Horse racing tips: Red-hot Frankie Dettori can bang in Templegate’s 4-1 NAP in style on Lockinge Day at Newbury
TEMPLEGATE takes on a simply huge Saturday of racing confident of finding a load of winners.
Read on for our man’s tips and back a horse by clicking their odds below.
LAUREL (3.35 Newbury, nap)
She stepped out of maiden ranks to be beaten less than a length in the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes last season. That was a fantastic effort and she proved she’d wintered well when taking a good race on the all-weather at Kempton last month. You would expect her to improve massively for that comeback and she looks well up to this lofty standard.
YIBIR (2.25 Newbury, nb)
He will be hard to beat on this drop in class after a break. He was last seen winning the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting. Trainer Charlie Appleby says he’s delighted with his work at home.
STRIKING STAR (3.15 Newmarket, treble)
He went down in a close finish here last time and can go one better. He showed signs of his inexperience when beaten half a length and should have learned plenty from that handicap debut. This trip suits as does some cut in the ground.
Templegate’s ITV Racing tips
NEWBURY
1.50
NOBLE STYLE can bounce back from his sixth in the 2,000 Guineas where he didn’t get home over the mile. He travelled nicely until his lack of stamina told.
It’s a wise move by Charlie Appleby to drop him back to six furlongs here as he was an impressive Gimcrack winner at York over this trip.
He will improve for that seasonal return and can prove much too good.
Shaquille made it four wins from five runs with a smooth handicap success at Newmarket.
That came in the mud but he scored in much quicker conditions at York and has enough pace to figure upped in class.
Aesop’s Fables won a Group 2 over seven furlongs last season and looked in need of the run on return at Navan last month.
He should be capable of making his presence felt after that.
Rumstar won nicely over a furlong shorter at Newmarket when last seen in October.
He stays but needs more carrying a 5lb penalty for that Group 3 success.
Rabaah is a potential big improver. He didn’t have to beat much at Wolverhampton but clocked a decent time and shouldn’t be out of place in this class.
2.25
YIBIR will be hard to beat on this drop in class after a break.
He was last seen winning the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting.
Trainer Charlie Appleby says he’s delighted with his work at home.
His finest hour came when winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2021 and this trip is ideal. He can win this even if short of his best.
Haskoy is having his first run since being third past the post in the St Leger.
She’s a Listed winner over this trip so dropping back won’t be a problem and she gets a useful weight allowance from the fellas.
Kemari had a decent spring in Dubai where he was second in a couple of Group contests, including one over this distance.
It’s two years since his last win and he may have to settle for a place again.
Bolshoi Ballet was only fair in a Listed contest at Navan last time and needs his very best.
Israr is a good handicapper over this trip but needs to improve in today’s grade.
Old Harrovian is one of my horses to follow and this trip should be ideal.
He is up to this standard and it’s interesting that Andrew Balding is going to this level with him after just three runs.
3.00
LOYAL TOUCH scored a couple of times over a mile last season but will really come into his own over this longer distance.
The booking of Frankie Dettori by Charlie Johnston takes the eye and his handicap mark looks more than fair.
Royal Rhyme has done well since switching to handicaps and had plenty in hand when winning at Newmarket 13 days ago.
That came over this trip and he has more to offer with just four runs under his belt.
Exoplanet runs in the same colours as Royal Rhyme and won’t be far behind him.
He makes his handicap debut here on the back of a decent comeback second over course and distance. You would expect plenty of improvement.
Aidan O’Brien doesn’t send many over for handicaps and his Bertinelli has shown promise at maiden level.
He will like this trip and this is just his fourth outing.
Lieber Power makes his handicap debut for Andrew Balding. He will be suited by this step up in trip.
Bold Act had more experience and wasn’t disgraced in a Listed contest at Newmarket latest. He should have no issues with this longer distance.
3.35
LAUREL stepped out of maiden ranks to be beaten less than a length in the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes last season.
That was a fantastic effort and she proved she’d wintered well when taking a good race on the all-weather at Kempton last month.
You would expect her to improve massively for that comeback and she looks well up to this lofty standard.
Modern Games finished last season winning the Breeders’ Cup Mile in the States after running well in all the top mile races here.
He goes on any ground and ran a good comeback second in America last month. The Charlie Appleby runner looks a big threat.
My Prospero has a lot of talent and is one to keep an eye on although he would prefer a slightly longer distance.
He was half a length away in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on his last run which is a high-class effort.
Mutasaabeq dictated from the front when winning a Newmarket Group 2 last time. He will find it harder to do that here as he steps up in class.
Jadoomi was beaten just over a length in the QEII Stakes at Ascot in October which is solid form. He could hit the frame if fit enough on this return.
NEWMARKET
2.05
GOOD GRACIOUS was a battling winner on the all-weather at Newcastle over seven furlongs last time.
She is bred to be fine at this longer trip and can take this for William Haggas.
Gulmarg keeps running well in races like this and is a contender again.
He was a close-up third in a big field here last time and his capable claimer’s 3lb claim is an asset.
Acotango is best over this distance and was a solid second in an arguably better race than this at Haydock three Saturdays ago.
He will be competitive under Richard Kingscote.
Totnes did well to come from a mile back when winning at Lingfield 16 days ago.
She saw out this mile strongly and a 5lb rise in the weights looks more than fair.
Ceanna did well on the all-weather last season with a win at Southwell.
It’s a slight worry that we haven’t seen her since December but she starts handicapping from what looks a fair mark.
Burdett Road went off too quickly here last time and can do better if ridden a bit more conservatively.
Just Bring It scored over this trip at Kempton before getting stuck in the mud at Nottingham. He will prefer these conditions.
2.40
MUTAANY was a good second on his handicap debut at Nottingham 18 days ago.
The ground was a bit soft for him but he went through it well. He likes this trip and should improve for that comeback effort.
Eminency had lots of traffic problems when beaten just over a length at Kempton on seasonal debut.
He seemed to be full of running crossing the line and is the main danger.
Washington Heights shaped well in second over course and distance two Saturdays ago.
He was third in a Listed contest last season so has some quality about him.
Quinault is looking for a hat-trick after winning at Chelmsford and Brighton last time.
He’ll have to find more here against stronger opposition but could be capable of doing just that.
Expert Angel has been in fine form on the all-weather with three wins on the spin. He has gone up 17lb since the first of those victories so may find life a little tougher here.
Revenite showed promise last season and is one to watch on this handicap debut.
3.50
THE GATEKEEPER led a few of these home over course and distance last time and can repeat the feat.
He is the only confirmed front-runner in the field again and he proved mighty hard to pass last time. He has similar ground conditions to pull off the repeat.
Of those who were in his wake last time, Persuasion could be more of a threat this time if settling better.
Star Of Orion had plenty of time to get past my fancy but couldn’t manage it.
Montassib tried to come from miles back when settling for fourth at Haydock last time.
Cieren Fallon may well have learned from that and would be a big threat if able to stay closer to the pace.
Air To Air was a solid second on the all-weather at Newcastle and has scored here before. He’s quirky but has ability on his day.
Witch Hunter ran well in the mud at Chester last week. He has a capable apprentice on board and could hit the frame again.
Chola Empire was beaten in a head-bobber at Chelmsford when last seen but needs more for this.
3.15
STRIKING STAR went down in a close finish here last time and can go one better.
He showed signs of his inexperience when beaten half a length and should have learned plenty from that handicap debut. This trip suits as does some cut in the ground.
Stablemate Changing Colours could show more now he tackles an extra furlong after a modest comeback.
Signcastle City looked rusty when fifth on his first run for eight months at Haydock.
Dropping to this trip will help him show his true form.
Berkshire Phantom has done well on the all-weather and was just over a length away at Kempton when last seen. He can figure if showing the same form back on turf.
Burstow wasn’t disgraced in a French Listed contest last time when trained by Andre Fabre. He’ll find this easier if seeing out the longer distance on debut for Paul and Oliver Cole.
Templegate’s tips
