Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including 40/1 Ascot fancy

Ascot, 13:45 - Back Velozee E/W @ 8/19.00

Sioux Nation filly Velozee didn't enjoy the most favourable trip in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot when last seen, but still finished strongly from towards the rear of her group to finish a three-and-three-quarter-length eighth to impressive winner Victorious.

The form of the race has already been franked by runner-up Senorita Bonita, who landed Group Two success on the July Course over Albany Stakes Libertango earlier this month, whilst fifth-placed Crownbreaker has since claimed Listed honours and seventh-placed Shimmering Sun has placed at Listed level since.

Trained by Paddy Twomey, the juvenile filly had previously won her maiden at Cork before winning a Listed Curragh contest, before being well beaten by Victorious when disappointing at Naas over 6f. She wasn't able to give her true running on that occasion but stayed on well enough when last seen over 5f to suggest the step back up in trip could suit this time around.

There should be further improvement to come from Velozee, and she makes appeal at the prices.

York, 14:00 - Back Rousing Encore E/W @ 12/113.00

Course-and-distance winner Rousing Encore is currently only 2lb higher than his last winning mark when winning at Ayr last autumn, and 2lb lower than when only narrowly beaten by Golden Mind in a subsequent Doncaster run.

The six-year-old gelding is yet to strike this term but has made the frame on a number of occasions, including when rated 4lb higher, and can fare better than his previous two runs on the Knavesmire, which didn't go to plan.

Third at Ayr when last seen, the likeable Ruth Carr-trained contender can put in another competitive effort from an unchanged mark and could be worth keeping onside.

Newcastle, 14:05 - Back Tripoli Flyer @ [SP]

Likeable performer Tripoli Flyer got off the mark on the Flat when recording a length-and-a-half success at Kempton when last seen. He's 4lb higher here but remains unexposed and could be capable of progressing beyond his current mark, having shown a high level of ability over hurdles for Fergal O'Brien.

Possessing enough talent to double up in this extended mile-and-a-half handicap, Tripoli Flyer may be worth keeping onside as he remains on a workable mark, potentially still well-handicapped if continuing his improvement in this sphere.

York, 14:35 - Back Pride Of Arras @ 5/16.00

Unbeaten on the Knavesmire, Pride Of Arras is bidding for his third win at the track and, despite failing to make an impression in a Saint-Cloud Group One when last seen, in his first run since lining up in the Bahrain International Trophy in November, he should fare much better at a track he clearly loves.

The four-year-old gelding won the Dante Stakes over Damysus here last year, but failed to make an impression in two Derbies at Epsom and the Curragh respectively. He bounced back to form on his return to this venue, beating Carmers and a field including Lambourn to win the Great Voltigeur Stakes at odds of 12/113.00.

The Ralph Beckett-trained contender should come on for his return to action following a 233-day break when last seen, and is difficult to oppose in these surroundings having shown the best of his form at the track.

Ascot, 14:55 - Back Golden Mind E/W @ 40/141.00

Golden Mind has been competitive from a mark of 102 in the past, therefore shouldn't be discounted in this competitive handicap despite carrying a hefty weight. 

The son of Galileo Gold was only narrowly denied by the progressive Bellarchi, now rated 18lb higher, when giving away 18lb to the winner at Musselburgh in the spring, before he finished a two-length fourth at odds of 33/134.00 to The Wizard Of Eye at this venue. He's currently 3lb higher than his last winning mark, and has been able to make the frame on multiple occasions from a similar rating.

Last year, he finished fourth to Two Tribes in this contest and is rated only 2lb higher this time around, although is without the 5lb claim of Warren Fentiman. With course form in his favour, the five-year-old gelding could be capable of a bold showing and is one to note each-way for Richard and Peter Fahey under Ryan Sexton.

Ascot, 14:55 - Back Great Acclaim E/W @ 14/115.00

Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Great Acclaim has been running generally consistently well in recent months and was beaten only half-a-length from a 2lb lower mark in the Buckingham Palace Stakes.

He has plenty of valuable experience in these big field handicaps, including at this track, and should be capable of another bold bid.

Although he wasn't at his best at the July Festival when last seen, the five-year-old gelding is capable of better and should make his presence felt under Charles Bishop.

York, 15:05 - Back Enola Grey E/W @ [SP]

Six-year-old mare Enola Grey was entitled to improve for her return to action at Carlisle in her penultimate start, when she ran well for a long way at odds of 40/141.00 before failing to sustain her challenge late on. She couldn't show much improvement at ascot when last seen over a furlong shorter, but was far from disgraced from a 1lb higher mark and could fare better this time around.

The likeable daughter of Havana Grey is only 2lb higher than her last winning mark when successful at Wolverhampton in December. The majority of her wins have been on an all-weather surface, but she has shown form on Turf too and may put in a threatening effort under in-form Kaiya Fraser for Gemma Tutty.

Bet of the day: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ascot, 15:35 - Back Masquerade Ball @ 7/24.50

In Saturday's feature Group One contest at Ascot, Masquerade Ball is an exciting and intriguing contender who could make a successful first trip to Britain by landing this prestigious contest under Christophe Lemaire.

He won the autumn Tenno Sho in November before being narrowly denied by Calandagan in the Japan Cup, then was beaten only a length by Romantic Warrior at Sha Tin in an eyecatching run when last seen.

The four-year-old colt has proven his credentials already against the world's best, and should put in a competitive effort in a fascinating rematch with the defending champion.

The son of Duramento has a huge amount of ability and remains lightly raced and potentially still capable of showing further progression. He's unexposed coming into this new challenge and could pose a serious threat to the favourite for Takahisa Tezuka.

Ascot, 16:45 - Back Spanish Voice E/W @ 10/111.00

In the penultimate race at Ascot, Andrew Balding-trained Spanish Voice makes each-way appeal under the in-form William Buick. He's only 2lb higher than his last winning mark making his tenth racecourse appearance, and could fare better than when last seen.

The four-year-old colt remains open to showing further progression, still lightly raced and unexposed, and may be capable of progressing beyond his current rating. He's a likeable type who has shown winning form from a similar mark in the past, and could put in a bold bid in this mile handicap.

Ascot, 17:20 - Back Sir Yoshi E/W @ [SP]

Sir Yoshi has proven he still retains ability in recent runs with a creditable effort at Newcastle followed by a third-placed finish at Pontefract when last seen. He caught the eye in his latest run, running on well late in the closing stages, and could make the frame from an unchanged mark of 90 here.

For former trainer David Marnane, the son of Mehmas shaped with great promise as a juvenile and into his three-year-old campaign, often making the frame at Listed level. It has taken a bit of time for him to get going for current trainer Geoffrey Harker, but his latest efforts have been promising and he could be ready to return to the winners' enclosure for the first time since winning a Tipperary maiden in his third start.

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