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Megan Nicholls Racing Preview – Ascot King George Day Tips

BetMGM ambassador Megan Nicholls offers her insight into the world of horse racing as she brings her first-rate knowledge exclusively to our blog every week.

In this entry the award-winning television pundit and former jockey takes a look at Saturday’s meetings at York and Ascot, including the King George and the Princess Margaret Stakes.

Saturday Racing Tips

Ascot 1.50 – Princess Margaret Stakes

Ryan Moore is an eye-catching jockey booking on Simmering (15/8 fav) for trainer Ollie Sangster.

A filly out of Too Darn Hot — a sire I’m a big fan of — she did not do much wrong at the Royal Meeting in the Albany Stakes, when Jamie Spencer gave her a beautiful ride to come and win her race before Fairy Godmother (under Moore) managed to pip them on the line.

Simmering is talented. She is yet to win but she’s been third in a hot novice and then second in the Albany, which was a very good effort.

On that, I think she has every reason to be very competitive down in grade in a Group 3 this time with Ryan on board.

She’s had only two starts — and there are a couple who have had less experience than her that could be open to a lot of improvement too — but I reckon Simmering is the one they have to beat. She will get her head in front.

Megan’s Tip: Simmering WIN

Ascot 2.25 – Valiant Stakes

Soprano (11/4) seems to be thriving at the moment.

The step up to the mile has really helped her and she ran a huge race at Sandown last time in a listed filly’s event.

I just thought the mile might have been just that little bit stiff for her yet it was still a very good effort and I think she is still improving.

The stamina is there, she obviously enjoys Ascot, we know she gets ridden with plenty of cover and if the pace is there for her, as it is on the round track, then Soprano is the one the rest have to beat.

George Boughey and the Highclere Yard have done exceptionally well recently — with Believing winning the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh last weekend — and I think they can back up their success with another filly here.

Megan’s Tip: Soprano WIN

Ascot 3.00 – International Stakes

This one is a wide open race so I am putting up Divine Libra (18/1) each way.

He wasn’t beaten all that far in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket two weeks ago and was drawn on the wrong side of the track.

He did finish 10th, which doesn’t look brilliant, but he had a difficult draw and was becoming competitive before the race got away on the stand side.

He went very well at Royal Ascot when finishing a nice sixth in the Buckingham Palace Stakes — he had traffic problems as well — so I think this horse is too big a price.

Christophe Soumillon on board is a good jockey booking too. We don’t see Christophe loads over here but, when he does show up, you definitely respect the horses he’s on.

For the win, I’m going to leave Carrytheone (4/1 fav), who is going to end up a little bit of a cliff horse. He’s so frustrating.

Based on what we saw at Newmarket we have to give Aalto (7/1) lots of respect. He absolutely bolted up in the Bunbury Cup and travelled so smoothly through the race.

He is still well-weighted off of 8st 12lbs, despite the 3lbs penalty off the back of that run.

Megan’s Tip: Aalto WIN; Divine Libra EW

York 3.15 – York Stakes

Alflaila (9/4) is coming back to try to retain his crown here.

He wasn’t disgraced at all on his return in the Prince of Wales's Stakes — he probably got a little bit tired late on. That was on the back of a long layoff and I thought it was an exceptionally good return overall.

He was in behind Auguste Rodin and, after being off the track for that long, to return in that way in a Group 1 makes it a mighty performance.

My feeling is he is going to go very well again. On official ratings, he’s 1lb superior. There really isn’t much in it between him and Passenger (6/4 fav), who also looks a very talented horse.

However, Passenger probably has to step it up again in comparison to the form Alflaila actually holds.

So I’m going to go with the Owen Burrows horse here with Jim Crowley on board. Providing the bounce factor doesn’t come in, I think he can retain his crown.

He goes well at York anyway — his form here is 2-1-1 — and a small field in the race last year did no harm to him. He is the classy performer.

Megan’s Tip: Alflaila WIN

Ascot 3.40 – King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes

This is an absolutely brilliant field. I’m really pleased we have a nice amount of runners and it’s red-hot.

There has been rain about but it’s going to be dry Friday and Saturday before racing so it will dry out quickly.

Auguste Rodin (5/4 fav) will be the one to beat on that quick ground. He looked better than ever at Royal Ascot in the Prince of Wales's Stakes. It’s nice to see him back.

He’s a bit of a frustrating horse because he can let you down a little bit when you think it’s a certainty — though there are no certainties in racing of course.

Ultimately, Auguste Rodin is a very good horse on his day. Quick ground is essential for him.

It’s great to see Rebel’s Romance (7/2) back too. He’s been an international star and, my word, he’s just continued to improve and improve.

He’s had a bit of a break since he won over at Sha Tin back in May but he definitely warrants a lot of respect for this one. It’ll be interesting to see how he fares against horses back over here, because he has been very much international of late.

This race is wide open and I think if there is a nice, even tempo over a mile-and-a-half, it’ll be absolutely no problem for Auguste Rodin and the drying ground will help him.

He will beat Rebel’s Romance.

Megan’s Tip: Auguste Rodin WIN

A Good Cause at Goodwood

The Magnolia Cup, the most prestigious charity race in the calendar, takes place at Goodwood on Thursday. Twelve women amateur jockeys race over the sprint track – that is not the most straightforward of tracks but, my word, to ride there is pretty special!

Two friends of mine are riding in it: Lauren Price and Ellen Barber. Ellen is someone I’ve grown up with and is the granddaughter of the legendary owner Paul Barber, a two-time winner at the Cheltenham Festival.

Ellen has been keen to get involved in a race like this to do him proud but she’s also a GB heptathlete herself and loves the fast and furious adrenaline rush. To be on board Flat horses is a bit of a change for her but she’s worked hard and is loving it; she’s ridden out mainly at Karl Burke’s but has been with me at George Boughey’s as well.

She has done extremely well and has been riding two-year-olds, colts, fillies, sprinters, distance horses… everything.

The fundamental reason behind the Magnolia Cup is to support some amazing charities and this year it is in aid of My Sisters’ House, a charity supporting women through domestic abuse, violence and other issues such as homelessness.

Ellen not only wants to do her grandpa proud but has made it clear that, after recent events and what happened to John Hunt and his family, she wants to raise awareness of these issues and help raise money for a charity that supports the women and families affected by them.

She’s so competitive so she wants to win but she also wants to raise funds for an amazing charity – that’s worth getting behind.

For more information or to donate you can find Ellen’s JustGiving page here.

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change

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