ITV Racing York And Ascot Preview

The first event on the Ascot card on ITV is the Group Three Princess Margaret Keeneland and Desert Dreamer for Stuart Williams has been knocking on the door far too long now not to get her head in front.

The filly has been seen five times during her small career scoring on debut at Newmarket in a smart five furlong maiden that has seen the form franked on numerous occasions.

Stepped up to six furlong next time out she was another good winner at Newmarket and off the back of that headed to Royal Ascot.

She was sent into the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes and although running nicely could only finish midfield, with the drop to 5f finding her out.

Since then she has been seen twice more, finishing a bright second in the Listed Empress Stakes behind rival System and again last time out she was another close runner up behind the unbeaten Sandrine in the Group Two Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket.

The quicker the ground the better for this horse and she looks a filly that just keeps improving and now dropping down to a Group Three makes her interesting.

The first event at York on Saturday sees the Jump Jockeys Nunthorpe Handicap over five furlongs and this quirky event really is a nightmare for punters.

However, at an each way price for David O'Meara and Tom Scudamore, Soul Seeker looks to be a big player off the back of his last three runs.

Although being ran frequently the four year old has been electric of late, finishing a close second at Ayr three starts ago and then backing that up at Chester with another runners up run.

He boosted that form last time out at Hamilton when finally getting his neck in front and staying on this upward curve should put him in the mix again off 3lb higher.

In the Porsche Handicap over a mile at Ascot the John & Thady Gosden trained Guru takes the eye as a big improver, that could be the value in the field.

The three year old son of Kingman has a lovely pedigree and as a juvenile showed us just how good he could be when winning on debut over 7f at Newbury, seeing off the likes of St James's Palace fourth Maximal.

He was not as good on his second start but after that was put away ahead of this season and returned in a Novice Stakes at Doncaster where he may have needed the run.

Now fully tuned up he was last seen finishing an extremely bright second over course and distance behind the smart Isla Kai who he takes on again in this event.

Today Guru makes his handicap debut and if building on the finish of his last race, he looks to be feasibly treated in this field at the weights.

Another tricky event for punters is the Sky Bet Dash over six furlongs and with a big field set to go to post we have picked out two selections at each way prices.

The first horse that take the eye is the Tim Easterby trained Golden Apollo who has ran credibly in the last two renewals of this race finishing second last year and a close fourth the season before.

Alongside that he heads into the event in fine form finishing a good third two starts ago at Thirsk over 6f and then last time out he was a closer second at Pontefract, just being bobbed on the line.

He only runs off 2lb higher than his last event and that leaves him on the same mark as his last win.Big each way player who handles both quick and soft ground.

The big fielded International Stakes over seven furlongs sees some very smart handicapping horses go to post and Danyah at an each way price is our angle into the race.

The four year old has always been a bright gelding winning three of her 10 events, including placing in another six events, only being out the frame once.

This season he has been seen three times, all in big fields, making his seasonal debut at Doncaster in the Lincoln Handicap when a close up fourth of 18 runners.

He then headed to Newbury for the Spring Cup Handicap over mile off a mark of 98 and was a close second behind the Richard Hannon trained Nugget.

Danyah was last seen over course and distance off a mark of 101 in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and again he was a narrow second to the progressive Highfield Princess, who has since won in Listed company.

The gelding is up another 5lb but he holds some serious form, especially at the track and he has to be feared once more.

The feature race of the day at York on Saturday is the Group Two York Stakes over 1m2f and we can't look past the superstar Mohaafeth for William Haggas.

The son of Frankel has been seen four times this season and has landed a hat-trick of wins having got off the mark for his career at Lingfield in March in a Novice Stakes and he then backed that up in a handicap at Newmarket over 1m2f.

One of his best performances of the season came when landing the Listed Newmarket Stakes over 1m2f, seeing off the smart Secret Protector by an easy five lengths, never really having to come off the bridle.

He was third favourite for the Derby, but his handler did warn that if everything wasn't right for him he would not run and that was the case.

The three year old was instead switched into the Group Three Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot and he ran out a superb winner.

It has been gradual progress from the exciting colt and now going up in grade again he should take it in his stride, having his ideal conditions.

On a five timer.

The feature race of the afternoon in Berkshire is the Group One King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 1m4f and we can't look past Aidan O'Brien's superstar.

Love was always destined to be a smart horse and at juvenile level proved that when finishing third on her final two year old start in the Group One bet365 Fillies Mile, but this season she has transformed into a world beater.

She made her seasonal debut in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and beat a superb field of runners by over four lengths to solidify her credentials for the season.

From there O'Brien decided to step her up in trip for the Epsom Oaks and she revelled in the extra distance, beating a sound field by a devastating nine lengths.

The Yorkshire Oaks was another test for the three year old and again she passed with flying colours, not seeing a rival all the way round and going clear towards the end of the race.

All of these runs were in preparation for the Arc at ParisLongchamp but with the rain falling making the conditions extremely testing, she was withdrawn from the race.

There was rumours that the filly would head to the Breeders Cup meeting, but connections decided to pull up stumps for the season and bring her back this term.

After numerous withdrawals because of ground turning soft, she finally got her starting point at Royal Ascot in the Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes where she managed to see off a superb field.

O'Brien explained she will come on for that run in a big way and if that is the case then she is the one to beat.Won't want any rain.