TEMPLEGATE tackles a monster Saturday of action confident of finding you a few winners.
Frankie Dettori bids farewell to Ascot (for now) and he has promised tears – along with a few cheers.
Our man is hoping so too after picking one of the Italian’s mounts on what is set to be an emotional day.
Back a horse below by clicking their odds and check out Templegate’s Placepot and World Pool picks too.
BAY BRIDGE (3.45 Ascot, nap)
He showed his class when winning this for Sir Michael Stoute 12 months ago. He kicked off this season with a close-up third in a French Group 1 on soft before a good effort in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh. The ground was too quick for him at the Royal meeting here before he used his class to score in a Kempton Group 3. He warmed up for this with a decent effort in the Arc last time, again finding the ground too quick. These conditions are ideal and he can go close.
KINROSS (1.50 Ascot, nb)
He is Frankie Dettori’s best chance of a winner on the card and his old pal can deliver again in the Champions Sprint. The Italian was on board 12 months ago when winning this race in a scorching time. He’s been in good form this season, winning the Lennox at Goodwood and York’s City of York Stakes before an unlucky second at Longchamp latest when he was hampered by the winner. He stays and this will feel like further than six furlongs and soft ground is no issue.
MIGRATION (4.25 Ascot, treble)
He was an impressive winner of one of the best Lincolns we’ve had in years. David Menuisier’s seven-year-old sailed through the deep mud on Town Moor and should have similar conditions here. He has a good middle draw and we know he saves his best for a big-field cavalry charge so forget his poor showing in a small field last time. He goes well fresh and his excellent trainer has saved him for this.
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Templegate’s complete Ascot Champions Day guide
ASCOT
1.15
KYPRIOS can catch his rivals napping. It’s a long time since the Aidan O’Brien superstar dropped down to this Group 2 level.
He sadly missed most of this season before blowing away the cobwebs when second at The Curragh last time.
You would have liked to see him win but he was coming back from 11 months off and today was the target.
We know he stays from his Ascot Gold Cup heroics and he loved it soft when winning the Cadran in fantastic style last season.
Despite his little wobble last time, he’s the one to beat.
Trueshan has earned massive respect by winning this race for the past three seasons – but without anything of Kyprios’s class in the field.
It looked like Alan King’s stayer had seen his best days with a series of modest runs but he’s come back to form and was impressive when winning the Cadran from the front last time.
Hollie Doyle may well choose to lead again and he’s the main threat.
Coltrane is proven at this level but was poor at Doncaster last time and would ideally like quicker ground.
Ebor second Sweet William chased home Trueshan on Town Moor but will need to step up on that.
Frankie is back in Godolphin blue on Trawlerman for the Gosdens. He was a fair third in this 12 months ago and looks to be playing for a place at best.
1.50
KINROSS is Frankie Dettori’s best chance of winner on the card and his old pal can deliver again in the Champions Sprint.
The Italian was on board 12 months ago when winning this race in a scorching time.
He’s been in good form this season, winning the Lennox at Goodwood and York’s City of York Stakes before an unlucky second at Longchamp latest when he was hampered by the winner.
He stays and this will feel like further than six furlongs and soft ground is no issue.
Wearing a visor seems to have transformed Sandrine who was less than a length behind the tip at York before winning well at Doncaster.
Her stamina will be an asset and she has strong place claims.
Vadream loves soft ground and has run well in the past two runnings of this. She is another who can go close.
Rohaan’s liking for Ascot brings him into the place picture under Ryan Moore. He won a big handicap here earlier this month.
Mill Stream likes this trip and is capable of improvement. Soft ground suits him best.
2.25
RUE BOISSONADE looks a big price in a wide open Fillies And Mares.
Veteran jockey Gerald Mosse was on board in the Group 1 Prix Royallieu at Longchamp last time where he flew home from the back to finish fourth.
She filled the same position in the Vermeille and a repeat of that effort gives her strong claims.
She’s won on soft ground and has few miles on the clock so can improve.
Free Wind is the obvious danger under Dettori. Unusually for a Galileo mare, she’s done almost all her racing on fast ground but is bred to like these conditions.
She needs to bounce back from a poor run in France but enjoys this trip and the Gosdens have a good record in this race.
Jackie Oh has strong form over 1m2f and went close in a hot French contest last time. She is bred to get this distance and will enjoy conditions.
Time Lock deserves this hike in grade after a good Group 3 victory at Newmarket. She stays well but will need to take a step forward.
Above The Curve is proven on soft and was a good second in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. She wasn’t disgraced on her first crack at this trip in France last time.
3.05
PADDINGTON will love getting back on soft and can add to his tally of four Group 1 wins.
He found the going too quick at York after a smooth Sussex Stakes success in the mud at Goodwood.
He showed a liking for Ascot when taking the St James’s Palace Stakes ahead of Chaldean who has a big gap to bridge.
I’m a big fan of Tahiyra but trainer Dermot Weld says soft ground cost her the 1,000 Guineas and I’m not going to argue with him.
She won the Coronation at the Royal meeting before a breathtaking Matron Stakes win at Leopardstown, both times on fast ground.
She can still make the frame even if it’s testing.
Nashwa’s last run over this trip brought an impressive Falmouth Stakes win and she should handle conditions and grab a place.
Big Rock goes from the front and they can’t let him get away as he stays.
Angel Bleu loves it muddy and could nick a place if it gets really bottomless.
3.45
BAY BRIDGE has been plotted for this race by Sir Michael Stoute ever since he crossed the line in front 12 months ago.
He kicked off this season with a close-up third in a French Group 1 on soft before a good effort in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh.
The ground was too quick for him at the Royal meeting here before he used his class to score in a Kempton Group 3.
He warmed up for this with a decent effort in the Arc last time, again finding the ground too quick. These conditions are ideal and he can go close.
My Prospero looks a big each-way price after getting back on top in soft ground at Goodwood.
He was only half a length away in this race 12 months ago and trainer William Haggas is finishing the season off strongly.
King Of Steel is proven on slow ground and his stamina will be an asset in these conditions.
He backed up his Derby second with a win at the Royal meeting and ran a cracker in the Irish version of this race. He can give Frankie a thrill on his last British ride – for now at least.
French fancy Horizon Dore looks a short price even though he scored well in France three weeks ago.
His best efforts have come on fast ground and this is his first crack at the highest level so he needs to improve.
Juddmonte International winner Mostahdaf is a class act but the ground has gone against him with fast conditions more up his street.
Via Sistina is proven in this grade and went down in a photo for a French Group 1 last time. She likes some cut and has an each-way shout.
Royal Rhyme relished this trip when winning a Listed race last time but this is much tougher.
Point Lonsdale has been coming up short at this level but does like soft.
4.25
MIGRATION was an impressive winner of one of the best Lincolns we’ve had in years.
David Menuisier’s seven-year-old sailed through the deep mud on Town Moor and should have similar conditions here.
He has a good middle draw and we know he saves his best for a big-field cavalry charge so forget his poor showing in a small field last time.
He goes well fresh and his excellent trainer has saved him for this. He has a big weight but can cope with it.
Awaal was a good third in the Royal Hunt Cup here and went close in a Redcar Listed race last time.
He handles soft ground and is 1lb lower than that Royal meeting effort which gives him every chance.
Baradar will love these conditions and was impressive when winning here and again at Doncaster last time.
The only worry with him is the trip as he’s proven best over seven furlongs so far although he was third in the 2020 Group 1 Futurity over a mile so should stay.
Fellow Amo Racing hope Raadobarg needs soft ground and it was too quick for him at Newmarket last week where he was still an excellent third in the Group 3 Darley Stakes. This test will suit him better.
Sonny Liston was just pipped over this trip at Donny latest and is another contender with mudlark Al Mubhir who has had a little nudge down the weights.
Templegate’s tips
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