Horse racing tips: Newmarket, Ascot and York – Templegate’s betting preview for TODAY’S ITV racing
Newmarket, Ascot, York, Chester, Salisbury and Newton Abbot come under the spotlight as Templegate gives you his best bets for the day
NEWMARKET
1.05
AIDAN O’BRIEN won the Bet365 Superlative Stakes last year and I reckon he’ll follow up with CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.
He was disappointing on his first two starts but it’s never wise to get carried away with early performances from youngsters from his stable.
He beat three previous winners at Tipperary nine days ago and he looks to have clicked into the groove. I’m expecting this brother to top-class Highland Reel to keep on improving.
Quorto was impressive over 6f at today’s course last month. The form looks good and today’s extra furlong is the natural progression. He’s the big danger.
Certain Lad won his first two races and he wasn’t beaten far when third behind Van Beethoven in the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh. He’s already won over today’s trip.
John Gosden often uses Newcastle for some of his best juveniles so the fact Daafr only won on the all-weather should not be a negative. He’ll appreciate today’s trip.
POINT AND SHOOT Blue Point heads select field for July Cup barnstormer
1.40
THE Bet365 Bunbury Cup is the return of the Mak.
Talented MAKZEEM might not have beaten a horse home in two races this season but that doesn’t bother me. He’s got a great record at this track and he goes well in big-field handicaps.
Ryan Moore has ridden him four times and has won twice. He was also on board when he was runner-up in the Silver Bunbury Cup last season. With Roger Charlton in tremendous form he has a fine chance in a wide-open race.
Gilgamesh has obvious claims. He found the drop to 6f against him in the Wokingham. He was first home of the unfavoured stands’ side group in the Victoria Cup and struck at York on his next start. Fast ground is ideal for George Scott’s runner.
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Mukalal is another interesting contender. He had a wind operation after winning at Ascot last October and he’s sure to be sharper for his midfield return in the Royal Hunt Cup.
Mubtasim has plenty of form in Group races and is another to consider.
2.15
DRAW your money from the Sands bank in the Darley July Cup.
SANDS OF MALI ran a belter when runner-up to Eqtidaar in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. He was in the smaller stands’ side group that didn’t go as quick as the main body of the field so to get within half a length of Sir Michael Stoute’s winner was a smashing effort.
Nothing was finishing as fast as my fancy and today’s stiff finish should suit him well.
Invincible Army looked in a bad mood when midfield in the Commonwealth. He’d earlier run Sands Of Mali to a nose at Haydock and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him hit the frame.
Blue Point looked very good off a sizzling pace to pull clear in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot. That fell in his lap a bit and I’m not sure this stiff 6f will suit him as well.
Last year’s third Brando and US Navy Flag – dual Group 1 winner as a juvenile – both have place claims.
Dreamfield – runner-up when hot favourite for the Wokingham - has the potential to develop into a top sprinter but he isn’t there yet.
Templegate's TV tips
12.45 Ascot - Atletico: 'Big field ideal and looks well treated on his all-weather form' (add to your betslip)
1.05 Newmarket - Cape Of Good Hope: 'Good win at Tipperary and looks to have found his feet' (add to your betslip)
1.20 Ascot - Century Dream: 'Close third in the Queen Anne and has conditions to suit' (add to your betslip)
1.40 Newmarket - Makzeem: 'Great record at this track and goes well in big field handicaps' (add to your betslip)
1.55 York Take Cover: 'Going for his third win in the race and could be too quick for them' (add to your betslip)
2.15 Newmarket Sands Of Mali: 'Ran a massive race to finish second at Ascot and should love stiff finish' (add to your betslip)
2.35 York Time To Study: 'This an easier race than he has been running in and it could be run to suit' (add to your betslip)
3.10 York Bless Him: 'Ran well from an unhelpful draw in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot' (add to your betslip)
3.20 Newmarket Curiosity: 'Ran well off a steady pace at Ascot and today's gallop should be stronger' (add to your betslip)
3.40 York Dash Of Spice: 'Rapid improvement this season and has the class to cope with drop to 1m2f' (add to your betslip)
3.20
I’M interested in CURIOSITY.
He came home well to chase home Ostilio in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot. Strangely for that big-field mile contest the pace wasn’t strong and he just couldn’t peg back the front-running winner. There should be a decent gallop on today and that would give him a great chance
The form of Ibraz’s Sandown win could not have worked out much better but I’m not convinced he wants this furlong-shorter trip.
Argentello has looked good in novice races and he’s bred to be smart. It’s hard to see how he won’t run well.
Qaroun is the interesting one. He won a fair Goodwood novice race on his return in May before flopping on his handicap debut. That cannot have been his true form and he’s had a two-month break since.
Moqarrab probably hasn’t beaten anything of note in two Wolverhampton wins but the style of those victories makes him dangerous. His trainer Saeed bin Suroor has hit form in some order in recent weeks.
ASCOT
12.45
JAPANESE jockey Yuga Kawada should get his busman’s holiday off to a flyer on ATLETICO.
He teams up with Roger Varian’s tricky sprinter for this hot handicap. There’s little doubt he’s at his best on the all-weather but he often misses the break which is curtains around those tight tracks.
Horses who like sand racing often take to Ascot and there’s no doubt he is potentially well treated on turf. This big field is ideal and he is worth chancing.
There are no end of dangers and Major Jumbo stands out. He was a bit unlucky when a close third in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot. The drop to 5f isn’t a worry so he has leading claims.
Copper Knight made all the running to see off Evergate on Newcastle’s all-weather surface last month. He’s always threatened to develop into a smart sprinter.
Polybius has slipped to a nice weight. He needs things to drop wright and he didn’t look all that keen to hit the front at Epsom last time.
Tanasoq is on the roll of his life. It’s not easy to complete a five-timer but I certainly wouldn’t rule it out.
1.20
THERE’S a Dream bet in the Summer Mile.
CENTURY DREAM won a Listed race at this track in May before following in good style at Epsom. He showed he’s improving at a rate of knots when fourth – only beaten three-quarters of a length – in the Group 1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. That also showed he acts on fast ground.
Stall nine might not be ideal but Frankie Dettori is a master at getting across from a wide draw here.
Lord Glitters finished in front of my fancy when runner-up in the Queen Anne. That was a splendid effort as he didn’t get the strong pace he needs. He should get it today with Eminent and Zhui Feng likely to go off fast but I’m not convinced Lord Glitters will be as good on the round course as he is on the straight track.
Beat The Bank was unlucky not to finish closer than sixth in the Queen Anne. He could probably do with softer ground and he’s yet to hit the frame in three visits to this course.
French raider Trais Fluors is interesting but it’s hard to know where he stands against the British runners.
POINT AND SHOOT Charlie Appleby hoping Blue can reign again in Saturday's July Cup
YORK
1.55
OLD Boy TAKE COVER is going for his third win in this race and he looks a good bet to repeat last year’s win.
He has sizzling pace and his third behind smart Judicial at Beverley last month should have set him up nicely for today.
Alpha Delphini is another who likes to dominate but he’ll do well to beat my fancy to the early lead.
Stone Of Destiny – staying fourth in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot – has a bad habit of missing the break. If he’s slow from the traps today he will struggle to get involved on this drop to 5f.
Muthmir has the class to take this. He failed by just a neck to collar Judicial at Sandown last weekend but his 3lbs penalty does make life tricky. His good record at this level does give him a chance.
2.35
GET your head down for TIME TO STUDY.
He’s yet to live up to expectations this season but he’s been in far more competitive races than this. His efforts behind the likes of Torcedor, Magic Circle and Marmelo haven’t been bad and this might well fall his way.
I’m expecting him to keep close tabs on likely pacesetter My Reward and then kick on down the straight. Those tactics would make him hard to master in the closing stages.
Dal Harraild comes out best at the weights but this is unlikely to play to his strengths. He needs to be help up and he wouldn’t want to be giving the leaders too much rope.
Dylan Mouth pulls hard and this small field is unlikely to help, while it’s nearly five years since Scotland last won.
3.10
BLESS HIM looked a terrific prospect when winning the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot last year.
He hasn’t won since but I’m not losing faith. There have been excuses for all three subsequent starts and he ran better than the bare form from an unhelpful draw in the Royal Hunt at last month’s Royal meeting.
Wadilsafa is another who had a tricky draw to overcome at Ascot. He couldn’t make much impression in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes but it’s too early to be giving up on him.
Get Knotted has a good record at this track and he ran another solid race here last time. That was over 7f and, although he does stay this far, he is probably better over slightly shorter.
Third Time Lucky seems to find winning hard these days and Baraweez needs to step up on his Chester win.
3.40
DON’T miss the John Smith’s Cup Dash.
It’s been hard not to be impressed with DASH OF SPICE this season. He bolted up by six lengths at Epsom on Derby day and he went on to beat Sir Chauvelin in the hot Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot in good style. Both those races were over further but I can’t see the return to 1m2f being a problem for David Elsworth’s star.
He’s just a class act who’s going to be running in Group races before too long.
Appeared moved like a good horse when fourth behind Dash Of Spice at Ascot. That was his first run for ten months but his tremendous record when fresh makes any significant improvement unlikely.
Thundering Blue had a wide draw when fancied for the Duke Of Edinburgh. His course-and-distance win in May makes him worthy of respect.
Brorocco has a race like this in him. He needs luck in a running and a strong pace but when things fall right he is a player at this level.
Master The World – a stablemate of my fancy – won a Group 3 on Lingfield’s all-weather in February. He’s got no problem with turf but he’s clearly vulnerable to anything better handicapped.
Irish raider Tandem is the outsider I like. He rattled up a hat-trick last season and last month’s Cork third should’ve set him up for this.
Kynren is likely to find the ground quicker than ideal but unexposed Mordin is not without an each-way chance.
ASCOT
12.45 Athletico
1.20 Century Dream
1.50 Glory
2.25 Considered Opinion
3.05 Baritone (nb)
3.35 Cross Counter
4.10 Prevent
CHESTER
2.05 Three Card Trick
2.40 Crochet
3.15 Make Music
3.45 Lucky Deal
4.20 Andok
4.55 Mr Wagyu
5.25 Knighted
HAMILTON
6.00 Woodside Wonder
6.30 Scoundrel
7.00 Mujassam
7.30 Killdeer
8.00 New Abbey Angel
8.30 Plansina
9.00 Morticia
NEWMARKET
1.05 Cape Of Good Hope
1.40 Makzeem
2.15 Sands Of Mali (nap)
2.50 Assembly Of Truth
3.20 Curiosity
3.55 Perfection
4.30 Sporting Times
NEWTON ABBOT
2.20 The Unit
2.55 Mill Green
3.25 Southfield Vic (treble)
4.00 Court King
4.35 Ange Des Malberaux
5.05 King’s Reste
5.35 The Missus
SALISBURY
5.45 Federal Law
6.25 Swanton Blue
6.45 Nawar
7.15 Icart Point
7.45 Reckless Wave
8.15 Ferrier
8.45 Savaanah
YORK
1.55 Take Cover
2.35 Time To Study
3.10 Bless Him
3.40 Dash Of Spice
4.15 Northwest Frontier
4.50 Dark Vision
5.20 Posh Perfect