TEMPLEGATE takes on what promises to be a hugely informative Saturday of racing confident of securing some winners.
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TENABILITY (3.15 Ascot, nap)
The William Haggas-trained three-year-old overcame trouble in running to win a steadily-run race at the Shergar Cup. He has only gone up 4lb but is on a steep upward curve and is unbeaten in two runs over C&D. He gets an upgrade in the saddle and can continue his yard’s good run of form.
VALIANCY (2.25 Haydock, nb)
He has been plagued by slow starts during his career, again giving himself too much to do when coming from last in a small-field at Sandown last time. William Haggas fits him with first-time cheekpieces today which will hopefully sharpen him up a little coming out of the gates, and he runs off a lovely light weight.
NOCHE CLASICA (3.50 Ascot, treble)
She won in the style of a very smart filly on her first start for James Owen at Goodwood, cruising through the race and sprinting clear for an easy success. A 7lb rise in the weights won’t be enough to stop her running another big one under Ascot straight-track genius Jamie Spencer.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
HAYDOCK
1.15
PRAGUE can be your Czech mate in the Superior Mile. It’s been a quiet enough season so far for Dylan Cunha’s stable star, but he has shown enough to suggest he can still strike at this level.
He was beaten by the re-opposing Make Me King when dropped down into a Listed race at Pontefract last time, but he was caught wide early and had to use a lot of petrol to get to the front over a stiff mile.
He was an unlucky loser in this race 12 months ago and will be more at home at this flat track with a bit of juice underfoot.
Ice Max isn’t the most straightforward, but he caught the eye when flying home in fifth in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood last time.
Make Me King is solid and should run another good race, as long as he doesn’t get caught wide from stall eight.
Keep an eye on Snow Master. He has a lot to find on form but is 2-2 and held in the highest regard by Tom Dascombe.
1.50
BOW ECHO looks a very exciting horse in the making.
He bolted up by four and a half lengths on his debut at Newbury with Billy Loughnane barely moving a muscle in the saddle.
The runner-up has come out and won since to give the form a bit of substance.
He could provide a bit of value against the likely favourite Publish, who was rerouted here after the rain came down at Sandown last week.
John and Thady Gosden’s colt was desperately unlucky on his debut but made no mistake on his next start.
He is a big raw horse and might not be seen at his best until his three-year-old season.
Glacius beat a couple of Godolphin newcomers on his first start at Newmarket and has lots of potential.
As does Shayem, who pulled clear with a well-backed rival when winning first time out at this track last month.
Bourbon Blues is looking exposed but brings Group race form to the table in a fascinating race.
2.25
VALIANCY looks more than capable of winning one of these big handicaps.
He has been plagued by issues at the start during his career, again giving himself too much to do when coming from last in a small-field at Sandown last time.
William Haggas fits him with first-time cheekpieces today which will hopefully sharpen him up a little coming out of the gates, and he runs off a lovely light weight.
If he is sluggish away again, he at least has a nice long straight to get rolling.
Circus Of Rome is firmly on the up and won a good pot in convincing fashion on the all-weather two weeks ago.
He should get the extra two furlongs but is in slightly deeper waters today.
Gran Descans chased him home at Newcastle but was given too much to do, so he could get much closer to Richard Hughes’ runner if ridden a bit closer.
Pole Star already has a win over C&D to his name and will be happier on this slightly slower ground having finished a respectable sixth on quick going in the Melrose at York.
3.00
DRAMATIC STAR can shine in the Old Borough Cup.
He was the well-backed favourite in a couple of big staying handicaps last season but failed to deliver, though both times he had valid excuses.
He ended the campaign with a win and on his belated reappearance this season he was never put in the race at the Shergar Cup.
It was an encouraging enough effort considering he had no chance being held up off a slow pace and it will have sharpened him up for a race which has been a long-term aim.
The biggest danger will come from within his own stable in the shape of The Reverend.
The William Haggas-trained four-year-old bolted up over a mile and a half at Ripon, but he didn’t get home on his previous try over this distance.
Paddy The Squire arrives in red-hot form, but again there are one or two doubts about his stamina.
One horse who is guaranteed to stay is Caballo De Mar, who won over two miles here earlier in the season.
He has been off since Royal Ascot so he might be sharper for the run.
3.35
THIS might finally be the day for BIG MOJO.
His list of excuses are piling up, but he is surely capable of winning a big Group 1 prize.
He was never able to get a clear run in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and was then blindsided in the July Cup when No Half Measures picked him off late in the day.
And he again met trouble in running when fifth in the King George at Glorious Goodwood, finishing off well for fifth over an inadequate trip having been briefly outpaced.
What the bookies say
Betfair Spokesperson, James Mackie said: “It is great to see the full field of 17 runners entered for the Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup with two reserves waiting in the wings for any late withdrawals.
“The long-time ante-post market leader Lazzat still heads the betting at 2/1 after declarations, with three horses locked at 11/2 second favourite.
“The Richard Hughes trained duo Sayidah Dariyan and No Half Measures are up at the top of the betting followed by the money horse Time For Sandals.
“Since the 48-hour declarations stage the big mover in the market has been last year’s 5/2 favourite Inisherin for trainer Kevin Ryan who is now into 11/1 from 16/1.
“Three horses punters have got behind over the last few months are first reserve Nighteyes at 50/1, and two of the three Wathnan Racing horses in Irish raider Kind Of Blue at 15/2 and the previously mentioned favourite Lazzat at 2/1.”
He showed that day he could handle ground on the easier side and he will be much happier back up to six furlongs.
Lazzat is the horse to beat on his win in the QEII Jubilee Stakes at Ascot back in June.
He was disappointing when beaten at odds-on in the Maurice de Gheest last time, but it was his first run for two months so he might be sharper now.
Time For Sandals proved her win in the Commonwealth Cup wasn’t a fluke with a solid effort at Goodwood and she looks closely matched with Big Mojo.
She deserves the utmost respect, as does Flora Of Bermuda who had looked a Group 1 winner waiting to happen before the threw her race away with a tardy start in the July Cup.
No Half Measures is at risk of being overlooked considering she was a 66-1 winner of that race, but she will prefer this ground and should be in the mix.
KEMPTON
1.35
KALPANA can book her ticket to Longchamp with a convincing win at Kempton.
Andrew Balding’s filly hasn’t won this year but she has run some brilliant races at Group 1 level.
She was unlucky in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland and looked the likely winner of the King George at Ascot until she was picked off late by Calandagan.
She won this race last year and should prove too good for her rivals.
All being well, she will line up in the Arc with an outstanding chance next month.
Giavellotto is a high-class opponent but hasn’t been seen since finishing a well-held third in the Coronation Cup.
This race is likely being used as a pipe-opener before a big international campaign in the autumn.
It will be tight in the battle for the final tricast position, but Candleford has been his usual consistent self this season and he ran well in this race behind Bay Bridge a couple of years ago.
2.05
DRAGON ICON could be the answer in a very tricky race.
He has been in and out this year, but he ran a good race when finishing well from off the pace to finish third over C&D last time.
He gets first-time cheekpieces, is on a good mark and Roger Varian has his string in tremendous form.
The improving Sky Safari is not opposed lightly, and he made it a perfect 2-2 at this track when winning a shade cosily here last time.
He is up in the weights again but looks to have plenty in his favour.
Local Hero has had a disappointing campaign, but he has been gelded since we last saw him and the Richard Hannon yard appears to have turned a bit of a corner.
Sir Paul Ramsey did well to finish fourth in the circumstances at Chester last weekend and is clearly coming here in good heart.
Final Voyage comes over from Ireland and is worth close market attention back down to a mile as he ran out of steam in the closing stages over further at Dundalk.
ASCOT
2.40
AKKADIAN THUNDER can finally win one of these valuable Ascot handicaps.
He has run plenty of nice races over the straight seven furlongs here and was a big eyecatcher in this race on rain-softened ground last year.
The form of his second to Never So Brave at Royal Ascot looks outstanding now, and he probably found the International Stakes coming too soon on the heels of the Bunbury Cup last time.
He has been freshened up and can run a big race.
Native Warrior will likely be a worthy favourite after his slightly unlucky third at Glorious Goodwood, but he can fluff the start and will need a lot of luck if he is slowly away again.
Strong Warrior is still unexposed and drops down from Group 1 company having finished down the field in the Commonwealth Cup.
Seven furlongs is an unknown but if he takes a step back in the right direction he could prove better than his mark.
Great Acclaim has been a star this season and should be in the mix again.
3.15
TENABILITY was worth more than the winning margin at the Shergar Cup, when he was stuck in a pocket and only just got up in the nick of time.
The handicapper put him up 4lb, but that rise likely underestimates him.
Cieren Fallon is an upgrade in the saddle and the three-year-old is unbeaten in two starts over C&D.
Push The Limit overcame some bumping and barging to win over 1m3f at Glorious Goodwood and is a horse going firmly in the right direction.
He is up to a mark of 98 now but he is still improving.
Nightwalker has raced exclusively in stakes company this season and is interesting on his handicap debut.
Talented claimer Luke Catton takes off a handy 3lb but this race could be tactical and he takes a while to go through the gears.
Rogue Millions was disappointing at Hamilton last time out but had won nicely on soft ground at Carlisle before that.
Templegate’s tips
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