Saturday ante-post tips: 14-1 chance among two bets

Race: Sky Bet Dash Handicap (2.00, York). 

Best odds: 14-1 (each-way). 

This four-year-old has undergone two wind ops during his ten-race career and improved rapidly after the first one last year when scoring twice, including in a 0-95 handicap over five furlongs at this track off a rating of 90. 

That form has been franked multiple times since, with the third winning his next two starts, including at Royal Ascot, and Jubilee Walk was well on top at the finish. 

Things didn’t go to plan for the selection in the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes at Royal Ascot next time out (when sent off favourite), and he wasn’t seen to best effect there, but finished second in his group, won by July Cup winner No Half Measures, that raced on the far side and away from where the race unfolded. 

I’m also not convinced he relishes good to firm ground (he was declared a non-runner at Newmarket in June due to a quick surface) and appears best suited with some give underfoot.

With the ground described as good to soft (soft in places) on Tuesday, conditions look set to be ideal for James Ferguson's charge who disappointed during a campaign in Bahrain over the winter. Connections opted to give him another wind op ahead of his return this season (he was also gelded), and he caught the eye when a never-nearer third at Chester in June over this trip where he was drawn wide plus raced keenly before faring best of those held up.

He was not given the hardest time under pressure, and the RaceiQ data shows he finished the race off faster than the front pair inside the final two furlongs. That outing looked needed, and his market support beforehand hinted he was showing the right signs at home.

Ferguson has trained just one winner from 13 winners in July, but five of those have been placed, so trainer form isn't a huge concern, and Shane Foley has been booked to ride Jubilee Walk who looks set to run here, rather than next week's Coral Stewards' Cup, which he would not be certain to get into.

He remains on a rating of 92, and on the form of his York win last year, he looks overpriced at the general 14-1 on offer now he's had a pipe-opener.

Race: Moet & Chandon International Handicap (3.00, Ascot).

Best odds: 6-1.

Akkadian Thunder may be on a career-high rating of 99 now, but his form this season entitles him to be, and he looks to hold strong claims in Saturday's Moet & Chandon International Handicap at Ascot.

Following two below-par efforts over six furlongs at the start of the season, David O'Meara's charge relished stepping back up a furlong when winning a competitive handicap at Doncaster with bundles to spare off a rating of 89.

He then built on that effort when second behind Never So Brave at Royal Ascot off a 6lb higher mark, and travelled powerfully plus had to wait for a gap at a crucial stage. 

The five-year-old powered home once gaining daylight, and pulled nicely clear of the third. That form looks even stronger now given the winner has since scored at Group Two level, and is now rated 115. 

I'm willing to forgive Akkadian Thunder's disappointing performance at Newmarket since as he was unfavoured by how the race developed, and I don't think he handled the track that well.

A repeat of his effort in the Buckingham Palace Stakes will be good enough to go close here, despite a 4lb higher mark, and he had a progressive profile prior to his latest outing, so may have more to offer over this trip.

He's also produced some of his best efforts over this course and distance, and O'Meara remains in decent form plus the ground will be ideal. Danny Tudhope is already jocked up, too, and this is Akkadian Thunder's only entry.

Read more: 2025 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes: runner-by-runner guide

Big-race verdict: Another fascinating clash between Calandagan and JAN BRUEGHEL is on the cards, but it is the latter who makes the most appeal in a race that should be run to suit thanks to stablemate Continuous being in the field.

A strong case can be made for the French raider reversing the Coronation Cup form, and it is no surprise he's just shading favouritism following an easy victory at Saint-Cloud since. However, Aidan O'Brien's charge was value for more than the winning margin suggests at Epsom, and could take another sizeable step forward, given his low mileage. 

He will surely make his challenge before Calandagan in the straight, and will be tough to pass once more having impressed with his attitude under pressure last time out.

Another promising run from Kalpana should prove an ideal stepping stone to the Arc, and while the admiral Rebel's Romance deserves another crack at landing his first British Group One, he will need a couple ahead of him in the market to underperform if he's to strike.