TEMPLEGATE tackles Saturday’s racing confident of kicking off the Flat season in style.
Read on for our man’s tips and back a horse by clicking their odds below.
ASJAD (3.00 Doncaster, nap)
He landed a quality handicap over course and distance in September with some give underfoot. He then went close at Ascot before another fine effort here in the mud. He won first-time-out last season and can repeat the feat.
SECRET STATE (2.05 Kempton, nb)
He drops back in trip for this comeback but he should have too much class for today’s rivals. He improved last season, winning at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood before a solid Group 2 second at York. Forgive his last Ascot run as he was badly hampered.
BARADAR (3.35 Doncaster, treble)
He signed off last season when winning a hot handicap here when heavy ground was ideal. That was his debut for George Boughey after moving from Johnny Murtagh’s yard. He was third in the Group 1 Futurity here as a youngster and can show that class here.
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Templegate’s ITV Racing tips
KEMPTON
2.05
SECRET STATE drops back in trip for this comeback but he should have too much class for today’s rivals.
He improved last season, winning at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood before a solid Group 2 second at York. Forgive his last Ascot run as he was badly hampered.
Tyrrhenian Sea ran a cracker when second to Lord North in the Winter Derby at Lingfield last month.
He enjoyed the step up to this distance and is a big danger.
Foxes Tales was third in that race when trying to come from a long way back. He may do better here with Oisin Murphy taking over.
Phantom Flight won a hot York handicap over this trip in August before a long season caught up with him at Ayr.
He’ll do a lot better here. Belloccio loves it here and is respected after his last Listed win in November.
2.40
MILLION THANKS went down in a head-bobber here last time and has the benefit of Richard Kingscote taking over in the saddle today.
He looks on a fair weight and comes from a yard that has been in the winners.
Brains likes to go from the front and could hold on after another good effort at Wolver last time.
This track suits and the booking of William Buick takes the eye.
Stately Home did well to win here last time after not getting the clearest of runs.
This looks tougher but he should be on the premises again.
Naval Commander was beaten in a photo here last time out in February. He is up 4lb for that bus is another to consider in a tricky contest.
Al Marmar is better than we saw at Newcastle last time and he’ll be fitter for that comeback.
3.15
BANDINELLI won this race 12 months ago first time out and can repeat the feat from just 2lb higher in the weights.
He came back to form here when last seen in November and is best in today’s cheekpieces.
Aztec Empire has few miles on the clock and had lots in hand when scoring here last month.
This is hotter company but he’s capable of improvement and is the main threat.
Duty Of Care scored over course and distance on comeback with lots in hand.
He’s up 5lb against stronger opposition so will need his best.
Sleeping Lion won this two years ago and looked very rusty returning from a long break last time. He can build on that.
Aced It likes it here but may find this a bit too hot as will Bascule who will be running on at the finish.
DONCASTER
1.50
This is a race to watch as plenty of the field will be winning in the next few weeks however they get on today.
With no form, the record of each trainer with two-year-olds making their debut is important.
Karl Burke fares well and his Indication Call is bred to be speedy.
Tom Dascombe is another who has lots of juveniles score first up so his Old Chums is worth a close look in the market.
There are a few two-year-old sprint winners in his family.
Dominic Ffrench-Davis has sent out just two debutante winners in the past 20 years but the market has been saying plenty about his runner Valadero.
He is bred to want further but was an expensive buy at over £200,000 and has obviously been working well.
Andrew Balding runners are always respected at this level and his Loaded Gun is bred to be speedy as a two-year-old.
Veteran trainer Bill Turner has won this race six times and more than half his runners in it this century have been in the places.
So it would be no shock to see his No Sinner outrun his long odds.
David Evans is another trainer noted for juveniles so watch for a betting move around his pair Go To Work and Part Time Britain.
2.25
HARSWELL DUKE is one of the few in the field who loves it muddy and he had a tune up around Newcastle 15 days ago so he should be spot on for fitness.
He landed a couple of handicaps in bottomless ground last Autumn and sees out this trip strongly.
He’s only 4lb higher than his most recent success and his rider’s claim more than accounts for that.
Rising star Billy Loughnane is on another mudlark in Broken Spear who was fifth in last year’s Lincoln.
He had another two places on Town Moor last season and looks a solid each-way contender.
Isla Kai has scored in testing conditions and finished last season finishing third in a hot handicap at York over this trip.
He has a Donny win to his name and won’t be far away. Arthur’s Realm won this race 12 months ago and is back from 9lb higher.
He won his maiden on soft ground so should handle conditions and has to be a contender again.
Baltimore Boy did well last season and signed off with a decent second at Ascot. He is back in handicaps from what looks a fair mark.
Tropez Power has been flying on the all-weather and scored at Southwell before a good Newcastle second. He needs to prove his liking for this surface.
3.00
ASJAD landed a quality handicap over course and distance in September with some give underfoot.
He then went close at Ascot before another fine effort here in the mud. He won first-time-out last season and can repeat the feat.
Commanche Falls will enjoy these conditions and kicked off last season with a good second at this meeting.
He has won the Stewards’ Cup twice so has plenty of class and he’s won after a break before.
El Caballo won the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock before going off favourite for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
We didn’t see him after that so he may need this but he’d be a huge threat if anywhere near his best.
Ehraz looks the type to improve as a four-year-old and was a solid sixth in the Commonwealth Cup last season.
He finished with a minor win at Newmarket and has more to offer.
King’s Lynn can boast a Listed win at Doncaster and held his own in strong company last term.
He’ll find this easier than the Champions Sprint he last ran in at Ascot and is respected on ground he should handle.
Fast Response went through the mud to win a Listed contest here in November. That was her first crack at this trip and it clearly suited.
3.35
BARADAR can star in the Lincoln. He signed off last season when winning a hot handicap here when heavy ground was ideal.
That was his debut for George Boughey after moving from Johnny Murtagh’s yard. He was third in the Group 1 Futurity here as a youngster and can show that class here.
Al Mubhir has been well backed to strike for William Haggas. He is another who is proven in the mud and has few miles on the clock.
Awaal scored strongly on handicap debut at Redcar when soft ground looked ideal. He has gone up 9lb but could easily improve past that for the Crisfords.
The other Haggas hope Montassib crept up the weights last season but kept running well and can’t be discounted.
At a huge price, Safe Voyage was a decent fourth in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot when last seen and could easily run into the extra places many bookies will be offering.
Bopedro went through the mud when second over 7f here in October and will appreciate this longer distance for in-form David O’Meara.
Majestic won the Cambridgeshire despite traffic problems at Newmarket and is a threat despite a 7lb rise.
Wanees is another to consider after signing off last season with a Haydock win. He likes it soft and was a decent sixth in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot.
4.10
TACARIB BAY has performed well in testing conditions before and is fit from a promising comeback run in the Wolverhampton Lincoln Trial.
He was less than two lengths off the pace there. He was a good third in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot in October and has the scope to improve as a four-year-old.
Poker Face could be the joker in the pack with just three runs on his CV.
He is yet to taste defeat and had nine lengths in hand when winning a Pontefract handicap in October. There should be a lot more to come.
Imperial Fighter has had training problems but was a cracking third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas before a poor run in June’s French Derby and we haven’t seen him since.
He clearly has a lot of class if Andrew Balding has him right again.
Tempus is getting on a bit but landed a couple of Group 3s last season over this trip.
He has won on heavy ground but his best efforts have come in quicker conditions which is a concern.
Brunch is hit and miss but ran some good races last season without getting his head in front. He has scored in this grade before and goes well fresh.
Templegate’s tips
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