What you need to know to start your day including going from all the tracks

Day meetings at Ascot, York, Newmarket, Chester and Newcastle, as well as at the Curragh mean it's a stuffed Saturday, but unlike July Cup day two weeks ago when tasty treats were spread out, there is one race today that towers over the others.

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is one of the most prestigious races in the British calendar and it has been won by some of the sport's biggest and best middle-distance horses from Ribot in 1956 to Galileo in 2001 with a host of other stars victorious in between.

Dual Oaks winner Enable heads the betting in what is a belting edition, but her rivals include last year's winner Highland Reel, Eclipse ace Ulysses and Jack Hobbs, the Sheema Classic victor who appears to have conditions in his favour.

Four races on Ascot's bill will be broadcast live on ITV's main channel, which also screens three from York.

Going report

Ascot - first race 1.50

Good to soft, soft in places on the round course. Track at full width, race distances as advertised. "We've had 2mm of rain since racing yesterday and the track is in great condition," said clerk of the course Chris Stickels.

Newcastle - 1.25

Standard

Curragh 1.45

Good, good to firm in places on the round course

Chester - 2.00

Good to soft (GoingStick 6.6 on Thursday at 7am). The running rail has been returned to the very inside, meaning all race distances will be as advertised.

York - 2.05

Good to soft (GoingStick: 6.5 overall; home straight; far side; 6.5 centre; 6.4 stands side at 7.30am on Saturday). Rail all in innermost position with no alteration to official race distances.

Newmarket 2.15

Good to soft (GoingStick 7.1)

Salisbury 5.15

Good to soft, good in places (GoingStick 7.2 at 9.30am on Saturday)

Lingfield 5.30

Soft, good to soft in places (GoingStick 6.9 at 6.30am on Saturday)

Market movers

Newcastle 1.55 Banff 5-6 (froms evens)

York 3.15 Algometer 4-1 (from 9-2)

Newmarket 5.05 To Dibba 13-8 (from 2-1)

Salisbury 6.45 Manthoor 2-1 (from 9-4)

What's on today

Entries and confirmations for Friday of Glorious Goodwood are due and we'll look ahead to the Group 1 card at Deauville tomorrow, while there'll be reports and reaction from today's meetings.

What to back

Our tipsters have picked out their best bets on Saturday.

Pricewise is our lead tipster today, while the action in Ireland is also covered. (Members' club)

What to read

Brian Cooper losing his job as Gigginstown's number one was the big story yesterday, while it is the connections of the King George runners who will be eager to make the headlines later.

Read about their chances here, while Graham Dench sets the scene.

Former champion jockey-turned trainer Richard Hughes also has another must-not-miss column.

What to watch

Ireland editor Richard Forristal has his say on the Bryan Cooper-Gigginstown news

Ace analyst Dave Orton casts his eye over the King George

Orton has also gone through some of the other races on ITV today

The best of Racing Post Sport

The Premier League hasn't started yet, but there is still plenty of football to get stuck into and the RPSport team have the day's best bets here, while Rod Studd previews the Challenge Cup semi-final between Leeds and Hull

Final thought

There might be lots going on today, but the King George is crammed with quality and well up to its billing as Britain's most prestigious all-aged race, so if you do one thing, make sure it's tuning in at 3.35.