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Ben Morgan’s Saturday tips – Ascot & York – Minnie Hauk ready to swoop for King George glory

Ben Morgan picks out his best Saturday horse racing tips for Ascot and York, including selections for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

by
Ben Morgan
24 July 2026

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Ascot 2.30 – Hannon filly to back up Royal form in Princess Margaret

I was expecting a big run from DARK ISSUE in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and she duly obliged finishing fourth on only her second start, only beaten by what look like three very smart fillies.

I would like to think my selection would have learnt plenty from that run and could take a step forward again from that here.

Rihcard Hannon’s two year olds look to be an above average bunch and he will be looking for a positive second half to the campaign with them as none have been over faced in the first half.

11/4 looks about right here and I think she should take some beating.

Ascot 2.55 – Stellar to rise again in ultra competitive handicap

The favourite here is understandably all the rage and he might well be a group horse lurking in a handicap here.

However, I have been watching racing long enough to know he could find plenty of trouble here at Ascot in a race like this and 15/8 is skinny enough with that in mind.

Fellow three year old STELLAR SUNRISE is much more my sort of bet at 20/1 as he could also be a group horse in a handicap.

An improving two year old, he seemingly trained on at 3 when winning at Newbury on seasonal reappearance.

A solid run at Newmarket was strong form before a blowout of horrible ground at Epsom left his form figures looking a little inconsistent.

I’m prepared to give him another chance here and with not much pace on, I wouldn’t be surprised if Oisin Murphy allows him to bowl along here which might just suit.

At bigger prices again I will mention LEADMAN who was all dressed up with nowhere to go last time at Newmarket.

He seems to have revived some of his best form recently and he strikes me as the sort of horse who could run a big race with no weight on his back at huge prices.

Ascot 3.35 – Minnie to relish major stamina test

What a race this King George threatens to be.

Calandagan is obviously the star attraction as he bids to retain his crown but he will have to work harder this year as Aidan O’Brien is sending a battalion in to try and stop him.

Last year’s winner might just be too good for these but I am going to take a chance that the Ballydoyle tactics play into the hands of MINNIE HAUK.

A strong stayer, she will be much better suited stepping back up to 12f here having only ran over 10f so far this season and her run in the Prince Of Wales all but confirmed her preference for 12 furlongs.

With Lambourn and Action in here I suspect a strong pace throughout and I think Minnie Hauk, sitting third in line to take that pace on might just steal a march on these turning for home.

It will take a good one to pass her up the straight as we learnt in last year’s Arc but if she is a length or two up as the bell rings then I will certainly be out of my seat.

Ascot 4.45 – About time Hickory struck again at Ascot.

Some firms must have left the trainees to price up early shows for this race as course favourite HICKORY can be backed at 14/1 in a pretty average 1m handicap at Ascot.

I anticipate him to go off at least half of that on Saturday and I also expect a bold showing now returned to his favourite track.

He would have made plenty of shortlists had he run in the 7f earlier on the card but this easier, less competitive option looks more likely to bring about a positive result.

Hopefully there is just enough pace on for Hickory to be put into the race late and if so I think he has a massive chance for father/daughter team Jamie and Saffie Osbourne.

York 2.00 – Commanche to roll back years in the Dash

Only one bet up at York for me on Saturday and I am taking a chance on COMMANCHE FALLS at 28/1 in the Skybet Dash.

Michael Dods is no stranger to success in this race and I find it really interesting that this horse had a blowout last week and is lining up again here with regular jockey Connor Beasley on board.

That was his first run of the season in the UK after a spell in Bahrain through the winter so I just wonder whether shrewd connections deliberately waited for him to blow away the cobwebs last week in readiness for this.

Time will tell but at the prices I am willing to take a chance.