TEMPLEGATE tackles a busy Saturday of action where the racing comes thick and fast confident of some winners – after banging in yet another winning NAP on Friday.
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DANGERMAN (3.00 Sandown, nap)
The Gosdens’ son of Cracksman has already blown away his rivals twice at this specialists’ track and is back for more. His first visit in July saw him pull a comfortable three lengths away from his rivals and his return three weeks ago was even more impressive. He went from the front that day and had no trouble fighting off his rivals. This three-year-old doesn’t need to lead and can take another big step forward. It will be disappointing if he doesn’t improve on his current mark of 89.
TABLETALK (2.40 Chester, nb)
Tom Clover’s stayer was last seen running well in the Group 3 Silver Cup at York in July. He sees out this trip strongly and the first-time cheekpieces will help this former Melrose winner bring his A-game.
REGIONAL (2.05 Beverley, treble)
He’s been mixing it at the top table this season and was a good fourth in a French Group 1 last time. He is well drawn and likes this speedy trip.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
SANDOWN
1.50
METABOLT looks a big price from just 1lb higher than his last winning mark.
Back from a year on the sidelines, he shaped with plenty of promise on his return at Haydock, travelling smoothly before fitness told only late on.
That run should have blown away the cobwebs and he looks weighted to strike.
This strapping Night Of Thunder gelding is ideally suited to a galloping 7f and the ground won’t inconvenience him.
With Rossa Ryan keeping the ride, connections clearly think there’s more to come.
The obvious dangers include Kodi Lion, rock solid this season and likely to be popular under William Buick, while Headmaster is a smart 3yo from the Haggas yard with scope to improve again.
Woroodd is unbeaten but takes a big step up in class here while Walson’s Law will prefer this ground to the complete mush he faced at Newmarket last time out.
2.25
I worship CATHEDRAL in the Atalanta Stakes.
She showed plenty for Ralph Beckett and can strike on this debut for new trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy.
Her fourth in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Ascot stands out and she ran well in France.
Blue Bolt made it three wins in a row in a Listed contest here last time and is a big danger along with Alobayyah for William Haggas. She is back from a long break but will be ready to roll.
Here’s my guide to the field, where I rate horses one (worst) to five (best):
SPIRITUAL 3
SPIR of moment. Good Group 3 win at Epsom but folded tamely in France last time. Front-runner, track suits, though strong gallop could leave her vulnerable against rivals finishing stronger late.
BRIGHT THUNDER 2
BRIGHT light. Listed Deauville winner who ran cracker at Goodwood in this grade. Travels well on any ground. Reliable but exposed at this level and needs bit more.
FAIR POINT 2
JUST Fair. Useful filly, second at Chelmsford in Listed race last time. Returning to this mile suits. Solid but limited, requires more to feature against stronger Group 3 rivals.
LADY OF SPAIN 4
FIND the Lady. Unbeaten filly, stylish Deauville Listed winner when last seen in December. Absent 255 days but yard flying. Unexposed and improving so solid each-way if ready to roll.
MOLTEN ROCK 1
ROCK gone. Prominent runner who stays further, best around 10f. Drops back after York flop latest. Exposed at this level and looks vulnerable against sharper, speedier mile rivals.
SKELLET 3
SKEL of a chance. C&D listed winner, Group-race placed last season. Epsom reappearance better than result when tiring late. Rust gone now, return to Sandown a plus, strong chance if rediscovering peak.
ALOBAYYAH 4
BAY watch. William Haggas filly who won easily on debut at Yarmouth in October. Long absence since then is a concern but she’s bred for this trip and ground. She has untapped potential and yard should have her ready to rock.
AMERICAN GAL 3
GAL pal. Listed Chantilly winner and good second at Ascot last stime. Reliable filly who is usually up with the pace. One of many with place claims.
BETTY CLOVER 2
BETTY boo. Consistent filly who has been placed in French Group races. Goodwood effort was respectable without threatening. Needs to improve plenty to make the frame.
BLUE BOLT 4
BOLT gun. Progressive filly who unbeaten in three including a C&D Listed win. She went from the front and fought off the challengers. Still improving, trip ideal and she ticks all the boxes. A leading contender against exposed rivals.
CAJOLE 3
CAJ a lift. Second to Blue Bolt here last time. Travels, is consistent and Gosdens are flying. Reliable but needs a bit more to turn the form around.
CATHEDRAL 5
CASH in on Cath. Ran a cracker in the Group 1 Coronation at Royal Ascot and went close at Chantilly last time. Has left Ralph Beckett since then but new trainer will want to make a splash. Stays well and is up to this level.
FLIGHT 3
FLIGHT has wings. 1,000 Guineas runner-up has not quite matched that form since. Clearly likes this trip and is taking a drop from Group 1 level which should see her in contention.
HEY BOO 2
BOO who. Chelmsford winner twice before fair Guineas eighth. Sees out this trip and handles the ground but is entitled to need this first run since May and has a bit to find.
3.00
DANGERMAN has been a different animal since blinkers were fitted by the Gosdens, powering to back-to-back course and distance wins this summer.
He made all with authority in both, quickening clear in style and giving the strong impression there’s plenty more to come from his mark of 89.
This track doesn’t suit all horses and he keeps it simple by laying up with the pace.
Saddadd is an obvious danger. Roger Varian’s colt toughed it out to win a hot Newbury handicap last time.
He’s progressive and could take another step forward.
Castle Cove also commands respect. He was unlucky in running at Goodwood last time and returns to a track that should play to his strengths.
Grey Cuban is another worth a mention after he was badly hampered early in that same race and far better than the bare result suggests.
At bigger odds, Brioni has already scored at Sandown this season and copped a bad draw at York last time, while Savvy Victory may struggle under top weight.
Flying Frontier scored here last time and is proven in this grade so has place claims.
3.35
THE Gosdens won this last year with Field Of Gold and have another hot prospect in PUBLISH.
This son of Kingman confirmed his debut promise with a smooth success over course and distance last month, travelling sweetly before putting the race to bed in the closing stages.
With plenty more to come, he looks a high-class prospect and gets the nod.
Charlie Appleby has a good record in this and his Pacific Avenue showed plenty of promise when winning his Newmarket debut.
He’s had a break since that June success and has a bright future.
Humidity hated every stride at Goodwood last time and is much better judged on his Chesham Stakes success at Royal Ascot.
That came over this trip and he could easily bounce back.
He’s Waliim looked promising when winning at Beverley on debut and has place claims upped in class.
BEVERLEY
1.30
CROWN OF OAKS can reign supreme. This strapping colt took time to come to hand but made no mistake at Ayr last month, powering clear late on to score with more in hand than the margin suggested.
That win hinted at plenty more to come, especially now stepping into handicaps with a workable mark and he’s drawn well in stall 1 to tuck in behind the pace.
Main dangers include Financer, who has twice shaped with promise in hot York and Windsor contests and Spioradalta, a gutsy type who arrives on the back of a Ripon success.
Time Tells All is a Beverley specialist who will be finishing off strongly, while Desert Shadow has the profile of one still capable of better for Saeed bin Suroor.
Plenty line up with solid course records, including Distinction and Glistening Nights, while Titian won well at York two runs ago and is a fair 4lb higher now.
2.05
REGIONAL sets the standard in a fantastic renewal of the Beverley Bullet.
He’s a class act who’s been mixing it in Group 1 and 2 company all summer.
Third in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot and then far from disgraced in France, he drops into Listed grade with blinkers tried for the first time – a huge chance if the headgear sharpens him up.
The dangers are plentiful. He comes from what should be an ideal draw.
Adrestia has looked a rocket in big handicaps, landing the Palace of Holyroodhouse at Ascot before a nose defeat at Goodwood.
She’s improving fast and gets weight from most of these.
Kerdos is a past Haydock Temple Stakes hero who thrives at 5f and could easily bounce back from recent defeats.
Redorange brings rock-solid handicap form to the table and continues on an upward curve, while First Instinct is an unexposed Haggas filly who already boasts Listed success and could surprise.
CHESTER
2.40
TABLETALK has looked the real deal for Tom Clover, winning last year’s Melrose and running with credit in Group company this season.
He was third in York’s Group 3 Silver Cup last time and cheekpieces now go on – that could be the edge he needs to land a breakthrough Listed success.
Alsakib has top-class back form, including a York Group 3 win, and wasn’t disgraced in the Yorkshire Cup.
If bouncing back from a tame run in June, he’s a big danger under PJ McDonald.
Allonsy arrives with a Pontefract Listed win on her record and can attack from the front, while Orchard Keeper is progressing nicely for Roger Varian and shapes as though there’s more to come over this testing trip.
3.15
SIR PAUL RAMSEY is fancied to continue his rapid progress.
Charlie Johnston’s gelding has really found his stride around a mile this summer, scoring at Hamilton and then showing real grit to nose out Hawksbill at Haydock.
He proved that effort no fluke when a close third in a hot York contest last time, travelling sweetly near the pace and only edged out late.
With Chester’s turning track suiting handy types, his front-running style is a perfect fit and he’s well drawn to attack under canny veteran Joe Fanning.
Of the dangers, Hawksbill re-opposes on slightly better terms and should be bang there again, while Witch Hunter has the class to figure if getting the breaks.
Two Tempting is a proven course winner and will be popular with local punters, while Yanifer rarely runs a bad race here.
El Burhan comes from the in-form George Boughey yard and could bounce back to earlier promise.
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