TEMPLEGATE returns with a look at Saturday’s racing and picks out his best bets across the cards.
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HIGHWAYMAN (1.30 Ascot, nap)
Joseph O’Brien’s three-year-old gets 7lb from his elders and has been transformed by longer distances. He completed his hat-trick with an impressive St Leger win at Doncaster. He powered two and a half lengths clear on Town Moor in a display that screamed stamina and this first crack at two miles should unlock more.
HICKORY (4.35 Ascot, nb)
He can complete an Ascot mile hat-trick under Saffie Osborne who rides this track so well. He’s won twice over C&D this summer and ran on over seven furlongs here a fortnight ago. The return to a mile is a major plus and stall 22 looks ideal.
ALMERAQ (2.05 Ascot, treble)
He can land a third Group 1 after blowing his rivals away in the Sprint Cup at Haydock. William Haggas’s four-year-old travelled smoothly before storming clear on soft ground. He landed the Jubilee over this course and distance on good to firm at the Royal meeting so this quicker surface shouldn’t be a problem.
Templegate’s TV verdicts (ITV1 / Sky Sports Racing)
ASCOT (Sky Sports Racing / ITV1)
12.55
ARAPAHO GOLD can shine. Michael Dods’ juvenile has progressed from a Thirsk maiden to Listed success before landing the Gimcrack at York. He was just a quarter of a length away when third in the Mill Reef at Newbury last month, despite conceding weight all round. He has already won on good to firm, good to soft and firm, so conditions hold no fears.
Inner City Blues is the danger. Charlie Appleby’s colt won his first two, including a July Course Group Two, before a flop as favourite in the Middle Park. He may have needed that after 11 weeks away but doesn’t want rain.
Night In Vegas is chasing a four-timer after powering clear over 7f at Newmarket, while Satellite Of Love followed a Doncaster second with Listed victory at Redcar. They have place claims.
Speed Of Sound also merits respect after weakening late over seven furlongs in the Rockfel, with this return to six furlongs firmly in her favour.
1.30
HIGHWAYMAN is worth the weight. Joseph O’Brien’s three-year-old gets 7lb from his elders and has been transformed by longer distances. He completed his hat-trick with an impressive St Leger win at Doncaster. He powered two and a half lengths clear on Town Moor in a display that screamed stamina and this first crack at two miles should unlock more.
Caballo De Mar sets the standard after landing the Doncaster Cup and Cadran. He hasn’t had much of a break but will be right there.
Gregory has returned from a wind op better than ever, following a York Listed success with an 11-length Newmarket romp over this distance.
Daiquiri Bay is a solid handicapper who could improve for this test too.
2.05
ALMERAQ can land a third Group 1 after blowing his rivals away in the Sprint Cup at Haydock. William Haggas’s four-year-old travelled smoothly before storming clear on soft ground. He landed the Jubilee over this course and distance on good to firm at the Royal meeting so this quicker surface shouldn’t be a problem. The fierce gallop should play to his strengths and allow Tom Marquand to produce him late.
Paborus chased the tip home at Haydock after winning Newcastle’s Chipchase but there is no obvious reason why he should reverse the form.
Division went desperately close in the Maurice de Gheest and was left with too much to do when fourth over course and distance last time.
Samangan beat Division narrowly at Deauville before failing to fire from off the pace in the Foret, and may find six furlongs on the sharp side.
Kind Of Blue won this race two years ago and returned to form at Kempton last month so has place prospects, while Great Wish arrives chasing a hat-trick after wins in Denmark and France. Fellow Scandinavian William Buick takes the ride.
Coppull is a Group 3 winner here so can go well.
2.40
JOHANNA WALSH can repeat her Irish Oaks victory. Joseph O’Brien’s filly powered four lengths clear at the Curragh on quick.
She failed to reproduce that performance behind Kalpana in the Yorkshire Oaks but softer conditions counted against her.
Back on a quicker surface after a 58-day break, she can show her true colours again.
Kalpana is chasing a third straight victory in this after winning the King George and Yorkshire Oaks.
She sets a formidable standard but has endured a demanding campaign and finished fifth in the Arc only 13 days ago.
Minnie Hauk produced her best run this year when second in the Prince of Wales’s here but disappointed in the King George, Yorkshire Oaks and Arc since.
Sparan Nua pushed Kalpana to the limit at York before failing to repeat that effort on good to firm in the Vermeille. She can go better here for veteran trainer Jim Bolger.
3.20
RAYIF can land a third Group 1. Francis-Henri Graffard’s colt won the French 2,000 Guineas on seasonal return before finishing fifth over 7f in the Jean Prat. Back at a mile for the Jacques le Marois, he came from off the pace to edge out Zeus Olympios.
That made him two from two over this distance and there should be more to come under Christophe Soumillon.
Talk Of New York looked a serious contender when storming clear in a Newmarket Group 2 last month. He also finished third (Gstaad second) in the St James’s Palace over C&D.
Gstaad was flat when third in the Moulin but his Irish Guineas victory and seconds in the St James’s Palace and Sussex keep him firmly in the picture.
More Thunder chased home Ten Bob Tony in the Queen Anne here and won nicely a Donny. He has place claims at his favourite track.
Zavateri won the Celebration Mile well at Goodwood and rain would bring him right into it.
4.00
CALANDAGAN can follow up last year’s win in the Champion Stakes.
My French fancy put Ombudsman in his place 12 months ago and can repeat the feat under Christophe Soumillon.
Francis-Henri Graffard’s star rattled off four top-level wins last year, landing the King George before powering two and a quarter lengths clear of Ombudsman in this race and then taking the Japan Cup. Not a bad haul!
He has added two more Group 1 prizes at Meydan and Saint-Cloud this season.
His latest King George second was another huge run, with the rest left trailing as he went down by a length and a half.
The five-year-old gelding has been saved for this after an 84-day break and good or faster ground is right up his street.
Ombudsman still looks the main threat despite coming unstuck on tacky ground in the International at York.
He won the Prince of Wales’s at the Royal meeting before that and will be right there.
This five-year-old travels powerfully and possesses the speed to strike first if the race turns tactical.
Repeating his Prince of Wales’s form would make him a threat but that York effort tempers confidence a little.
Bay City Roller could be under-rated again after his brilliant Arc second.
4.35
HICKORY can complete an Ascot mile hat-trick under Saffie Osborne who rides this track so well.
He’s won twice over C&D this summer and ran on over seven furlongs here a fortnight ago. The return to a mile is a major plus and stall 22 looks ideal.
Scoville is also drawn high in 23 and looked value for more when landing a competitive Doncaster handicap last month. A 4lb rise may not stop him.
Gavriel remains lightly raced and finished first of his group when a close fourth in the Cambridgeshire.
Ebt’s Guard finished just behind him 12 months ago, races from the same mark and arrives after a fine Doncaster third.
Templegate’s tips
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