Horse racing tips: Templegate’s 7-1 NAP has ideal trip for a trainer who can’t stop winning
TEMPLEGATE tackles day two of York’s star-studded York Dante Festival confident of finding some winners.
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WHISKEY PETE (5.20 York, nap)
He finished last season with a battling win over a mile here in October. That was an impressive handicap debut and he got better as the race went on so this longer trip should be ideal. A 3lb rise in the weights looks more than fair and trainer Ralph Beckett is in fine form.
ANCIENT WISDOM (3.45 York, nb)
He ended last season by winning the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Doncaster in October. He went from the front under William Buick and looked beaten when headed only to rally and end up winning comfortably. That bodes well for this step up in distance and this son of Dubawi can put himself in the Derby picture by taking this.
POINT LYNAS (2.45 York, treble)
He was second in this race 12 months ago and was later beaten in a tight finish for a red-hot handicap over course and distance at the Ebor meeting. He then stepped into Group 3 company for a solid fourth at Haydock. Trainer Ed Bethell has a decent record with fresh horses so his absence isn’t a worry and he can go well again at his favourite track from a decent low draw.
Templegate’s York verdicts
2.15
EQUILATERAL could be the answer to this tricky puzzle.
Charlie Hills’ veteran enjoyed his last visit to York as he won the big sprint handicap at the Ebor meeting after tanking along.
He then tried Group races abroad this winter with little success and is back at the right level from only a 1lb higher mark.
He’ll need some luck under Jamie Spencer but he should figure in the finish.
Alligator Alley was a place behind the tip in that Ebor meeting race and has come down the weights. He looks a solid each-way option.
Looking For Lynda comes here after two good runs at Epsom and Ripon over this trip. He has winning form over this trip and track and is still on a fair mark.
Clarendon House ran a cracker on comeback at Goodwood when beaten just over a length. He’s dropped to his last winning mark and will be competitive.
Top weight Korker likes York and will be fitter for his comeback run in France last time where he had trouble in running. He goes on any ground and likes this trip.
JM Jungle was a solid fourth on his UK return at Musselburgh and is off his last winning mark. He’ll need a personal best to take this but he’s only four and there should be more to come.
Copper Knight has won this twice and went well for a long way at Chester. It’s asking a lot to win but he could be thereabouts at a price despite his advancing years.
2.45
POINT LYNAS was second in this race 12 months ago and was later beaten in a tight finish for a red-hot handicap over course and distance at the Ebor meeting.
He then stepped into Group 3 company for a solid fourth at Haydock.
Trainer Ed Bethell has a decent record with fresh horses so his absence isn’t a worry and he can go well again at his favourite track from a decent low draw.
Metal Merchant was impressive when scoring in the Spring Cup at Newbury last month. He showed a good turn of foot to score over this trip and a 5lb rise in the weights looks fair.
Mirsky put in a good run on debut for new connections in the Thirsk Hunt Cup and can improve for that over a trip that suits.
Northern Express is a different horse at York with three wins and plenty of placed form on his CV. He has crept up the weights but conditions suit and he looks solid each-way.
Look Back Smiling comes here on the back of a close-up second at Thirsk where he came home with a real rattle. He would like more cut in the ground but can’t be discounted.
Similar comments apply to Al Mubhir who was just pipped at Leicester on comeback and should run well for William Haggas.
3.15
BLUESTOCKING took a little while to get going last season but ran crackers when second in the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks before finishing with a neck second in the Champion Fillies and Mares at Ascot in October.
She should have won really but the winner was given an easy lead that she couldn’t quite reel in.
Being hampered turning in didn’t help either. She was still a little green if anything and will improve further as a four-year-old.
Free Wind came back from 10 months off to win this race 12 months ago and was beaten in a photo for the Yorkshire Oaks just ahead of the tip.
She clearly loves it here and goes well fresh so today could be her best chance of a win this season even if Frankie Dettori is no longer around to ride her.
Sapphire Seas progressed nicely last season, winning a couple of minor contests before landing a Yarmouth Listed race over this trip.
She ran well in Dubai last time in February but needs more progression to topple the big two.
Sir Michael Stoute has been patient with Infinite Cosmos who has had just four runs so far. She looks like a longer trip would suit and she’s best watched on comeback.
3.45
ANCIENT WISDOM ended last season by winning the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Doncaster in October.
He went from the front under William Buick and looked beaten when headed only to rally and end up winning comfortably.
That bodes well for this step up in distance and this son of Dubawi can put himself in the Derby picture by taking this.
Al Musmak did well last season with two good Listed efforts at Ascot and Haydock before going close in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket.
He’s another who stayed the mile strongly and should get home over this distance.
God’s Window never went a yard in the Dee Stakes at Chester last time where the track may not have suited.
He wasn’t helped by missing the kick and he couldn’t get into the race. He will have to do a lot better to win this but should run a lot better on this fairer track.
Caviar Heights relished the step up to this trip when winning easily at Newmarket earlier this month.
He went from the front there and is likely to try the same tactics against this stronger opposition.
Cambridge was below par in the Craven last time and will need this longer trip to conjure up improvement.
4.15
BIG EVS was one of the stories of last season as he won at the Breeders’ Cup for local hero Mick Appleby.
He kicked off by blitzing his rivals from the front to win the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot before taking the Molecomb at Glorious Goodwood.
He found the Nunthorpe against older horses here too much before getting back on track in the Flying Childers at Donny.
He blasts off and makes all and, provided his juvenile career didn’t take too much out of him, it’s hard to see him being beaten here.
Kylian looks the only one with scope to score but he has seven lengths to find on the tip on their Flying Childers run.
He has moved to Archie Watson from Karl Burke which could conjure improvement but it needs to.
Unbreak My Heart finished last season with a solid third in a Newmarket Group 3. He got no luck in running at Bath on comeback and is a lot better than that.
Sommelier showed his best in all-weather handicaps and looks short of this level.
Mon Na Slieve won his maiden here last season but struggled to make a mark after that. He could make a better three-year-old but is best watched here.
4.45
ANDESITE looks perfect for this test with plenty of speed in his pedigree.
His sire Pinatubo was a superstar juvenile and his dam won a sprint as a two-year-old too. Trainer Karl Burke does well at the track and he has another live chance.
Seattle cost two million quid so Aidan O’Brien will hope he can do the business. His pedigree is all about a mile and further but he should have enough class to figure over this trip too.
Yah Mo Be There has plenty of juvenile winners in his family and should enjoy this trip on debut. He’s one to keep an eye on in the betting.
Richard Hughes is doing well this season and his Rare Change is bred to be speedy and the booking of William Buick catches the eye.
Tarlac is another son of Pinatubo but with a lot more stamina on his dam’s side. Kevin Ryan can get them ready at home so watch for a market move.
5.20
WHISKEY PETE finished last season with a battling win over a mile here in October.
That was an impressive handicap debut and he got better as the race went on so this longer trip should be ideal.
A 3lb rise in the weights looks more than fair and trainer Ralph Beckett is in fine form.
London City stayed on strongly to win a maiden at Dundalk last month and his opening handicap mark of 93 seems fair. He wasn’t stopping over 1m2f so should have no problem staying.
Cool Legend showed his staying power when scoring at Kempton last time out in December. This son of Sea The Stars should have no problem switching to turf and is a contender.
Tokyo Bay scored over this trip at Ripon on comeback last month and should be capable of better from his low weight.
Hampden showed promise on his handicap debut at Wolver last time and won’t be far away.
Templegate’s tips
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