Horse racing tips: Templegate’s 13-2 NAP is ‘different class’ and the race sets up perfectly for him

TEMPLEGATE tackles a massive Saturday of racing confident of banging in some winners.

Our man tipped up 11-2 Ebor winner Magical Zoe at 16-1 – and he’s put forward his St Leger picks for Members Enclosure readers now.

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ELITE STATUS (3.35 Haydock, nap)

Karl Burke’s flyer has done nothing but improve this season and is different class in the £400,000 Haydock Sprint Cup. He kicked off with a smooth Listed success at Newbury before landing the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes there last time out with something left. That classy contest has been a good pointer to success in this race. After just two starts this campaign, he arrives nice and fresh with the Burke stable firing in plenty of winners. Clifford Lee’s mount likes to sit just behind a strong pace and is guaranteed to get that in this big field. This trip is ideal for this son of Havana Grey who handles any ground and looks capable of real improvement at this early stage of his career.

MASTER BUILDER (1.50 Haydock, nb)

David Menuisier’s three-year-old has been given plenty of time and looked a big-race winner in waiting when a close third at York last time. This Mastercraftsman gelding saw out the 1m6f trip well and wasn’t helped by being blocked when trying to hit top gear. He looks a few steps ahead of his 88 handicap mark and the booking of William Buick boosts his chances.

HOLLOWAY BOY (1.15 Haydock, treble)

Is another Burke and Buick runner to watch. He has gone close in some hot handicaps this season, including when unlucky at York last time. That came after good efforts at Goodwood and Sandown. He deserves this crack at Group 3 level and he’s right at home on fast and soft ground.

Templegate’s TV verdicts

ASCOT

1.35

THE WIZARD OF EYE hasn’t run since his solid sixth in the Group 1 Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He wasn’t entirely happy dropped to six furlongs there and stayed on strongly in the closing stages.

He won the Victoria Cup over this course and distance in May and is only 3lb higher than that success. He goes on any ground and should be right there.

Miss Information has been consistent and went down in a head-bobber at York 16 days ago. This is her best distance and she is another who looks ahead of her handicap mark.

Put a line through New Image’s run in that Knavesmire contest as he was too bad to be good.

Before that he dug deep to score over a mile here and has a couple of good places over this trip. He’s creeping up the weights but looks solid each-way.

Rebel Territory came back from 16 months off with a solid sixth in hot company at Goodwood last month.

He won the Victoria Cup last season so this course and distance is ideal. Some cut in the ground would be ideal and he has place claims.

Aalto has shown his best over this trip and is better than we saw at Chepstow last time.

2.10

THE REVEREND has cheekpieces on for the first time as he makes this handicap debut for William Haggas.

He won on debut at Newmarket as a juvenile and has been a good second twice since. His opening handicap mark of 86 gives him every chance of success.

French Duke battled right to the line when scoring over this trip at Glorious Goodwood. A 9lb rise for that is a little harsh but there’s improvement to come.

Goodwood Odyssey tanked along in soft ground before scoring 14 days ago and his trainer David Menuisier is ending the season in fine form. His best form has come with some cut in the ground.

Houstonn went close when tackling this course and distance two runs ago. He was then a good second at Newbury and has more to come on his third handicap run.

The King’s High Order didn’t stay 1m6f when looking a little rusty at Donny latest after a break. He earlier won over this trip at Southwell by 13 lengths and it’s early days for the Gosden runner.

HAYDOCK

1.15

HOLLOWAY BOY has the benefit of William Buick in the saddle and that could make the difference after some excellent placed efforts.

This is his best trip and he went close in hot company at York last time. He handles any ground and deserves this crack at Group 3 level.

Witch Hunter drops in class after going down in a photo for the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury three weeks ago.

He missed the break there before finishing strongly and the extra furlong should be fine.

Cicero’s Gift didn’t go a yard on fast ground at Goodwood on the back of a smooth success at Sandown over this trip. It would be no surprise to see him bounce back if conditions are a bit easier.

Regal Reality rarely finishes out of the first three and hit the frame in the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes here last time. Ryan Moore and Sir Michael Stoute are always respected when teaming up.

Clove Hitch was disappointing at Sandown last time after an easy novice win at Newbury. Andrew Balding has given him a little break and that could see her show more.

1.50

MASTER BUILDER looked a useful stayer in the making when third in the Melrose Stakes at York 14 days ago.

That was his first crack at this sort of trip and he had no problem getting home despite some trouble in running. He has his sights lowered here and looks one to follow.

Across Earth is another who enjoyed a stiffer test of stamina when getting off the mark at Yarmouth last time. This is hotter company but it’s early days so there should be more to come.

Contacto came from a mile back to win over 1m4f at Hamilton last time. He has a bad habit of missing the kick but will have more time to make up the ground here which gives him an each-way shout.

Ryan Moore takes over on Walter Hartright who followed four wins with a couple of seconds, including at Beverley last time. He goes up in grade here so will have to pull out more.

Hutchence swaps blinkers for a first-time visor after winning at Salisbury and Newbury last time. A 6lb rise gives him more to do but the longer trip should be in his favour.

2.25

WAXING GIBBOUS can shine in this wide-open contest. She has done well on her three starts this season, starting with a good Doncaster second before a convincing success at Newbury.

She then shaped like a stayer when second on the sand at Kempton and has had a nice break since that June effort. He looks on a fair handicap mark and has more to come.

Epic Poet was a cracking fourth in the Ebor at York over this trip two Saturdays ago. He’s back from the same mark and should be on the premises again.

Oneforthegutter was a place ahead of him in the Ebor and has winning form around here. The booking of Ryan Moore is a plus.

Divine Comedy stays forever and is capable of running into the frame.

Trainer Harry Eustace has had a good season and this six-year-old was a solid fifth in a big field at York last time.

He was a good winner over two miles on his last visit here in May and will be competitive.

Dancing In Paris has winning form over this trip and scored on the sand at Southwell latest. A repeat of that effort would give him a chance.

3.00

AMERICAN AFFAIR ran another cracker when just failing to land a big bonus for winning three Sunday Series races at Pontefract last time.

He was a close second the last time he ran here and he gets on well with Amie Waugh whose 5lb claim could make the difference in this tight race.

Jer Batt finished just ahead of the tip here last month but is effectively 6lb worse off at the weights today. He was poor on the Southwell sand last time but is better than that.

Looking For Lynda was beaten less than a length in a big field at York last time. He’s not won this season but has dropped to his last winning mark so won’t be far away.

Shagraan ran well in that Knavesmire contest on the back of a big-field win at Glorious Goodwood. The booking of Oisin Murphy is a plus and he’s another in with a say in this open contest.

Changeofmind has won a couple of good races this season without getting his head in front but still looks a little high in the weights.

3.35

ELITE STATUS has gone from strength to strength this season and can take the next step.

He kicked off the campaign with a Listed win at Newbury before returning to the Berkshire track for a blistering success in the Hackwood last time.

He likes this trip on any ground and looks capable of improvement for in-form Karl Burke.

Inisherin runs in the same colours and landed the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup in style before a disappointing effort in the July Cup at Newmarket.

He has already won a big race over course and distance and is another who handles any conditions.

Swingalong was beaten just a neck in the July Cup after a cracking second at Royal Ascot. He is another Karl Burke runner in with every chance.

Jasour started the season with a Group 3 win at Ascot but has pulled too hard on his past couple of runs. He’d be a big threat if able to settle better.

Montassib was last seen winning the Chipchase over this trip at Newcastle in June and has place prospects.

KEMPTON

2.35

HAMISH may be getting on a bit now but he won this race two years ago and has a fantastic record at this Group 3 level.

He’s had a couple of months off since a rare blip at Newmarket last time and he was good enough to finish second in the Coronation Cup to start the season.

He is right at home over this trip and William Haggas’s horses continue in good form.

Kalpana is the young pretender who had plenty in hand when winning a Hamilton Listed contest last time. She was a close-up third in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot and should have more to offer.

Lion’s Pride looks a threat over a trip and track that suit. The Gosden hope took Listed honours here last season and gets 3lb from his main rival.

He didn’t fire at Goodwood latest but returning to the all-weather is a plus.

Cemhaan won well on his last course visit in April but has been below that form twice since. He was last seen down the field at Royal Ascot and has questions to answer now.

3.15

LONGLAI has a fine record on the all-weather and he won over this course and distance before following up at Wolverhampton last time.

A 3lb rise for that latest success looks more than fair and he’ll be competitive again.

It’s early days for Kilt who won a Newmarket maiden on comeback and went close on handicap debut at Haydock last time. He likes this trip and should be capable of better.

Valkyrian has yet to put a foot wrong and was less than a length away when second at Southwell on Wednesday. She will make another bold bid from the front and could easily hold on for another place.

Whitcombe Rockstar has won four of his past five, including three over this course and distance. He did well to score from a mile back at Sandown on turf last time and will be competitive again.

Borgi came right back to his best when coming late to score at Newcastle latest. He is best over this distance and will be competitive from 3lb higher in the weights.

Templegate’s tips

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