TEMPLEGATE tackles Saturday’s racing confident of building the bank ahead of next week’s York Ebor meeting.
Members Enclosure readers have already received his Ebor ante-post tips and cheat sheet to backing winners on the Knavesmire.
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SUMMERGHAND (3.20 Ripon, nap)
Has finished second in the last two runnings of this race and deserves to break through. He’s a veteran these days, but he retains a lot of ability and has been desperately unlucky this year. He was broadsided twice in the Stewards’ Cup last time and off this dangerous mark, today can be his day.
WALEEFY (3.00 Newbury, nb)
Half-brother to superstars Baaeed and Hukum, he was a dominant winner of a Doncaster handicap last time. An 8lb rise seems lenient, given the way he quickened clear and the amount of potential he possesses. He could be a Group horse lurking in a handicap.
THE BIG BOARD (2.25 Newbury, treble)
Went very close to snapping a losing run when edged out at Ascot last time. The second has gone and won since and she will be well suited to how this race should pan out. Off a tempting mark, she has a leading shout with a slice of luck.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
NEWBURY
1.50
AL AASY’s backers were given a heart attack at Goodwood when Jim Crowley was forced to sit and suffer until very late on.
Once he got the gap, he launched home under a hand ride to defeat a useful field. He has won a Group 3 here in the past and if performing at anything like his peak, he will be a class apart in this.
Al Qareem is a stout stayer who will try to make all the running. Taking the sting out of Al Aasy will be a tough ask, but he’s a relentless galloper who will go down swinging.
Sumo Sam looked to have the world at his feet after an impressive Group 2 win last year.
Things have gone very poorly since, including on return, but it would be no surprise if he bounced back at some stage.
Go Daddy receives a lot of weight and could be dangerous.
2.25
THE BIG BOARD went very close to snapping a losing run when edged out at Ascot last time.
The winner has since won at Brighton and despite a 3lb rise, she’s still 8lb below her last winning mark.
She needs everything to drop right, but there’s every chance that will finally happen for her with Oisin Murphy taking over.
Woolhampton is a game sort who has been beaten no more than two lengths in his last three starts. He gets on well with talented claimer Oliver Searle and he will be dangerous again.
Michaela’s Boy was woefully out of form when last seen, but joined a shrewd yard and has undergone wind surgery. Watch the market very closely.
At a price, Sarah’s Verse was close-up behind The Big Board and will be suited by a strong gallop.
3.00
WALEEFY continued his improving arch with a dominant victory at Doncaster last time.
The handicapper has slapped him with an 8lb rise, but that could be lenient with the view he’s a Group horse in a handicap.
A half-brother to Baaeed and Hukum, all the evidence points to him being very smart.
United Approach has pulled hard in his two handicaps but has still managed to finish close up. He’s totally unexposed and the booking of James Doyle catches the eye.
Starlore was very unlucky at Goodwood two runs back. He didn’t stay the mile last time when well beaten, so returned to this trip, he will be dangerous.
Zouzanna did best of those who were held up at Ascot last time. She can start slow, but if breaking on terms, she will be staying on well.
3.35
WITCH HUNTER ran a big race when third in the Lockinge earlier this year.
Audience has helped frank the form since and Richard Hannon’s fast finisher had a nightmare trip at Chester last time.
The return to a stiff seven furlongs will suit him and there’s no better straight-track jockey than Jamie Spencer.
English Oak posted an enormous figure when winning a Royal Ascot handicap but was a bit disappointing in Group 2 company since.
He’s surely capable of better than that and he’s got time on his side.
Kikkuli was nosed out by Haatem in the Jersey two starts ago. His midfield finish in a French Group 1 was another solid effort and he’s another who could have more under the hood.
Tiber Flow stood no chance when held up at Goodwood and can bounce back.
RIPON
2.45
SHOWTIME MAHOMES loves a big-field burn-up and won’t be far away in this competitive heat.
He doesn’t win often, but things should fall perfectly for him in this and he will be flying home in the closing stages for a slice.
Ray Vonn was ahead of the selection at York last time and is on a roll at present. He was good value for that win last time and further improvement cannot be ruled out.
Fortamour absolutely loves Ripon and gained his sixth course win last time out. He has lots of weight to carry but is impossible to rule out at this place.
Roundhay Park is 3lb lower than winning the race last year and was an eyecatcher last time out. He’s likely been teed up for this and warrants plenty of respect.
Thornaby Pearl has been in and out of late but has won here in the past and it would be no surprise if he out-ran his odds as the race will pan out in his favour on ground that should be perfect.
3.20
SUMMERGHAND has finished second in the last two runnings of this and deserves his turn at the ripe old age of ten.
He has enjoyed a luckless year, including in the Stewards’ Cup last time when he was broadsided twice in the final two furlongs.
He is handicapped to win this doing cartwheels and although it won’t be that simple, if he gets the gaps, he has an excellent chance.
Kitai got off the mark on her fourth start for the shrewd Mick Appleby outfit in a competitive Glorious Goodwood handicap.
She is still well treated despite a 3lb rise and looks dangerous for a yard who know the time of day.
Wobwobwob was third last year off 2lb lower and won the Ayr Silver Cup thereafter. He wasn’t disgraced last time and might be coming back to form at the perfect time.
It’s still relatively early days for Ingra Tor, who has a touch of class and has gone close on his last two runs.
He’ll be prominent throughout and will hope to burst clear in the closing stages.
Mr Wagyu is a mainstay in these races and although he’s getting on a bit, he rarely runs a bad race and still has the class to be a real menace in the closing stages.
At bigger prices, Secret Guest returned to form after wind surgery last time. He’s another who will benefit from a strong pace and could easily pick up a slice.
Ramazan has had a good year and is in with a place shout.
NEWMARKET
2.05
MISTER BLUEBIRD is a consistent sort who will take plenty of passing if he’s able to sit handy.
He won off 6lb higher last season and has been running well without winning this year.
The booking of Billy Loughnane catches the eye and he looks a huge price in this competitive opener.
Similar comments apply to First Folio, who takes a big drop in grade after some near misses in better races.
He does have a lot of weight to carry, but he’s the class angle and won’t be far away if reproducing his recent runs.
Fine Interview broke his maiden in style at Ffos Las last time. That wasn’t a strong race, but he has plenty of scope for handicaps and is a potential improver.
Strike was a winner here two back and posted another likeable run at Windsor last time. There’s every chance he’s still ahead of the handicapper as he bids for a hat-trick.
Templegate’s tips
RIPON
1.35 Linwood
2.10 Soldier’s Heart
2.45 Showtime Mahomes
3.20 SUMMERGHAND (nap)
3.50 Al Muqdad
4.24 Mr Jetman
4.59 Fun Loving
NEWBURY
1.50 Al Aasy
2.25 The Big Board (treble)
3.00 Waleefy (nb)
3.35 Witch Hunter
4.05 Fitzmaurice
4.40 Hutchence
5.15 Ciro Di Marzio
DONCASTER
1.57 Liberty Coach
2.32 Naaey
3.07 Great Max
3.42 Prairie Falcon
4.16 Brave Mission
4.50 Be Proud
5.25 Bella Bisbee
NEWMARKET
2.05 Mister Bluebird
2.40 Defence Minister
3.15 Sunshine State
3.45 Elegancia
4.20 One Cool Dreamer
4.55 Come On You Spurs
PERTH
3.55 Aerospace
4.30 United Front
5.05 Dripsey Moon
5.35 Invictus World
6.05 Macavity
6.35 Enthused
7.05 Solway Molly
7.35 Shadowfax Of Rohan
MARKET RASEN
4.10 Idylle Sauvage
4.45 Global Esteem
5.20 Blueberry Wine
5.50 Mulberry Hill
6.20 Royal Pretender
6.50 Mystic Man
7.20 Unwanted Attention
7.50 Evenwood Sonofagun
BATH
5.40 Buxted Reel
6.12 City Captain
6.42 Jax Edge
7.12 Thismydream
7.42 Caribbean Wind
8.12 On Song
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