Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Mark Milligan's best bets on King George Day include an 18/1 shot

York, 14:00 - Back Veblen Road E/W @ 33/134.00

8 (6)

Veblen Good (Ire)

• J: Kieran Shoemark
• T: David O'Meara
• F: 2467-1033

• SBK 18/1
• EXC 29

There's a cracking Saturday of action on the ITV screens from both Ascot and York, and we'll start on the Knavesmire with a typically trappy 6f handicap.

As far as the draw is concerned, low numbers have generally held sway on the straight track at York this season and I'm approaching this contest expecting that to be the case once more. There are plenty is single-figure stalls that can be given chances, not least Air Force One, who possesses good course form, while Stratusnine has also acquitted himself well in similar contests several times this season.

However, there is another one who has also drawn well and is a bigger price that catches my eye.

Veblen Blue only ran at the start of the week when third to the smart veteran Jordan Electrics over this trip at Ayr, doing all his best work late on.

The selection is less exposed than most in this field having made only 10 career starts and he should be ideally suited by a big-field scenario given how he goes through his races.

It's also worth noting he was thought good enough to contest a listed race by previous trainer Karl Burke and there's plenty of room for manoeuvre each-way at his current price of 33/134.00.

York, 14:35 - York Stakes: Back Damysus 11/43.75

2 (3)

Damysus

• J: James Doyle
• T: John & Thady Gosden
• F: 32011-165

• SBK 5/2
• EXC 3.9

The Group 2 York Stakes is the highlight of the Saturday card at Yorkshire's premier racecourse and Damysus should be ideally suited by stepping back up in trip having contested the Locking and Queen Anne over a mile on his last two starts.

John & Thady Gosden's four-year-old looked set for a good season when taking the Earl Of Sefton Stakes over 9f on his comeback in the spring but it hasn't really worked out for him with connections trying to turn him into a miler on the back of that and I'm expecting a much bolder effort this time than his last two outings.

The second of his two successes last season came over a similar trip to this, and he probably just lacks the pace to tackle the very best at shorter trips.

It would be no surprise if this extended 1m 2f distance proves ideal for Damysus, and the fact that he is tactically quite versatile should stand him in good stead in a race that has attracted just five runners.

Read Katie Midwinter's Runner Guide for the King George Stakes

Ascot, 15:35 - King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes: Back Masquerade Ball @ 7/24.50

4 (4)

Masquerade Ball (Jpn)

• J: Christophe Lemaire
• T: Takahisa Tezuka, Japan
• F: 10/13212-2

• SBK 7/2
• EXC 5.2

This year's King George really is a belter, and no doubt last year's victor Calandagan will be popular once more as he looks to defend his crown having got back on track in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last time. That win came on the back of his blowout in the Coronation Cup at Epsom, which is easy enough to forgive in a strange race on deteriorating ground.

Calandagan didn't need to run anywhere near his best to get the job done last time against inferior opposition and he'll need to raise his game back in this company, which he should be capable of doing, though his price is tight enough considering he had very little in hand of my selection in the Japan Cup last season.

That pick is Masquerade Ball, who was placed in both the Japanese 2000 Guineas and Derby before claiming the Tenno Sho Autumn, one of Japan's premier Group 1 events. On the back of that, the selection gave Calandagan a mighty scare on his final outing of the year, going down by only a head with the pair clear of the third.

Masquerade Ball has only been seen once since then, beaten a length by Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior at Sha Tin in April, where he was arguably unlucky not to win given he appeared to be set too much to do before finishing with a real rattle off a steady pace.

A horse with a very sharp turn of foot, it's highly likely we've yet to see the best of this one and he could well take this prize back to the Land of the Rising Sun.

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