Ascot racecourse missed most of the rain that fell this week and, as a result, the ground will now almost certainly be on the fast side of good for tomorrow’s big race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (4.10 p.m.). Despite a first prize of more than £850,000 for winning connections, just five runners will line up for this prestigious Group 1 contest.

Calandagan and Jan Brueghel are vying for favouritism in a re-run of their duel in the Betfred Coronation Stakes at Epsom early last month when the latter prevailed by half a length. However, I see this as very much a four-horse contest with Kalpana and Rebel’s Romance both having live chances. Continuous is the only runner that I would rule out because he will probably act as a pacemaker for Jan Brueghel.

On balance, though, the bookmakers have priced this one up accurately and so it is a watch-and-enjoy race, rather than a betting one, for me – especially as there are bigger odds and better wagers in other races on tomorrow’s Ascot card.

In the seven-furlongs Moet & Chandon International Handicap (3 p.m.), I have already put up Northern Express each way at 40-1. He is currently trading at 10-1 with most bookies so that bet looks promising. Now that the ground is quick, Aalto remains the horse most likely to win this race but, with a possibly unfavourable draw in stall 3, odds of 6-1 or less are on the skinny side.

Instead, I will stay loyal to YORKSHIRE who was sixth at Royal Ascot in the Buckingham Palace Stakes when put up at 40-1, six places, in this blog, thereby showing a nice profit on the each-way bet.

Strictly, on only 4lb better term, he will struggle to finish ahead of Akkadian Thunder, who was second in that race at Royal Ascot, just over four lengths ahead of Yorkshire. However, Yorkshire had to be switched in running that day and should have finished closer than he did. So back him 1 point each way at 14-1 with bet365, Sky Bet and Paddy Power, all paying six places.

Dance To The Music is favourite for the Group 3 Sodexo Live! Princess Margaret Stakes (1.40 p.m.) for two-year-old fillies over six furlongs, and she comes here with a big reputation having won her only start at Newmarket in May.

She will, however, have plenty of competition from the likes of Flowerhead, Staya, Midnight Tango and FITZELLA. At the odds, I am going to put up the last named for the Hugo Palmer/Oisin Murphy trainer/jockey combination.

I always look twice when Palmer books Murphy for one of his string because they have a good record when teaming up and Fitzella has impressed both in the paddock and on the racetrack in her three starts to date. Back her 1 point each way at 8-1 with bet365, Paddy Power and Sky Bet, all paying four places.

In the Group 3 Longines Valiant Stakes (2.20 p.m.), GLITTERING SURF has it all to do racing against several rivals with a much higher official rating. However, this three-year-old filly has shown plenty of promise in her three runs to date, winning two of them.

Her trainer, Owen Burrows, is in top form too with five wins from his last ten runners giving him a superb strike rate over the past fortnight of 50 per cent. Back Glittering Surf 1 point each way at 12-1 with bet365, Paddy Power, Betfair or Sky Bet, all paying four places.

At York, I was hoping there would be eight runners or more in the Sky Bet York Stakes (2.40 p.m.) so that I could have a hefty each way bet, three places, at around 5-1 on Stanhope Gardens. However, there are only seven runners and Ralph Beckett’s three-year-old colt – who was fifth in the Betfred Derby after a badly interrupted preparation – is only 4-1 with just two places on offer.

Stanhope Gardens also looks to be facing a mighty opponent in Ed Walker’s highly-rated Almaqam, who is odds on and will surely be either first or second. On balance, this is now another no-bet race for me.

Instead, I really like the price on Walker’s runner in the Sky Bet Dash Handicap (2 p.m.), ARCTIC THUNDER. This four-year-old gelding ran well when second in a 16-runner handicap at Haydock in May before getting no sort of luck in running when down the field at Newcastle last month. Put a line through that run.

Tomorrow’s six furlongs on likely drying ground, no worse than good to soft, should be ideal so back Arctic Thunder 1 point each way at 12-1 with bet365, paying six places.

I will be back this time next week when I will be having a close look at the last two days of the Glorious Goodwood meeting.

Pending:

1 point each way Fitzella at 8-1 in the Princess Margaret Stakes, paying 1/5 odds, 4 places.

1 point each way Arctic Thunder at 12-1 in the Sky Bet Dash, paying 1/5 odds, 6 places.

1 point each way Glittering Surf at 12-1 in the Longines Valiant Stakes, paying 1/5 odds, 4 places.

1 point each way Northern Express at 40-1 for the International, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places.

1 point each way Yorkshire at 14-1 for the International, paying 1/5 odds, 6 places.

1 point each way Witness Stand at 33-1 for the Lennox, paying 1/5 odds, 3 places.

1 point each way Ebt’s Guard at 25-1 for the Golden Mile, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places.

Last weekend: no bets.

2025 flat season running total: + 54.86 points.

2024-5 jump season: – 47.61 points on all tips.

2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.

2023-4 jump season: + 42.01 points on all tips.

2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.

2022-3 jump season: + 54.3 points on all tips.