18/1 at this track previously. He often gets overlooked by the market.

He holds a 2-from-3 record in Group 2 company and remains lightly raced with just seven career starts (winning three).

Rossa Ryan bypasses Ascot to ride him today, and a recent blow-out behind Calandagan in France following a 7.5-month break will have sharpened him right up.

Expect him to keep his unbeaten record at York intact and rates my NB pick on Saturday ITV horse racing tips.

🥇PRIDE OF ARRAS (NB)
🥈Royal Champion
🥉Damysus