ITV Racing Tips: Brave play could unlock bags of Ascot value

It's the final day of Royal Ascot - a magnificent week played out under blazing skies with some scintillating performances to savour. ITV have been there every step of the way (as have Betfred!) and Saturday is no different, as their cameras bring us every one of the seven contests, starting with the 14:20. The first six are on the main channel, and the last can be accessed via ITV4.

If you've been following the action we hope you've enjoyed it, and perhaps had a few winners to cheer. It's been brilliant to be involved, as always, and many thanks for your company - it's greatly appreciated. Here's our ITV Racing tips; we've had plenty of winners this week, and a few more certainly wouldn't go amiss!

Horse Racing Odds

ITV Schedule in full;

Royal Ascot

14:30 - The Chesham Stakes (Listed) 7f
15:05 - The Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) 1m 4f
15:40 - The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) 6f
16:20 - The Jersey Stakes (Group 3) 7f
17:00 - The Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) 6f
17:35 - The Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap) 1m 2f
18:10 - The Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions) 2m 5½f

Rationale;

14:30 - Treanmor @ 13/8

Jockey Will Buick's having a week to remember (notably Ombudsman, Trawlerman), and he's got a terrific chance of further glory courtesy of this two-year-old son of Frankel out of an Invincible Spirit mare, trained by Godolphin's finest Charlie Appleby.

Treanmor made a big impression on debut 34 days ago at Newmarket, winning a 6f novice in commanding fashion. One or two of the placed horses to have run have in truth done nothing to frank the form, but I think this was a case of 'you can only beat what's in front of you.'

The selection galloped clear, giving every indication that this seventh furlong would be no issue - and a glance at his breeding confirms that's highly likely to be the case.

Buick's had a couple of stellar winners this week, and Mr Appleby has had one or two disappointments. The pair can combine to great effect here and gets us off to a flyer.

15:05 - Al Riffa @ 4/1

Readily one of the trickiest heats of the day in my book.

My selection Al Riffa is a five-year-old entire by Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo mare. Regally bred then, and gets this trip courtesy no doubt of that tremendous stamina influence on the dam's side.

'Joey O' trains (the mighty Joseph O'Brien), and the excellent Dylan Browne McMonagle is in the saddle. He's a real globetrotter this fella, and last season was a close second to City Of Troy in the Eclipse at Sandown.

He's been to Longchamp, Saudi Arabia, Germany - and this G1 winner now makes a first visit to Ascot with the very realistic prospect of a deserved G2 success this afternoon.

15:40 - Inisherin @ 4/1

A mouth-watering sprint for a first prize of well over half a million pounds.

Course-and-distance scorer Inisherin is my selection, the impressive and cosy winner of last season's Commonwealth Cup at this very meeting. Personally I was a little disappointed by the four-year-old son of Shamardal's two subsequent performances, at Newmarket and at Haydock (unplaced in both), and in March he had wind surgery.

Reappearing for 2025 at York 38 days ago in a G2 over 6f he was back to his old self for me, gamely pipping Flora Of Bermuda, who re-opposes today. That was after a break of some 249 days and he's fully entitled to come on nicely for that spin.

Red-hot Will Buick (24% strike rate over the last 14 days) has the riding assignment, a first, and gifted trainer Kevin Ryan has winners at every conceivable level in the game.

What a race - and as I've given up trying to figure out the draw bias I'm leaving it all in Will's capable hands!

16:20 - Comanche Brave @ 7/2

Ryan Moore is having quite the time of it this week and here he is on one owned by Mrs John Magnier & Mrs A M O'Brien, trained by Aidan's son and former two-time Irish champion jockey, Donnacha.

Comanche Brave is yet another son of the prolific Wootton Bassett, a three-year out of a Holy Roman Emperor mare. Just one win from six thus far, a Cork maiden over 6f last September, but he's been keeping pretty good company including a narrow G3 defeat at Leopardstown to Henri Matisse, runner-up in the St James's Palace this week.

Four weeks ago he ran the brilliant Field Of Gold (St James's Palace winner) to 5.5l in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh over a mile, and that reads particularly well in the context of this 7f G3.

He's the top-rated entrant (not by much) but for me is highly likely to run to that mark or beyond, and appeals as by far the most likely winner. Dare I say it might just be a bit of value?

17:00 - Jarraaf @ 15/2

Trainer Owen Burrows' Anmaat ran a blinder behind the breathtaking Ombudsman the other day, and he fields Jarraaf in this with Billy Loughnane on board.

The four-year-old Zoustar colt is a course-and-distance winner over this 6f trip, and is lightly-raced (three wins from seven starts all told). Last time, reappearing after an absence of 231 days, he ran Fair Angellica to a length in a Listed Salisbury contest and with a Racing Post rating within a couple of spots of his all-time high.

This track and fast ground very evidently play to his strengths, and in what's a devilishly tricky race to win he must have a bright chance of being super-competitive at least.

Billy the Kid has struck at this meeting before and the young master is just the man for this very big occasion.

17:35 - Ernst Blofeld @ 10/1

Yet another sporting the Wathnan silks this week with a cracking chance.

The selection is a three-year-old son of Frankel, trained by the all-conquering Gosden duo of father John and son Thady.

Ernst Blofeld has had four runs, winning a Kempton novice in April second-time up then rather underperforming in a Listed Newmarket race over this 10f trip; but five weeks ago at Newbury was altogether more impressive in a £50k+ handicap, going down by less than 2l, running on.

The training combination are purring along with a 26% strike-rate over the past fortnight, and that last spin was a career-high. Relatively unexposed, up just a pound for that last run, and with cheekpieces reached for I'm thinking a personal best is in the offing.

Wide draw, round course - fingers crossed then!

18:10 - Samui @ 5/1

The final contest - and over a marathon 2m 5½f trip.

I'm with a horse that ran at this very meeting just three days ago, in French Master's Copper Horse handicap. Gordon Elliott's Samui finished third of 16, beaten 3l, and when you consider the winner's crazy late passage and the fact that he must have had about a stone in hand to win from where he did, it's an even more meritorious effort from the six-year-old Siyouni gelding.

He's a good hurdler but a very useful stayer on the flat - and he retains the services on board of Colin Keane, plus his handicap mark of 102 is unchanged.

Tuesday's exertions might yet be felt but I'm happy to row in and hope any similar effort on Saturday afternoon could well be enough the snaffle the Queen Alexandra for Cullentra.

ITV Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.