Horse racing tips: Templegate’s NAP was brilliant at Royal Ascot and anything close to his best will be good enough

5 months ago 71

TEMPLEGATE tackles Saturday’s action confident of some winners.

Back a horse by clicking their odds below – and check out Templegate’s five top Glorious Goodwood ante-post tips.

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REGIONAL (3.00 Newbury, nap)

He was a brilliant second in the Group 1 King Charles II Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. He led his group on the near-side before drifting across the track which didn’t help his chances and he had the others well beaten. That was over five furlongs but this trip is arguably his best after winning the Haydock Sprint Cup last season and he goes on any ground. Anything close to his best should be good enough.

IT AIN’T TWO (3.35 Newbury, nb)

She has clocked some eyepopping times including when a close second over this trip at Sandown last time. There was a distance back to the third and that built nicely on her fourth in Listed company at Newmarket. She handles any ground and has the benefit of Oisin Murphy in the saddle.

SURE TOUCH (3.15 Market Rasen, treble)

He ended last season with three wins and has scored around here before. He signed off with a comfortable success at Perth and this trip is right up his street. The booking of Harry Cobden is another plus.

Templegate’s TV verdicts

MARKET RASEN

2.05

PYFFO won by 17 lengths the last time he ran here in March and has stepped up further since.

He has won his past two and showed real heart to score at Uttoxeter last time when challenged. He can pull out more and land the hat-trick.

Faithfulflyer didn’t enjoy quirky Cartmel last time and is better judged on his excellent wins at Uttoxeter and Kelso.

The handicapper has left his mark alone and he is best over this trip.

Flying Fortune has been knocking on the door and looks potentially well handicapped for the Bowens. She has solid place claims again.

Clararose didn’t fire last time but went close at Bangor earlier and is capable of bouncing back.

Happy Boy looks to be crying out for this trip after a good Fontwell effort over shorter last time out.

2.40

MAXCEL has done really well since coming back from two years off and has landed gutsy wins on both outings this season.

He got back up after being headed at Uttoxeter and that bodes well for what looks a tough race.

Mostly Sunny was just a nose behind the tip last time on the back of a 14-length success at Southwell. He’s had just a couple of runs for the Skeltons and can progress further.

Manuelito has gone close on the Flat since two good hurdles victories at Ffos Las and Wincanton. This speed track is right up his street and he looks a threat.

Chaos Control scored here last time and has solid place claims from 3lb higher in the weights.

Black Poppy won the Swinton Hurdle last year so should be dangerous returning from six months off. He’s gone well fresh before.

3.15

SURE TOUCH ended last season with three wins and has scored around here before.

He signed off with a comfortable success at Perth and this trip is right up his street. The booking of Harry Cobden is another plus.

Statuario comes here in fine form after back to back victories at Perth. He rallied last time and will be competitive again despite a shunt up the handicap.

Soul Icon almost braved it out from the front at Aintree last time despite being challenged from a long way out.

He went down by just a length in the end and will be competitive at this pace-pusher’s track.

Francky Du Berlais went close at Perth and was on the podium again at Cartmel last time.

He won this race in 2021 and 2022 from higher handicap marks and should be thereabouts again.

Dinons looks a big price given how easily he won his last chase at Hexham last time before scoring over timber there latest. He’s up the weights but stays and has an each-way chance.

NEWBURY

1.50

ALYANAABI has been holding his own in Group 1 races so should be more than good enough to take this Listed contest.

He was far from disgraced when fifth in the 2,000 Guineas on comeback before putting in another solid effort in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He looks ready for this step up in distance and trainer Owen Burrows has his string going well.

Shadwell also run Al Aasy who sauntered to victory in this race 12 months ago.

He topped that run when winning a Haydock Group 3 before a couple of disappointing efforts.

He has run well fresh and we know this track is ideal but he’ll have to find his best.

We haven’t seen Phantom Flight since August and he’s moved to current trainer George Scott for this season.

He has several placed efforts at this Listed level and he’s best watched after being gelded with a hood on for the first time.

Savvy Victory was less than two lengths away in a Sandown Listed contest last time.

He wasn’t disgraced in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot either and could egde into the forecast spot.

Sons and Lovers was held in the Hampton Court at the Royal meeting but it’s early days and he could improve.

2.25

DANCING IN PARIS has taken his form to a new level this season and looks capable of better as his stamina is drawn out.

He won a decent handicap at York in May before going close at Goodwood.

Stepping up to 1m6f was right up his street at Ascot last Saturday as he showed real guts in winning by a head.

He takes on slightly stronger company here but he’s on the upgrade and the extra quarter-mile should be ideal.

Shagpyle got his act back together when scoring over this trip at Ffos Las and this Frankel filly is another who could easily cope with this higher grade.

Kyle Of Lochalsh was a good third in the Ascot Stakes over 2m4f so his stamina is assured.

He goes on any ground and will be competitive again despite being 12lb higher than his last win.

Naqeeb has been brought along slowly by William Haggas and should appreciate this test. He had severe traffic problems at Royal Ascot last time and is better than that 12th place.

Prydwen found the Ascot Gold Cup too much last but won the all-weather marathon on Good Friday from just 3lb lower so is respected.

3.00

REGIONAL was a brilliant second in the Group 1 King Charles II Stakes at Royal Ascot last time.

He led his group on the near-side before drifting across the track which didn’t help his chances and he had the others well beaten.

That was over five furlongs but this trip is arguably his best after winning the Haydock Sprint Cup last season and he goes on any ground. Anything close to his best should be good enough.

It’s hard to write off last year’s winner Commanche Falls who was far from disgraced when trying to make all at The Curragh last time. He is a big price for each-way punters.

Elite Status was a Group 3 winner as a juvenile and came back in May with a convincing Listed win over course and distance.

It’s a bit puzzling that he hasn’t run since then but he goes well fresh and should be thereabouts.

Lake Forest was a good second in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on comeback and could build on that. This is likely to be the slowest ground he’s tackled so far.

James’s Delight was a comfortable Listed winner in France latest but needs a bit more.

3.35

IT AIN’T TWO has clocked some eyepopping times including when a close second over this trip at Sandown last time.

There was a distance back to the third and that built nicely on her fourth in Listed company at Newmarket. She handles any ground and has the benefit of Oisin Murphy in the saddle.

There’s a chance another runner could improve past her with Vingegaard one contender for 2022 winner Archie Watson.

He was fifth of 27 in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot and the first home on his side of the draw. That was just his second start so there should be more to come.

Time For Sandals appeared to have plenty left in the tank when winning on debut at Kempton. She’s related to some high-class sprinters and should do a lot better.

Kaadi is one of the more experienced runners in the field and was second in a French Listed contest last time. She has plenty of speed and handles cut in the ground.

The Hannon yard has always done well in this race and their Miss Collada is worth a close look after wins at Wolver and Salisbury.