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TEMPLEGATE tackles a mad, frantic and absolutely sensational Saturday of racing confident of making it one to remember for punters.
We’re spoiled for choice with a whole host of action from Doncaster, where the St Leger takes centre stage at 3.40pm.
There is Group action galore from Leopardstown, too, where it’s day one of the Irish Champions festival.
The big race there is the Irish Champion Stakes at 5.30pm.
Back any horse you fancy simply by clicking their odds below.
CASH (1.15 Doncaster, nap)
CASH can be king for Simcock and Spencer. He makes his handicap debut here dropped to his favoured mile for the first time in a long time. There are a couple of front-runners to set this up nicely and he can come late to take the spoils.
CARMERS (3.40 Doncaster, nb)
Looks to be crying out for this return to 1m6f after his excellent second in the Great Voltigeur at York last time. It took him a little time to hit top gear on the Knavesmire and the winning post came a little too soon over 1m4f. He was better when winning the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot over this trip. Then he was able to settle nicely just off the pace and come through with a strong run for a narrow but convincing enough win. Doncaster’s long straight looks perfect for him and trainer Paddy Twomey says the son of Wootton Bassett is in excellent nick. He is bred to handle any ground and doesn’t have to progress much more to land this Classic having already beaten today’s hot favourite Scandinavia back in June.
NDAAWI (2.40 Chester, treble)
Could be absolutely thrown in at the weights on this return to the Flat. He has been a massive improver over hurdles for Gordon Elliott since struggling in last year’s Cesarewitch with a second in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham before winning the red-hot Galway Hurdle last time. He’s 3lb lower than his last Flat outing and should relish conditions.
Templegate’s verdicts
DONCASTER
1.15
CASH can be king for Simcock and Spencer.
He makes his handicap debut here dropped to his favoured mile for the first time in a long time.
There are a couple of front-runners to set this up nicely and he can come late to take the spoils.
Atlantic Gamble went down in a tight finish in a red-hot Racing League contest at Yarmouth last time and has had a little break since.
He likes juice in the ground and is best over this distance. He looks way overpriced to make the frame.
Treble Tee sets the standard after a solid second at Goodwood three weeks ago.
Oisin Murphy takes over today and this mile distance is right up his street.
Hawksbill looks to be improving and followed a photo defeat at Haydock with another good second at Chester last time.
He’s creeping up the weights but should be competitive again.
Point Of Contact was beaten less than a length at York in good company latest and sees out this mile nicely. He looks capable of another step forward.
1.50
OXAGON clocked a blistering time when winning at Sandown last time.
This son of Frankel didn’t have a lot to beat but he picked up smartly and won eight lengths without breaking sweat.
The form of that race has been franked and there’s a lot more to come from the Gosden colt.
Gewan has already proven himself at Group 2 level thanks to smooth win in the Acomb at York last month.
He got stronger as the race went on and looks another very smart prospect for Andrew Balding.
Cape Orator scored on the Kempton sand before crossing the Channel to win a big Sales race at Deauville 30 days ago.
That was over six furlongs but he’s crying out for this longer trip and is another with star potential.
It’s not often that Aidan O’Brien two-year-olds are hovering around the 8-1 mark and Puerto Rico wasn’t disgraced in the Phoenix at The Curragh last time.
He needs to find more but it’s possible.
Cape Ashizuri won an Ayr maiden nicely but this looks a sharp step up.
2.25
ROSARIO has an unfortunate habit of missing the kick but that’s no bad thing in Doncaster sprints where hold-up horses fare well.
He came home with a real rattle to grab third at Goodwood last time and is below his last winning handicap mark.
Hopefully Tom Marquand can get him out of the stalls better as his high draw should be ideal to sit just off the pace before coming late.
Aberama Gold comes from stall 17 and the veteran is gunning for a hat-trick.
He has a good record at Doncaster and handles any ground.
Air Force One has been in cracking form at York with a win and two places this summer.
He went down in a tight finish there last time and has first-time blinkers on. He should run another good race.
Addison Grey had a bit in hand when scoring at Newbury last time and a 5lb rise keeps him competitive.
Jordan Electrics is another coming from a sharp York run and trainer Jim Goldie is in good form. He is another for the shortlist.
3.00
MARVELMAN took a step forward when a close third in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury last time.
He sees out this trip nicely and won’t mind if there’s some give in the ground. He could take another step forward for Andrew Balding.
Ten Bob Tony hasn’t been seen since his Group 3 win at Haydock in May but he goes well fresh and likes this distance.
Any more improvement would take him very close.
Shadow Of Light was third in the Guineas before a good effort over 6f at Royal Ascot.
He put in another decent Group 1 effort in France last time and will appreciate this drop in grade. Soft ground is no problem.
King’s Gamble has blinkers on for the first time and they may sharpen up this son of Kingman.
He had some useful form last season and trainer Ralph Beckett is going well.
Room Service is another who could improve for headgear with first-time cheekpieces going on.
3.40
CARMERS looks to be crying out for this return to 1m6f after his excellent second in the Great Voltigeur at York last time.
It took him a little time to hit top gear on the Knavesmire and the winning post came a little too soon over 1m4f.
He was better when winning the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot over this trip.
Then he was able to settle nicely just off the pace and come through with a strong run for a narrow but convincing enough win.
Doncaster’s long straight looks perfect for him and trainer Paddy Twomey says the son of Wootton Bassett is in excellent nick.
He is bred to handle any ground and doesn’t have to progress much more to land this Classic having already beaten today’s hot favourite Scandinavia back in June.
The Aidan O’Brien runner is the main danger again after he stepped to 2m when taking the Goodwood Cup last time.
He was really suited by that distance and it may be this is a little on the sharp side but his proven Group 1 class isn’t under-estimated.
The same goes for Lambourn who would have been a short price but for flopping in the Great Voltigeur last time.
He looked a real stayer when winning Derbies at Epsom and The Curragh. He should relish this trip as a son of Australia and is respected.
O’Brien has another chance with Stay True who was beaten just over a length in the Voltigeur.
He looks likely to improve for this longer trip and it wouldn’t be a shock if he beat at least one of his stablemates home.
Furthur had plenty left in the tank when winning the Geoffrey Freer over 1m5f at Newbury and goes on any ground.
He’d have to improve to win but has an each-way shout with Tarriance and Rahiebb needing a major step forward.
CHESTER
2.05
MILITARY ACADEMY got within a neck of Hamish when they met at Goodwood in June and is 3lb better off with him now, which could make the difference.
The Gosden hope found the Goodwood Cup too much last time but these are calmer waters and he stays well.
Hamish still looks the main danger and the nine-year-old has scored around here before which always helps. He’s a pretty short price though.
Sir Dinadan has been inconsistent this season but Ralph Beckett’s horses are in fine form so he could show up better than at Goodwood last time.
Mount Atlas was poor here in May and didn’t fire at York latest which is a worry.
In between he won well at Ascot and that form would give him a chance here.
2.40
NDAAWI could be absolutely thrown in at the weights on this return to the Flat.
He has been a massive improver over hurdles for Gordon Elliott since struggling in last year’s Cesarewitch with a second in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham before winning the red-hot Galway Hurdle last time.
He’s 3lb lower than his last Flat outing and should relish conditions.
Artisan Dancer keeps finishing second and ran another cracker when beaten in a photo at York earlier this month.
He stays well and should be right there again.
Spirit Mixer won the Northumberland Plate and wasn’t disgraced behind Artisan Dancer last time.
He won this race last year from 5lb lower and should be competitive again.
Zoffee has a Chester Cup on his CV and is always respected around here.
LEOPARDSTOWN
2.15
DIAMOND NECKLACE looked a cut above on debut at The Curragh and the pricey filly screams pattern-class with that experience under her belt.
She travelled like a proper one and put the race to bed late, which bodes well for a strong-run seven around here.
The pedigree says she will only get better as the season goes on and this looks a very winnable step before bigger Autumn targets.
Sukanya shaped like a filly who belongs at this level when fourth in the Prestige at Goodwood and has the quality to lay down a challenge.
Red Autumn is on the up and was a good second at Roscommon last time and she could hit the frame again.
Mighty Danu did well to win at Galway on debut and will relish this galloping course.
Teewinot got the job done at Lingfield and looks straightforward, while Venosa is a big, raw talent who will keep improving with racing.
2.50
PIER PRESSURE had to come down the outside when winning at Gowran over a mile last time out but suggested there is still plenty under the bonnet.
Ger Lyons’ runner has struck up a good relationship with 5lb claimer Nicola Burns and a 4lb rise for the most recent win – which came after two seconds – means the five-year-old can remain competitive.
Amo Racing’s Gleneagle Bay keeps going up the handicap without winning although he’s still lightly raced and should stay the mile.
Rahmi likes the Curragh and won a big-field handicap at the track in 2023 but off a much lower mark.
Johnny Murtagh knows how to place them, though, and has 7lb claimer Rory Mulligan taking off half a stone.
You have to love Dunum but suspect his whole season revolves around Galway while Dance Night Andday drops down massively in class and could be a danger off near top weight.
Hurricane Ivor might find the trip stretching him while Tribal Nation is worth a market check for Joseph O’Brien with some very interesting form behind him.
3.20
MONTREAL looks a colt with gears and the engine to cope with this test.
He shaped like a serious prospect when winning here by eight lengths last time.
Expect a patient ride before being unleashed in the straight, and he can stamp class on the race.
Hardy Warrior has done little wrong so far and could get an easy lead up front, which makes him a danger if left alone.
Benvenuto Cellini arrives with a likeable profile after a tidy win at Killarney and will not go down without a scrap.
A Boy Named Susie has already knocked heads with better sorts and can run on for a place if they go hard.
3.50
AL AASY can bully this field if turning up in the same mood as Goodwood, where he travelled like a Rolls Royce and put the race to bed without fuss.
Back at a mile and a half on a galloping course suits him perfectly and he can give stand-in rider Danny Tudhope a smooth run.
Trustyourinstinct is thriving and comes here on a roll after taking a well-run Curragh race in style, so he is the one most likely to make the favourite earn it.
Sons And Lovers knuckled down to land the Ballyroan here and is tough under pressure, which counts if this becomes a battle.
Convergent brings smart European form and was only touched off in the German Derby and any ease in the ground would boost his chances.
4.25
JANUARY has the form to boss this.
She was a brave runner-up in the Falmouth at Newmarket and then went down by a whisker to Fallen Angel in France, travelling best of those on the wrong side of the draw.
A mile on this sweeping course looks perfect and cheekpieces could be the spark to tip a tight contest her way.
Fallen Angel roared back to life in the Prix Rothschild and will try to boss it from the sharp end again.
She is a major threat if allowed her own way. Cercene brings Royal Ascot glory and a strong Nassau second, so underrate her at your peril.
Cathedral’s Coronation Stakes fourth and French placed effort point to a filly still on the up.
4.55
SKUKUZA thumped a good one in a Curragh Listed race in June and then shaped best when a close third in York’s Strensall Stakes last time.
A mile around here where he can travel and pounce looks tailor-made.
Johan is teak tough and arrives off a gritty Desmond win on this course, so he will take plenty of pegging back if allowed to stride along as he did last time.
Alakazi is progressing fast and was finishing best behind Johan last time, so he is a danger in the closing stages if the pace is too strong.
Chicago Critic is a course winner who was a shade unlucky behind Johan and has an each-way shout, while Lord Massusus and Mutasarref have enough high-end form to give them place prospects if they bring their A-game.
5.30
ANMAAT has gone close in back-to-back Group 1s this season and ended his last campaign by winning the British version of this race at Ascot.
He likes this trip, goes on any ground and it will be interesting to see how Chris Hayes gets on deputising for the injured Jim Crowley.
Delacroix sets a pretty high standard for Aidan O’Brien.
He has already bagged the Eclipse at Sandown and this course clearly suits after spring wins in the Ballysax and Derby Trial.
York was a messy race for him but he still kept finding late to finish second and there is plenty of confidence in the camp.
He doesn’t have the benefit of Ryan Moore today but Christophe Soumillon is not a bad deputy.
Hotazhell is a warrior and pushed Delacroix to the line in last year’s Futurity.
He was better than the bare result in the Saratoga Derby and looks a big price at around 25s.
Zahrann is thriving after landing the Royal Whip at The Curragh last time and his battling attitude is a serious asset.
Trainer Johnny Murtagh believes this could be his best trip.
Last year’s third Shin Emperor comes from Japan and will need to improve on his Dubai Sheema Classic seventh to figure.
He likes this trip but would prefer quicker ground.
White Birch was caught in traffic a couple of times before running on behind Los Angeles at The Curragh last time and has run well over course and distance before.
6.05
It’s tough to know if this race is the priority given he is also fancied for next month’s Cesarewitch at Newmarket, but BUDDY ONE could be absolutely thrown in.
He is rated 152 over hurdles but just 83 on the Flat.
And all his runs on the level have been around this trip rather than the Cesarewitch’s 2m2f.
You wouldn’t associate Aidan O’Brien with handicap plot jobs but Light As Air might be just that.
And his name is fitting given the impressive 5lb claimer Jack Cleary will effectively ride him off 8st2lb, giving him plenty in hand over the rest of the field.
He likely didn’t beat much last time out but relished the 1m4 and an extra furlong poses no problems for this son of Wootton Bassett.
There are two Ebor runners in behind – Willie Mullins’ Charlus and O’Brien’s London City – but preference would be for Tony Martin’s Zanndabad.
He was a huge eyecatcher when finishing like a rocket over 1m4f at the Ebor meeting last time.
6.40
Smart £200,000 purchase NOLI TIMERE can continue her progress in handicaps and bang in a hat-trick.
Cheekpieces have worked wonders for this three-year-old and Jamie Powell’s 3lb claim effectively means she only carries 5lb more for an impressive win last time out over a mile on yielding ground.
Continuite is a very interesting Frankel runner for Juddmonte who will be better suited by a mile.
Onemoredance has been seriously good over nine furlongs but won over eight last time and is rocketing up the handicap.
Templegate’s tips
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