ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Each-Way Double for Ascot

The ITV opener is the Bateaux London Princess Margaret Stakes for the Fillies and while a few of these bring significant potential to the table, I like the odds about KOMAT (best price 9/1) who can be elected as an each-way bet. 

Dominic Ffrench Davis and AMO Racing are enjoying a stellar season and this very nice filly made a winning debut in April at Redcar before running very well when a close-up, staying-on third in the Reves d'Or Listed Stakes at Vichy, where she seemed inconvenienced by the sharp four-furlong distance. 

In spite of the disadvantage trip, she travelled well and stuck to the task to be bang in contention at the finish and her sixth of 17 in the Albany Stakes over course-and-distance at Royal Ascot was really eye-catching, as she charged through the pack from the back of the field to be nearest the finish. 

Besides the winner, the pace upheld throughout and she fared second-best of those who were out the back of the television and stayed the distance well. She would have finished even closer, maybe even hit the frame, had she not been stopped in her tracks when trying to mount some sort of challenge as well under Hollie Doyle. 

Her finishing sectionals were very good and she would have comfortably been in front of the re-opposing Pretty Crystal with clear daylight. Now reunited with Kevin Stott for the first time since they teamed up for success on debut, she gets her chance to gain revenge on Richard Fahey’s charge. 

I am quite astonished to see her trading at three times the price of the former, especially when she would have been in front of Richard’s filly last-time-out with a bit more luck. However, with the softer-ground in her favour, I am optimistic she will confirm the promise she has displayed to date and run very well. 

Later on, in the Moet & Chandon International Stakes, live on ITV, it is possible class will come to the fore and Richard Hannon’s TACARIB BAY (best price 14/1) will finally get his head in front. 

The four-year-old has always been held in the highest regard by his handler and is back on the same mark as when last successful. His third of 20 in the highly-competitive Balmoral Handicap at this course last year is a smart piece of form. 

He was down the field at Newmarket when last seen but is better than that and has filled the same twice at this course now off higher marks in quality handicaps, so back in a bigger-field scenario with a good slot in stall 11, he will have no excuses this time. 

It is worth noting his last win off 103 and his second at this course of 106 came in this month last year, so he definitely likes this time of year. A mini-break will have done him good and I really like his chances with a lot in his favour against these and with six places widely on offer.

Komat & Tacarib Bay 0.5 pts - E/W Double

Extra ITV Tip

I am also attracted to the Jim Goldie-trained FOOLS RUSH IN (best price 50/1) who could be a spot of each-way value with six places generally available across the board. 

The five-year-old has yet to fire for this stable but did turn in one of better performances when coming from off the pace to finish sixth of 13 in the Scottish Stewards' Cup at Hamilton last time, where a slow start didn’t help his chances. 

He is five pounds below his last winning mark and goes well with a touch of juice in the ground too. I have an inclination that this race has been a bit of a long-term project and connections have appointed William Pyle to take the ride. 

He can offset a valuable seven-pounds, which effectively sees this well-treated horse on a tiny weight and a mark that is well within his capabilities. Hopefully he can get out of the habit of slow starts and, if he does, he has a squeak from a favourable high draw.