TEMPLEGATE tackles Friday’s top-class racing confident of giving the bookies a hiding with his tips.
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CATALLUS (1.50 Doncaster, nap)
He looked a colt going places when destroying them at Yarmouth last time and Charlie Appleby’s hope looks more than up to this standard. He’s bred for 7f and he seemed right at home in tacky ground at Sandown when second there back in July. There’s more to come.
SHADOW DANCE (1.15 Doncaster, nb)
He can waltz to Mallard glory over the stamina-sapping 1m6f trip. Roger Varian’s five-year-old finished like a train in the Ebor at York last time and ran much better than eleventh place suggests. That eye-catching run screamed of a horse with plenty still in the locker and he returns to the track where he went agonisingly close in this race 12 months ago. He was just chinned on the line in a blanket finish and is 1lb lower in the weights today.
CAPE FLORA (3.40 Doncaster, treble)
She has looked a different horse since being allowed to blast off from the front, blitzing home at Leicester by six lengths before backing that up with a dominant success at York last time. She’s thriving in front-running mode, has William Buick booked and this step up in trip holds no fears.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
The action is live on ITV1.
DONCASTER
1.15
SHADOW DANCE can waltz to Mallard glory over the stamina-sapping 1m6f trip.
Roger Varian’s five-year-old finished like a train in the Ebor at York last time and ran much better than eleventh place suggests.
That eye-catching run screamed of a horse with plenty still in the locker and he returns to the track where he went agonisingly close in this race 12 months ago.
He was just chinned on the line in a blanket finish and is 1lb lower in the weights today.
Promethean looks dangerous after a confidence-boosting French success, while Irish raider Duraji brings solid Group form and William Buick rides for Dermot Weld.
Synergism has been mopping up on the all-weather and could also have a say if handling the switch back to turf.
Beylerbeyi won three in a row over 1m4f before another decent run at Hamilton last time and has scored here before.
He has place claims if handling this longer distance.
1.50
CATALLUS looked a colt going places when destroying them at Yarmouth last time and Charlie Appleby’s hope looks more than up to this standard.
He’s bred for 7f and he seemed right at home in tacky ground at Sandown when second there back in July. There’s more to come.
Hankelow made a big impression when winning on debut at York and could be the main danger if backing that up in deeper waters.
Frescobaldi has improved with every run and got off the mark nicely on the Knavesmire. There’s more to come for Aidan O’Brien.
Sir Albert arrives on a hat-trick and brings street-fighting experience of nurseries to the table but he’s in deeper waters here.
Avicenna didn’t have to hit top gear when scoring here on debut last time.
He won despite running green but William Buick has chosen to ride the tip instead.
Do Or Do Not has a host of good placed efforts to his name in Group company and may find this a bit easier.
2.25
HAVANA HURRICANE likes to finish fast and late so will need a little luck – but he has more than enough class to take this if things fall right.
He won the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot over this trip before going down in a head-bobber for the Newbury Super Sprint.
He ran another excellent race when third in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood last time when giving them too much of a start.
If he can just start a bit quicker, he’ll have every chance.
Revival Power was a good Listed winner at York last time when getting the better of Military Code in a tight finish.
They both look like major dangers again especially if there isn’t too much ease in the ground.
Lady Iman should have a big say despite finding the Nunthorpe too much last time.
She was impressive in the Molecomb and is back against her own age group.
Mission Central looks the pick of the Ballydoyle pair after his Curragh win and has more to come in what looks a good renewal.
3.00
KYLE OF LOCHALSH deserves a crack at Group company after his impressive Goodwood win and looks a fair price to hit the frame at least.
He had loads left in the tank over 2m4f and will make this a real test.
The admirable Sweet William has every chance of defending his title after another consistent season.
He gave Trawlerman a race in the Lonsdale Cup at York and we know this trip and track are ideal.
Hipop De Loire is interesting after another good effort in the Ebor.
He was full of running at the line so this longer trip could bring out the best in the Willie Mullins runner.
Sunway is back quickly after a fair run in France last time.
It will be interesting to see how he gets on over this much longer trip.
Coltrane won this in 2022 and showed plenty of old spark with a Sandown Listed win latest but this is a lot hotter.
3.40
CAPE FLORA has looked a different animal since being allowed to blast off from the front, blitzing home at Leicester by six lengths before backing that up with a dominant success at York last time.
She’s thriving in front-running mode, has William Buick booked and this step up in trip holds no fears.
The main danger could be Perfect Your Craft, who arrives on a roll for Ralph Beckett and boasts a tidy Doncaster win already on her CV.
She’ll be finishing strongly but may just struggle to peg back Cape Flora if Buick gets the fractions right.
Sir Mark Prescott’s Bosphorus Rose comes here chasing a four-timer after a relentless summer streak, while Chilli Queen has been improving rapidly and showed tenacity when digging deep to land an Ascot prize.
Both are live threats along with Little Dorrit who improved at York last time out.
SALISBURY
3.25
AWAKEN can gallop her rivals to sleep. Her second in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot has been well advertised since and she made no mistake when landing her maiden with ease at Leicester.
She’ll need to settle better in what looks a red-hot renewal but her class should see her through.
Plenty of unexposed fillies line up against her, with Flowerhead a key danger if the strong early pace plays to her strengths.
She brings Group-level form and is bred to stay this trip.
Golden Palace and Dandana both arrive unbeaten in novice company with strong claims.
Templegate’s tips
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