With a King George for the ages at Ascot on Saturday, Keith Melrose from the Racing Post takes aim with his best bets on the card.

Keith Melrose's tips

2.25 Ascot - Roman Mist @ 9/1
3.40 Ascot - Emily Upjohn @ 9/2
5.25 Ascot - Significantly @ 5/1

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

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2.25 Ascot - Roman Mist @ 9/1

In the Kensington Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, top weight Roman Mist was rousted from the stalls by Hollie Doyle to lead. 

As a result, she raced freely and that was part of the reason that she faded in the final furlong, having looked to have held the lead briefly entering that point in the race.

She returns to Ascot's round mile for this Group 3, in which she does not have to give away lumps of weight. 

She is also drawn in stall two, as opposed to 15 last time. 

In terms of form achieved, her peak being a Goodwood Listed win in May, she is within 3lb of the best in this race and yet can be backed at nearly double-figure odds. 

Oisin Murphy is one of the few positive jockey swaps with Hollie Doyle and can get the best out of this mare.

Keith Melrose's tip:

Roman Mist @ 9/1 - 1pt win

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3.40 Ascot - Emily Upjohn @ 9/2

When Emily Upjohn ran out a convincing winner of the Coronation Cup at Epsom, most observers would have taken the view that she was the best older 1m4f horse in Europe. 

Ahead of a cracking King George, I only ask: what has changed?

Emily Upjohn has run once. 

In the Eclipse at Sandown, over 1m2f, she gave dual Guineas winner Paddington a head start in a race that put speed at a premium. 

It is to her credit that she nearly reeled in that horse. 

To my mind she shaped at least as well as he did. I'd argue she shaped very slightly better.

Now she returns to 1m4f. She faces the best three-year-olds in Britain and Ireland at the distance: Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel. 

They are good-quality colts, albeit they are untested against older horses and whether they deserve to be treated as likelier winners than Emily Upjohn is moot. 

She has run three excellent races in open-age Group 1s to prove her credentials. 

The three-year-olds still do not appeal as a vintage crop, so the onus is on them to prove their worth.

Throw in Emily Upjohn's course form, she is a Group 1 winner over this very course and distance, and she deserves to be treated as a serious contender. 

Co-favourites of three is the least she should ask for. Current odds suggest she is the value.

Keith Melrose's tip:

Emily Upjohn @ 9/2 - 1pt win

5.25 Ascot - Significantly @ 5/1

As a three-year-old, Significantly was a Royal Ascot winner. He took the Holyroodhouse Stakes, a handicap over 5f.

He returns to the same course and distance for Ascot's last race on King George day. 

Even though he won at Haydock last time, he is still 3lb lower in the weights than he was when winning an ultra-competitive Royal Ascot handicap. 

That is because he endured a shocking season in 2022, but Haydock shows that he has put that behind him.

At Haydock, Significantly was miles clear with runner-up Khunan. 

That horse re-opposes here, and I would not be averse to backing both as I love the form, but Significantly is better drawn in 11 and has the all-important course form. 

He is the one if you do not want to complicate things by splitting stakes.

Keith Melrose's tip:

Significantly @ 5/1 - 1pt win

Keith Melrose's tips

2.25 Ascot - Roman Mist @ 9/1
3.40 Ascot - Emily Upjohn @ 9/2
5.25 Ascot - Significantly @ 5/1

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

View the latest Horse Racing Odds