ROYAL ASCOT kicks off on Tuesday with the start of a five-day racing extravaganza.
So we’ve rolled out the big guns and Templegate is here with his Placepot picks for day one!
Frankie Dettori is hoping to be celebrating aboard Chaldean tomorrowPA
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Here’s who Templegate fancies to kickstart a bumper week.
Royal Ascot – day one Placepot picks
LEG 1: MODERN GAMES
Did very little wrong last season with three Group 1 wins including over this trip at the Breeders’ Cup.
He kicked off this season back at Keeneland where he had traffic problems in finishing second. He put that behind him with an excellent victory in the Lockinge at Newbury which has teed him up nicely for this.
Fast ground is best but he was second in the QEII on soft so rain wouldn’t be a major issue.
LEG 2: RIVER TIBER
He looks a potential superstar after a couple of easy wins in Ireland for Aidan O’Brien.
Ryan Moore didn’t have to get serious to land a 10-length win on debut that he matched at Navan last time.
He can take another massive leap forward.
LEG 3: COOLANGATTA, DRAMATISED
Coolangatta won Australia’s prestigious Lightning Stakes at Flemington last time over this distance.
A bit of juice in the ground would be ideal but she is a multiple winner at this level and James McDonald rides Ascot well.
Dramatised was the decisive winner of the Queen Mary Stakes at last year’s Royal Ascot and can follow up for in-form Karl Burke. Her season ended with an excellent second at the Breeders’ Cup in the States where she was just nailed on the line.
The three-year-old came back from a break to land the Temple Stakes nicely at Haydock last time and should be well drawn in stall 18.
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LEG 4: CHALDEAN, PADDINGTON
Chaldean came out on top at Newmarket in May with almost two lengths in hand. He enjoyed the testing ground there but has a Group 1 win on his CV in quicker conditions too from his victory in the Dewhurst Stakes at Doncaster as a youngster.
His Guineas win was the first time he’d tackled this mile and he clearly loved it and can pull out more for in-form trainer Andrew Balding with Frankie on top.
Paddington won the Irish 2,000 Guineas easily at The Curragh. He never had a moment’s worry under Ryan Moore and won going away in the end.
He hasn’t tackled quick ground before either but his class can count for plenty.
LEG 5: AHORSEWITHNONAME , PLEASANT MAN
Ahorsewithnoname was backed off the boards for the Cesarewitch on his last Flat run and she was a solid fifth in that Newmarket stampede from today’s handicap mark.
William Buick gets on board today and champion jumps trainer Nicky Henderson has won this prize before. She can run another big race.
Pleasant Man comes from another jumps star trainer in Paul Nicholls and he shaped well in his warm-up race at Musselburgh. He is stepping up in trip today which should help.
LEG 6: BOLSHOI BALLET, KING OF CONQUEST
Bolshoi Ballet went mighty close in a strong contest at Newbury last time and will be right there again. He is best over this distance and has Group 1 honours on his CV.
Cadillac was second in this 12 months ago and looked better than ever when scoring at Epsom last time.
King Of Conquest is in flying form for Godolphin after making it four wins on the spin in a Goodwood Listed contest last time.
The Charlie Appleby runner has to give weight away to most of today’s rivals but should be right there again in this form.
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