Horse racing tips: Ascot, Market Rasen, Catterick, Ffos Las, Stratford and Wolverhampton – Templegate’s betting preview for ITV’s racing on Saturday, October 21
Ascot, Market Rasen, Catterick, Ffos Las, Stratford and Wolverhampton come under the spotlight as Templegate gives you his best bets for the day
ASCOT
1.25 - ITV1
DON’T fiddle around in the Long Distance Cup – back STRADIVARIUS.
He’s progressed brilliantly throughout the season. His Queen’s Vase win at Royal Ascot was a decent effort but he bettered it when scything through the field to nail Big Orange in the Goodwood Cup.
Finishing third – beaten just half a length - behind Capri in the St Leger was another rock-solid effort.
The return to two miles will suit John Gosden’s stayer and there should be a decent pace on for him.
The ground will be softer than he’s faced but it was on the easy side both at Goodwood and in the St Leger.
If he handles conditions he must have a great chance of giving Frankie Dettori a cracking start to his favourite day.
Order Of St George clearly sets the standard. He was third in last year’s Arc and was just a place further back behind Enable this time.
He failed by just a short-head to retain his Gold Cup crown at Royal Ascot when unable to get past Big Orange.
Today’s softer ground gives him a great chance of reversing that form but I’m still worried about his style of racing.
He tends to get outpaced before staying on – as he did when only fourth in this race last year – and I’m not prepared to back him at such short odds.
Sheikhzayedroad led them home last year but he did have plenty go his way. He was well held in the Gold Cup and the Goodwood Cup which leaves him plenty to find.
His third behind Desert Skyline in the Doncaster Cup was a step in the right direction and he is weighted to reverse that form.
But I quite like Desert Skyline. He’s improved since stepping up to two miles with cheekpieces on and he looks best of those at double-figure odds.
2.00 - ITV1
THERE should be more Angel delight for Clive Cox and Adam Kirby.
HARRY ANGEL has been awesome since settling down a bit in in his last two races.
He was too good for Limato in the July Cup on fast ground when the likes of Brando, Caravaggio, The Tin Man and Tasleet were left trailing.
Then he bolted up by four lengths from Tasleet in Haydock’s Sprint Cup on heavy ground when The Tin Man was back in third.
This Godolphin speedster is probably still improving and he just doesn’t have any holes in him.
Some suggest he might be vulnerable if something decides to take him on at break-neck pace early on. But with a horse as fast as Harry Angel that’s easier said than done.
Mud-loving Quiet Reflection could be the main danger. She bagged a brace of Group 1s last season but was only seventh behind The Tin Man in this race 12 months ago.
Today’s conditions will be much more to her liking and she will be fresher than her rivals after just two runs this season. Course specialist The Tin Man is the other one I like.
He added the Golden Jubilee to his win in this race last year to make it two course-and-distance Group 1 victories. But he’s been thumped by Harry Angel on his last two starts and he would prefer quicker ground.
Caravaggio heads Aidan O’Brien’s four-pronged challenge. He looked a potential superstar when swooping late to beat Harry Angel and Blue Point in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
But Harry Angel seems to have improved past him and he had to drop into a Group 2 to get his third win of the season last time.
2.40 - ITV1
I’M a Bat man in the Fillies and Mares contest.
BATEEL was tailed off last in this race 12 months ago when trained by David Simcock. But there’s no doubt she’s a much better horse this season since switching to French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard.
She’s also got a faultless record of six wins from six starts on ground with soft in the description.
My fancy had little trouble winning a Haydock Group 3 in June and she followed up on faster ground at Deauville.
She came good at the top level to complete a hat-trick of wins in style at Chantilly on Arc trials day in the Prix Vermeille last month.
That defeat of Journey was most impressive and I’m convinced she sets a decent standard for the others to aim at.
There’s every chance Journey will have sharpened up for that effort. She was hugely impressive when winning this race by four lengths last year.
But today’s testing ground tips the balance towards Bateel.
John Gosden also runs Coronet and I reckon she might have a better chance than her stablemate. She’s been no match for superstar fill Enable this summer but that’s hardly any disgrace.
Her Ribblesdale success at Royal Ascot shows she has no problem with the track and her fifth in the St Leger was a decent effort against the boys.
Stamina is the worry for Hydrangea but I’ve a sneaky feeling Horseplay might run well on the testing ground.
Templegate's TV tips
1.25 Ascot - Stradivarius: 'He’s progressed brilliantly throughout the season and can get Frankie off to a flyer'
2.00 Ascot - Harry Angel: 'This Godolphin speedster is probably still improving and he just doesn’t have any holes in him'
2.40 Ascot - Bateel: 'She’s got a faultless record of six wins from six starts on ground with soft in the description'
3.15 Ascot - Ribchester: 'Undoubtedly been the best miler this season and he should cap it with his fifth Group 1 victory'
3.50 Ascot - Brametot: 'It’s not hard to argue he’s as good – if not better – over today’s shorter trip'
4.30 Ascot - Withernsea: 'Will be hoping the rain continues to pour down as he cannot have it soft enough'
3.15 - ITV1
TUCK into some prime Rib.
RIBCHESTER has undoubtedly been the best miler this season and he should cap it with his fifth Group 1 victory.
His only defeat came when beaten a neck by Here Comes When in the Sussex Stakes.
The ground was officially soft at Goodwood that day but most people were of the opinion it was appalling so it would be daft to hold it against him.
Richard Fahey’s ace is much better judged on his impressive Lockinge win or his Queen Anne success over today’s course and distance at Royal Ascot.
Last month’s Chantilly Group 1 victory should have set him up nicely for today. He’s the one they’ve all got to beat.
Churchill looked another Aidan O’Brien superstar off the Coolmore production line last season.
He confirmed that in the 2,000 Guineas and the Irish version but it seems others have progressed past him.
The drop back from 1m2f won’t do any harm but he’s never really wanted the ground this soft.
I’m more worried about Beat The Bank. He deserves his chance at this level after a hugely impressive Group 2 win at Newmarket last time.
Conditions shouldn’t be a problem and he is still improving.
Al Wukair – third in the 2,000 Guineas - got a brilliant ride from Frankie Dettori to win at Deauville in the summer.
That form still leaves him with plenty to find with Ribchester and he might have started to go a bit tricky.
3.50 - ITV1
HAVE yourself a Tot in the Champion Stakes. French raider BRAMETOT looks the answer to this tricky puzzle.
He ran better than his finishing position of fifth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as he was stuck behind weakening rivals at a crucial time.
That was his first attempt at 1m4f and it’s not hard to argue he’s as good – if not better – over today’s shorter trip.
His narrow wins in the French 2,000 Guineas and Derby might not be as strong as the British Classics but they were still classy efforts.
He’s likely to get the fast pace he prefers and he’s proven on soft ground.
I can’t wait to see Cracksman next season. He’s going to be some sight over 1m4f but it must be a concern dropping back to ten furlongs.
He swerved the Arc – won by stablemate Enable – after taking wins in York’s Great Voltigeur and the Prix Niel in France.
He was third in the Derby before chasing home Capri in the Irish version. The soft ground will help his cause but the three-year-old colts at the Derby distance are hardly a vintage bunch.
He’s too short in the betting for me.
On faster ground I would have sided with Barney Roy. He won the St James’s Palace Stakes over a mile at Royal Ascot and was only nosed out of the Coral-Eclipse by top-class Ulysses.
He got into a battle too early when third in the Juddmonte International at York but the testing ground is likely to blunt his finishing kick this time.
Poet’s Word has progressed well but this race looks stronger than the Irish Champion Stakes he was runner-up in last month.
MOST READ
4.30 - ITV1
GET With the plan in the Balmoral Handicap.
WITHERNSEA will be hoping the rain continues to pour down as he cannot have it soft enough. That makes him of real interest every time he gets his conditions.
He won a decent Newbury in handicap in May and finished a close fourth in the valuable Betfred Mile at Goodwood the next time he got soft ground.
Few people are better at winning these big handicaps than his trainer Richard Fahey and a middle draw won’t do him any harm.
There’s no doubt he’s got a lot of ground to make up on Accidental Agent and Lord Glitters on their running over seven furlongs at this track two weeks ago.
But he probably got involved too early over that shorter trip and the deeper ground gives him a decent chance of making up the difference.Accidental Agent got first run on Lord Glitters last time. That was Lord Glitters first run for David O’Meara after being snapped up for £240,000 from France. It’s easy to see why he’s short in the betting.
Zabeel Prince is the other one at the head of the betting. That’s no surprise given the manner of his York victory last week but this is a tough race to be backing up quickly in.
Templegate's TV tips
1.25 Ascot - Stradivarius: 'He’s progressed brilliantly throughout the season and can get Frankie off to a flyer'
2.00 Ascot - Harry Angel: 'This Godolphin speedster is probably still improving and he just doesn’t have any holes in him'
2.40 Ascot - Bateel: 'She’s got a faultless record of six wins from six starts on ground with soft in the description'
3.15 Ascot - Ribchester: 'Undoubtedly been the best miler this season and he should cap it with his fifth Group 1 victory'
3.50 Ascot - Brametot: 'It’s not hard to argue he’s as good – if not better – over today’s shorter trip'
4.30 Ascot - Withernsea: 'Will be hoping the rain continues to pour down as he cannot have it soft enough'
ASCOT
1.25 Stradivarius
2.00 Harry Angel (treble)
2.40 Bateel (nb)
3.15 Ribchester
3.50 Brametot
4.30 Withernsea (nap)
CATTERICK
1.50 Immortal Romance
2.25 Perfect Thought
2.55 Desert Ace
3.30 Kickboxer
4.05 Sellingallthetime
4.40 Flyboy
5.10 Inspector Norse
FFOS LAS
2.10 Angels Antics
2.45 Eragon De Chanay
3.20 Brelan D’As
3.55 Grey Gold
4.25 The New One
5.00 Cody Wyoming
5.35 Cereal Killer
MARKET RASEN
1.10 Cabaret Queen
1.40 Not That Fuisse
2.15 Demon D’Aunou
2.50 Paddys Runner
3.25 It’s Your Move
4.00 Capitaine
4.35 Ready Token
5.05 Grand Saucy
STRATFORD
1.55 Sky Of Stars
2.30 Miss Night Owl
3.00 Romain De Senam
3.35 Aficionado
4.10 Wish In A Well
4.45 Jurby
5.15 Mr One More
5.45 Sandy Cove
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.40 Blazed
6.15 Magic Moments
6.45 Kasperenko
7.15 Craving
7.45 Navajo Star
8.15 Born To Reason
8.45 Sir Lancelott
9.15 Multiviz