The first day of Ascot's King George meeting takes place on Friday and there is also Listed action at York. Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway returns with his best bets.

Graeme Rodway's tips

2.25 Ascot - Appier @ 6/1
3.35 Ascot - Saratoga Gold @ 12/1
7.15 York - Long Ago @ 10/1

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Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation

2.25 Ascot - Appier @ 6/1

King Eagle is a warm order for the John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap (2.25) at Ascot, but he is 11lb higher than when recording his first Flat win and will need better to complete a hat-trick.

He makes the market for a bet against him and APPIER is the one to back now he returns to a soft turf surface, following a couple of superb runs on the all-weather on his last two starts.

Appier recorded his second-highest Racing Post Rating on soft ground at Pontefract in April, so evidently handles an ease in the going, and he has won two of his four subsequent outings.

He was successful at Newcastle in May off a mark of 76 and scored again off 5lb higher at Lingfield last month. Those wins were over 1m4f-1m4½f and he shaped well when tried over 2m½f for the first time at Newcastle this month, finishing fifth in the Northumberland Plate consolation race. 

He has more to offer over staying distances and might be capable of stepping forward again.

Graeme Rodway's tip:

Appier @ 6/1 - 1pt win

3.35 Ascot - Saratoga Gold @ 12/1

The John Guest Racing Handicap (3.35) at Ascot could go to another recent all-weather winner as SARATOGA GOLD was impressive when scoring at Kempton this month and has more to offer.

The Charlie Hills-trained gelding slammed re-opposing runner-up Protected Guest by seven-lengths on that occasion and looks well treated going off a mark just 6lb higher in this race.

He needs to bounce back from a poor run over course and distance two weeks ago, for which he dropped 2lb in the weights, but maybe that race came too soon just nine days after his wide-margin victory at Kempton. He definitely laboured badly and looked flat at the finish.

Saratoga Gold's best turf form has come on quicker ground, but his sire Mayson's progeny are generally at their best when the mud is flying and one of his half-siblings was successful on good to soft. That gives hope that he will be capable of coping with the softening ground.

Graeme Rodway's tip:

Saratoga Gold @ 12/1 - 1pt win

7.15 York - Long Ago @ 10/1

The British EBF 40th Anniversary Lyric Fillies' Stakes (7.15) is the feature at York and it's worth taking a chance on the Sir Michael Stoute-trained LONG AGO making a step up in class.

The lightly-raced daughter of Roaring Lion has been brought along slowly in typical Stoute style and she followed an easy novice victory at Chelmsford last month with a hard-fought success under a penalty at Nottingham last time on her turf debut. She was strong at the line.

Long Ago went through the finish with her ears pricked that day, suggesting she had plenty more left in the tank, and the front two pulled a couple of lengths clear of the rest of them.

The fourth, Queen Emma, is a subsequent winner and the selection looks well capable of making her mark in this higher grade for a shrewd stable that has won two of the last seven runnings of this with three-year-old fillies just like Long Ago. That might prove a tip in itself.

Graeme Rodway's tip:

Long Ago @ 10/1 - 1pt win

Graeme Rodway's tips

2.25 Ascot - Appier @ 6/1
3.35 Ascot - Saratoga Gold @ 12/1
7.15 York - Long Ago @ 10/1

View the latest Horse Racing Odds

Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation