TEMPLEGATE is fully into the swing of things on the Flat and tackles day one of the Craven meeting at Newmarket on the hunt for winners.
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VERSE OF LOVE (3.35 Newmarket, nap)
Looked like a potential 1,000 Guineas contender when blasting away with a smart track and trip maiden last year. She was very green when asked to extend by William Buick but once she started to get the hang of things, she was away in a matter of strides. She’s certain to have improved bundles and Charlie Appleby clearly holds this filly in very high regard.
MASAI MOON (2.25 Newmarket, nb)
Did extremely well to quicken off a slow pace when making a winning debut at Kempton in October. His pedigree is all stamina, so the fact he showed such a smart turn of foot is a very promising sign for this Dante entry. He should leave that effort well behind on first turf start and the extra furlong is absolutely in his favour.
ARAMRAM (1.50 Newmarket, treble)
Was kept busy last season but was very productive, with the highlight being a near-miss in the Ayr Silver Cup. He’s actually improved on the figures since then, posting career-bests when edged out in two good all-weather handicaps this year. There’s more to come from him and with a good pace to chase, he can put his fitness to good use by pouncing late.
Templegate’s Newmarket verdicts
1.50
ARAMRAM was kept busy last season but was very productive, with the highlight being a near-miss in the Ayr Silver Cup.
He’s actually improved on the figures since then, posting career-bests when edged out in two good all-weather handicaps this year.
There’s more to come from him and with a good pace to chase, he can put his fitness to good use by pouncing late.
Elmonjed capped off 2024 with comfortable wins at Windsor and York.
Given how easily he was on top late on, it’s not a stretch to say he could be a Group horse in a handicap, making him a big danger.
Physique was a huge eyecatcher when fourth at Doncaster on return.
Expect him to improve plenty and arrive on the scene late.
Dark Thirty won that Doncaster race, showing a great attitude to battle back late on. He’s another with cast-iron claims.
2.25
MASAI MOON did extremely well to quicken off a slow pace when making a winning debut at Kempton in October.
His pedigree is all stamina, so the fact he showed such a smart turn of foot is a very promising sign for this Dante entry.
He should leave that effort well behind on first turf start and the extra furlong is absolutely in his favour.
With natural improvement, he can cement his claims for Group race glory later in the year.
Nightwalker built on his Yarmouth win by finishing third in a Group 3 at Newmarket in October.
He was outpaced before staying on again, so the extra furlong will be perfect for him.
Almeric showed a really good attitude when winning at York second time up.
That form doesn’t set the world on fire, but he’s sure to improve this season.
3.00
AMBIENTE FRIENDLY finished second in the Derby last year and followed that up by finishing third in the Irish race a month later.
He didn’t build on that afterwards, but he’s joined a trainer who can do no wrong in James Owen and is set for another exciting season.
This trip is probably on the sharper side, but he has much the best form and the ground should be perfect for him.
Ottoman Fleet has won the last two runnings of this race and Charlie Appleby’s globetrotter was last seen running well in Group 1 company at Meydan.
He loves Newmarket and if he does make the running, he will not be easy to peg back thanks to his high cruising speed.
Persica won a Listed race last season but found Group races a bit hot in other runs.
He needs to improve to trouble the front two, but cannot be discounted, especially with Ryan Moore jocked up.
3.35
VERSE OF LOVE looked like a potential 1,000 Guineas contender when blasting away with a smart track and trip maiden last year.
She was very green when asked to extend by William Buick but once she started to get the hang of things, she was away in a matter of strides.
She’s certain to have improved bundles and Charlie Appleby clearly holds this filly in very high regard.
Expect her to improve past Arabian Dusk, who sets the standard on her Group 2 win last year as a juvenile.
She should relish an extra furlong after being kept at sprint trips last season and the fact she has plenty of Newmarket experience is a feather in her cap.
Nadra cost £440,000 and won like a favourite should on debut at Haydock.
That wasn’t a brilliant race, but she quickened up smartly.
Celestial Orbit ran a stinker on debut but took two giant steps forward afterwards, latterly winning a Listed race at Sandown. She’s on the upgrade.
4.10
RUBY’S ANGEL looks good value to give trainer Hugo Palmer back-to-back wins in this maiden.
She’s bred to be precocious and her pedigree is packed full of speed.
Jason Hart is a brilliant sprint rider and she should run well if ready to roll on debut.
Charlie Appleby and William Buick won this race in 2018 and 2019 and their Twilight Star looks a worthy favourite.
She’s bred to be quick and expectations will be high.
Trainer Karl Burke ended last season with a superb 20 per cent strike rate with his juveniles.
He’s represented by Meelaf who looks the part on paper.
Storm Flag has to be respected coming from the in-form Andrew Balding yard and Harry’s Girl can’t be discounted.
4.45
ZGHARTA showed plenty of natural ability despite looking clueless for most of the race.
She’ll come on plenty for the experience and trainer Andrew Balding couldn’t be in better form.
A first-time hood should hopefully settle her down.
All eyes will be on the regally-bred Goldie Trickett — who cost a stunning €1.6 million at the sales.
The market will be a helpful guide to her chances.
Victory Queen is also bred in the purple and expectations will be high.
She has no fancy entries but that could change if she produces a big performance here.
Of the rest, Model Yuko is most interesting.
5.20
LADY CHARTWELL was a cosy winner on handicap debut at Chelmsford last month.
She relished a step up to ten furlongs and a 6lb rise for that could have been harsher on the face of it.
There’s no telling how much improvement could be under the hood.
Treasure Fleet easily won a pair of Wolverhampton novices in January.
He has a gorgeous pedigree, so it’s a bit of a surprise connections have gone the handicap route.
The Trickster also won a pair of novices, showing a good attitude at Beverley and Redcar.
His opening mark does look fair and he will improve for an extra furlong.
Templegate’s tips
NEWMARKET
1.50 Aramram (treble)
2.25 Masai Moon (nb)
3.00 Ambiente Friendly
3.35 VERSE OF LOVE (nap)
4.10 Ruby’s Angel
4.45 Zgharta
5.10 Lady Chartwell
SOUTHWELL
2.05 Cloudy Wednesday
2.40 Pep Talking
3.15 Serious Challenge
3.50 Pipers Cross
4.25 My Gift To You
5.00 Heaven Smart
KEMPTON
4.55 Luminoso
5.30 Eulalia
6.00 Port Erin
6.30 Taskheer
7.00 Jersey Maverick
7.30 Queue Dos
8.00 Intervention
8.30 Federated
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