Horse racing tips: Templegate’s big NAP takes a drop in class at York for powerful stable

TEMPLEGATE tackles a busy day of racing on Saturday hoping the boost the betting bank before Royal Ascot.

Read on for his tips and back a horse by clicking their odds.

ISRAR (3.05 York, nap)

He drops in class after his short-head second at Newbury last month. He should improve for that comeback run and shapes as though this longer distance will be ideal. There’s a lot more to come from the Gosden four-year-old.

DARKNESS (2.35 York, nb)

He can land a deserved win after being collared near the post on his past two outings. He is best over this distance and he runs off the same handicap mark as his short-head chinning at Goodwood last Sunday.

GREAT STATE (2.50 Sandown, treble)

He was impressive when winning a York Listed contest over this trip last time. He carved his way through to win going away with almost three lengths in hand. That gives him extra weight to carry today but he can handle that.

Templegate’s ITV Racing verdicts

YORK

2.00

KIHAVAH scored over course and distance here last month and followed up by winning over hurdles at Market Rasen 16 days ago. His liking for York is an asset in this wide-open contest.

Dream Harder is a threat after an excellent effort in the mud at Chester on turf comeback. He was unlucky there before finishing like a train. He will go close again.

Saratoga Gold was a solid third at Newmarket last month when the 1m6f trip may have just stretched his stamina. This drop in distance brings him right into the picture.

2.35

DARKNESS can land a deserved win after being collared near the post on his past two outings. He is best over this distance and he runs off the same handicap mark as his short-head chinning at Goodwood last Sunday. He can go one better for in-form trainer David O’Meara.

Scottish Summit finished strongly to score at Thirsk last time and the ten-year-old is in the mix again from a fair 4lb higher.

Eligible got the job done in a big field here last time and should be competitive again.

3.05

ISRAR drops in class after his short-head second at Newbury last month. He should improve for that comeback run and shapes as though this longer distance will be ideal. There’s a lot more to come from the Gosden four-year-old.

Quickthorn won the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup here last season so will be no pushover. He wasn’t disgraced when fourth in the Yorkshire Cup last time and could nick this from the front in the relatively small field.

Ching Shih kept on well over 1m4f at Goodwood on comeback last month so should see out this trip.

3.40

MILL STREAM looked rustier than my garden gate when sixth in a Haydock Group 2 last month. He takes a fair drop in class into a handicap here and has copped a decent draw. He has shown his best over this six-furlong trip and Marco Ghiani can get a lot closer to the front today.

Washington Heights is consistent and went close again at Newmarket last time over this distance. He likes to come from behind and Jamie Spencer gets on board today.

Quinault beat him last time as part of a four-win sequence. He’s now a hefty 25lb higher than the start of that run but could be a threat again.

SANDOWN

2.15

HELM ROCK ran a cracker here last time when second in similar company. That followed a solid placed run at Ascot where this trip suited well too. He is capable off this handicap mark and can go close again.

New Dimension is interesting for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore. He hasn’t run since August but shaped like he’d improve as a four-year-old. The handicapper could have let him in lightly.

Baltimore Boy didn’t get a great ride from a young apprentice at Ascot when running into fourth from a long way back. He likes this distance and has plenty to offer with relatively few miles on the clock. 

2.50

GREAT STATE was impressive when winning a York Listed contest over this trip last time. He carved his way through to win going away with almost three lengths in hand. That gives him extra weight to carry today but he can handle that.

Perdika showed quality when scoring in France 13 days ago. That was over six furlongs but she’s effective at this trip too. She will be right in the shake-up on ground that suits.

Tajalla takes a sharp hike in class here but he’s scored nicely on both starts, particularly on debut at Newmarket. He has more to offer for Roger Varian who won this race last year. 

CHESTER

3.20

SOPHIA’S STARLIGHT was impressive when winning from the front at Wetherby last time and has the ideal low draw for a repeat. She is usually quick out of the stalls and veteran jockey John Egan knows how to ride this tricky track.

Tafreej has copped a poor draw in stall eight but he likes to come from behind anyway as he did when a close-up third at Goodwood. He is a big threat but may need some luck to weave a path through.

Saxon King is another drawn wide but he ran a cracker in third at York latest on the back of wins at Newmarket and Haydock. He still looks on a fair weight. 

Templegate’s tips

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