It’s the King George weekend and Dave Massey is back with his Ascot Racing Tips, ahead of two fabulous days of flat racing.
Ascot Racing Tips: Dave Massey’s Friday Preview, July 24th 2026
The fourth and fifth from the Superlative, Silver Dominion and Alfred Wallace, take each other on again and as it stands, that Superlative form is the best form in the race, so both can be given clear chances
Ascot Racing Tips: Sonny Parvenue (2:55)
However, neither finished off their race that strongly, although you can argue Alfred Wallace did a bit too much too soon in any case, and the temptation for me, with enough runners to do so, is to look for something at a bigger each-way price. Back in 2023 Rosallion won this for Richard Hannon (at 11-1!) after winning a maiden at Newbury, and his Sonny Parvenue (2.55), winner of a Salisbury maiden on his debut last month, is worth consideration.
It was hard not to be impressed with the way he went about things there, always on the front end and when headed, showed a good attitude to fight back and win. That form is working out nicely, too; second home Rising Tiger improved to finish second in a good quality maiden here at Ascot, and the third, fourth and fifth all won on their next starts. He has a bit to find on the bare form but that will be reflected in his price, and a seventh furlong should pose no problems.
Ascot Racing Tips: Elsass (4:05)
Where to begin with this? Well, I think the first thing to ask is who will make the pace here, as I’m struggling to find anything that front-runs, or even presses the pace. It could end up messy, and that means I’m going to have to go against my original pick, Dancing In Paris, who stays further than this and will be bouncing back to form sooner rather than later. In fact, keep an eye out for him at the Shergar Cup in a couple of weeks. You have been warned….
Fantasy Believer has shaped a bit better than his finishing position has suggested on his two runs this year but is surely waiting for the rain to come, so the answer might be Elsass (4.05), who might be the one to go forward under Jack Mitchell. Third in the Bell-Ringer at Ripon six days ago, he has been ridden close to the pace in the past and seems quite happy in a small field. I’ll take him to come out on top in a tricky contest.
Ascot Racing Tips: Havana Blue (4:40)
King Of War will give this a go from the front and at least ensure this won’t be run at a crawl, but his form is mainly on easier tracks and unless he gets left alone on the front, I can’t see him lasting out over Ascot’s stiffish 7f.
Trying to second guess the draw at Ascot these days is a game in itself, so I’m not going to worry about that too much, and just concentrate on the form. Havana Blue (4.40) probably has the best recent piece of form in the book when second to Lunario over this C&D last time out, rallying well in the shadow of the post to be beaten a neck, and the handicapper could have done worse than raise him 3lb for it.
That leaves him still a pound lower than the start of the season and I fancy he can sit handy and take this up at the furlong pole before going on to success. Illy’s Roo might have been the pick here but for the fact the hood, which has no doubt helped him in recent starts, winning at 25-1 at York last time, is missing. Maybe watch for him back at York next month, particularly if the headgear returns.
Ascot Racing Tips: Killavia (5:12)
I think the best bet of the day comes in the lucky last in the shape of Rod Millman’s Killavia (5.12). Placed in the Listed Dragon Stakes at Sandown last year, she won her maiden back there later that month with no fuss and was quite highly tried after that, last in the G2 Flying Childers at Doncaster and towards the rear in the Rockingham at York, a high draw possibly not doing her any favours that day.
She’s had two starts this season, looking in need of the first at Sandown and then finding soft ground against her when last of four at Goodwood last time. She’s dropped 4lb for those two efforts and now races in a handicap against her own sex, which ought make life easier. The booking of Oisin Murphy, who has an 18% strike rate for the Millmans, looks another big hint, and the yard themselves are ticking along nicely, with three winners in the last week. A lot more to like about her chance than first appears.
By Dave Massey
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