See Andy Newton’s Newmarket ITV Horse Racing tips on Saturday 25th July – including 1-2-3 best bets for each race on the ‘free-to-air’ channel from Ascot and York.
On Saturday there are seven races on the ITV Racing schedule races, that are spearheaded by the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot – can last year’s winner Calandagan win again?
Plus see Andy’s 10/1 Ascot NAP – a horse that looked super unlucky last time out.
Andy Newton’s ITV Horse Racing Tips On Saturday 25th July 2026
- 13:30 YORK – LYTHAL NYMPH / BARAAT
- 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
And also get Andy Newton’s horse racing tips DAILY on his cheat sheet – that includes his popular NAP and Lay Of The Day picks.
🎧 WATCH: Also catch Andy Newton on the Final Furlong Podcast each week previewing the best action.
ASCOT Horse Racing Tips On Saturday 25th July 2026
Ascot Racecourse
13:45 ASCOT Princess Margaret Japan Cup Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 (2yo) 6f ITV
ALTA REGINA gets the nod here after her promising run (6th) in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out.
Prior to that she won well on debut at Lingfield and the step to 6f here (from 5f) should be fine.
The form of the QM has since been boosted to add further confidence – with the second Senorita Bonita coming out and winning the July Stakes last week.
Of the rest, Albany 4th Dark Issue will be popular, but the Hannon yard are only 3-67 with their 2yolds here.
Dee’s Funny Girl was also 6th in the Albany and has Ryan Moore, while Moonrise has to be noted after an excellent 2nd in the Windsor Castle.
But, at a bigger price, the unbeaten Glorious Game is respected too, coming from the Hugo Palmer yard that took this prize 12 months ago.
I’ll take Regina to reign here.
🥇ALTA REGINA
🥈Glorious Game
🥉Moonrise
14:20 ASCOT Longines Valiant Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m ITV
TOULEEN brings the best form to the table here and should be hard to beat after her slightly unlucky second in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
She didn’t get the best of runs that day under Saffie Osbourne behind Precise with some suggesting there were some alleged sneaky Ballydoyle tactics in play.
Anyway, she’s dipping down to Group Three level here and being rated 112 is 7lbs clear of the next best – Kon Tiki and Skydance.
William Buick takes over in the plate too and he’s won on this classy Owen Burrows filly in the past – he can do it again.
The already mentioned, Kon Tiki, who was 4th to Blue Bolt last time at Royal Ascot, can follow her home.
While a mention at a price goes to last year’s shock winner Cheshire Dancer, who hasn’t won since, but we know likes it here
🥇TOULEEN
🥈Kon Tiki
🥉Cheshire Dancer
14:55 ASCOT Moet & Chandon International Handicap (Heritage Handicap) Cl2 (3yo+) 7f ITV
AKKADIAN THUNDER (e/w) was sent off favourite for this race 12 months ago and was only 11th.
However, this David O’Meara-trained 6yold is now back rated 8lbs lower and despite being a hard horse to win with is certainly looking better-handicapped at present.
He was also a bit unlucky in-running the last day and connections have booked Jamie Spencer to ride, who loves firing in winners over the straight course at Ascot.
The unbeaten 3yold Extremely Zain will be popular after his easy York win but is up 8lbs and 10 of the last 11 winners have been aged 4-6.
Yes, he could be a class above, but he’s certainly little value in a race with 17 runners.
We’ve also got last year’s winner TWO TRIBES back for more. He’s rated 12lbs higher this time though, but did win off a pound lower mark earlier this season at Meydan.
Last year’s second Sword is also returning off the same mark (85), but needs to find some old form.
Wokingham silver Completely Random, with Ryan Moore riding, and Buckingham Palace Stakes hero Mezcala (up 4lbs) are others that are sure to be shortlisted by many.
🥇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) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m4f ITV
You can see my full King George tips and thoughts here, but in short I think it’s hard to see beyond last year’s winner CALANDAGAN.
His only blot recently came at Epsom in the Coronation Cup in deep ground and being 0-2 at Epsom – maybe the track isn’t ideal for him either.
But he’s since bounced back to win at Saint-Cloud and getting his favoured faster ground will be a tough nut to crack.
His form here at Ascot is solid too 1-2-1-1 and will head here having had the same prep as 12 months ago.
Having won just over £9m in prize money, he can add another £1m here and take his tally over the £10m mark.
Benvenuto Cellini Gets a Handy 11lbs From Calandagan
Of the rest, Japan raider Masquerade Ball certainly won’t be a pushover, having run the pick close in the Japan Cup at the end of last year.
But this is his first run outside Japan and with Calandagan’s course experience, that’s a big advantage as the renew rivalry.
Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini will have his backers too and gets a handy 11lbs from the older horses.
But the King George has gone to horses aged 4+ in recent years. With 9 of the last 11 winners aged 4+.
And despite having a winner at Naas on Wednesday, the form of the Aidan O’Brien yard is a small worry.
Just 4-44 at the time of writing, but that is sure to improve a tad with some good chances on Thursday at Leopardstown.
Cellini will be looking to be the first horse since Galileo win in Irish Derby and King George in the same season.
O’Brien also has his Arc second from last season Minnie Hauk – who will join last year’s silver in this Kalpana as the older mares in the contest.
But since 1951, the race has only seen EIGHT different mare winners, the most famous Enable, who won the race three times in recent times.
So with conditions to suit Calandagan is the call to out-class this lot.
🥇CALANDAGAN
🥈Minnie Hauk
🥉Benvenuto Cellini
YORK Horse Racing Tips On Saturday 25th July 2026
York Races
13:30 YORK Sky Bet “Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe” Handicap (To Be Ridden By Professional Jump Jockeys) Cl4 (4yo+ 0-80) 5f ITV
LETHAL NYMPH gets the nod here in this unique jump jockeys’ race over 5f – thank god there are no fences to be jumped for these speedsters.
This 7yold represents the Paul Midgely yard, who have a top record in this contest – winning 3 of the last 8.
He heads here having run a close second at Pontefract and is only 2lbs higher. Jonathan Burke, who was runner-up in this 12 months ago, gets the ride.
Of the others, Midgley also has Ventura Express and Emerald Harmony , who is off the same mark as her 3rd here at York last time.
Plus we’ve also got last year’s third in the race Bayraat – he’s returning on a 3lb lower mark so has so has to be feared with Caoilin Quinn booked.
But I’ll side with Nymph being lethal here.
🥇LETHAL NYMPH
🥈Bayraat
🥉Emerald Harmony
14:00 YORK Sky Bet Dash (Heritage Handicap) Cl2 (3yo+ 0-105) 6f ITV
AIR FORCE ONE won on this card last year – when taken the previous jump jockeys’ race for trainer Geoff Oldroyd.
He’s back rated 12lbs higher so a lot more on his plate, but has been running well off this rating recently to suggest he can get involved.
Yes, the step up to 6f is a slight unknown as he’s done the bulk of his running at 5f or 5 1/2f. However, he often finishes off his races well to suggest it’s worth a crack.
Jockey PJ McDonald also prefers the pick over the other Oldroyd runner Pocklington, who he’s been riding of late too.
Air Force One is the call to take-off and fly home – okay, I’ll get my coat!
Red Spells Danger and Addison Grey are others to note.
But at a price, the old boy COMMANCHE FALLS is worth an interest too at a big price.
This 9yold would have needed the run at Hamilton 8 days ago after a break and despite being 25 races without a win has dropped down the handicap.
He’s now rated 94 and that’s 4lbs lower than then a close 2nd in a similar race here at York last August.
Oh, the other plus is the Michael Dods yard like this race – with 2 wins in the last 7.
And so does jockey Connor Beasley, who is 3 from 7 in recent years.
🥇AIR FORCE ONE
🥈COMMANCHE FALLS
🥉Addison Grey
14:35 YORK Sky Bet York Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m2½f ITV
The last two runnings of the Dante Stakes are on show here, with the 2025 winner Pride Of Arras and 2026 hero Item back for more.
We’ve also the useful Damysus and last year’s winner of this Royal Champion back for more aged 8.
Add in Dancing Gemini and we’ve got a small but select field – in a race that you’d probably not be shocked to see anything win.
For me, Item has a bit to prove after his Epsom Derby flop, but to be fair that race did come on softer ground – he could easily bounce back.
Last year’s winner Royal Champion has probably had this as his main target this season and an go well too.
But I think PRIDE OF ARRAS is slightly over-priced for a horse that loves York.
This Ralph Beckett runner seems to be a 5lb better horse on the Knavesmire, for whatever reason, and with his two wins here returning 12/1 and 18/1 he can sometimes go under the radar.
He’s 2-from-3 in Group 2 races as well and let’s not forget he’s still only had 7 career runs (3 wins).
Rossa Ryan also comes here instead of Ascot and a recent run in France behind Calandagan after 7 1/2 months off would have blown away the cobwebs.
I’ll side with Arras to remain unbeaten at York.
🥇 PRIDE OF ARRAS (NB)
🥈 Royal Champion
🥉 Damysus
