Horse racing tips: Templegate's 4-1 Royal Ascot NAP is a superstar in the making and will prove unstoppable on day four

The Sun

22 June 2023

Horse racing tips: Templegate's 4-1 Royal Ascot NAP is a superstar in the making and will prove unstoppable on day four

TEMPLEGATE takes on Friday's Royal Ascot action confident of finding you some winners.

Read on for our man's tips and back a horse simply by clicking their odds below.

CARLA’S WAY (2.30 Ascot, nap)

She looked a star when zooming home on debut at Doncaster last time. She went from the front and didn’t see another rival, clocking a decent time in the process.

AL NAFIR (3.40 Ascot, nb)

He looked like more than a handicapper when finishing last season with a good victory at Newmarket. He enjoyed himself over this distance and gives the impression that there’s a lot more in the locker. He has gone up the weights but looks the one to beat under William Buick.

COPPICE (5.00 Ascot, treble)

She is bred to be a lot more than a handicapper and has been given time by the Gosdens after her disappointing comeback in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket in April. She was being talked about as a Group 1 filly before that and was given a quiet comeback at Newcastle where she scored last time. She makes her handicap debut from a fair mark and can get back on the front foot.

Templegate's Royal Ascot day four race-by-race tips

2.30

CARLA’S WAY looked a star when zooming home on debut at Doncaster last time. She went from the front and didn’t see another rival, clocking a decent time in the process.

The second has come out and won since by 11 lengths so the form looks decent and there’s a lot more to come.

Porta Fortuna just got the better of Navassa Island in a Group 3 at Naas last time.

It was a good battle between them and they both have every chance. The latter was making her debut so could have more improvement in her.

Jabaara caught the eye when winning on debut at Newmarket. The performance was all the better because she had all kinds of trouble in running before finishing strongly.

Roger Varian’s youngster should build on that. Soprano was another to score at HQ first time out.

William Buick didn’t have to get serious on her to land a near two-length success. She can take a big step forward from that encouraging start.

Matrika was raw on debut at The Curragh but improved as the race went on and ran out a ready winner.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien won this 12 months ago and has another good chance.

Gushing Gold had to settle for second on debut at Leicester but was very green and should have a lot more to come.

Do It With Style enjoyed the soft ground when winning at The Curragh on debut.

She saw out this trip really well and has place claims if handling the likely quicker conditions.

Mapmaker had the win sewn up a long way from home at Newbury last time and looks in the each-way hunt.

He is one of four Amo Racing horses with Kevin Stott also having a chance of making the farame on Persian Dreamer who didn’t get much luck in a York Listed after winning at Newmarket on debut.

3.05

LITTLE BIG BEAR confirmed he’s a sprinter with a smooth success in the Temple Stakes at Haydock last time.

He went to the Merseyside track with a few questions to answer after his nightmare run in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. He was slow out of the stalls there and never got going before trailling in last.

The Aidan O’Brien star was found to be lame after the Classic but silenced his doubters in style with that Temple success. He has Group 1-winning form over this trip and should have too much class again.

Lezoo is another who didn’t enjoy herself in the Guineas where the mile distance was much too far in the fillies’ version.

She travelled well enough in the early stages before her petrol ran out in the final quarter-mile in the soft ground.

Frankie’s mount is better judged on her blistering victory in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket as a two-year-old.

She clocked an excellent time there and will be happy back at this distance on decent ground.

Sakheer is another sprinter who couldn’t see it out in the 2,000 Guineas when the heavy ground was against him too.

It didn’t help that he was bumped at the stalls and he will be happier down in distance too.

Shaquille made it four wins in a row when stepping up to land a Newbury Listed race last month.

He showed lots of pace from the front there and should improve.

He can give trouble at the stalls but usually comes out quickly enough and is an each-way price.

Noble Style is another who didn’t stay in the Guineas but he was more than a little disappointing over this trip when beaten by Shaquille last time.

There’s no obvious reason why he would turn that form around.

Shouldvebeenaring has an each-way chance if repeating the form of his second behind Little Big Bear at Haydock.

He has a little more experience than most of these which could stand him in good stead.

Mischief Magic won at the Breeders’ Cup last year so is no mug and the soft ground was against him when held here in a Group 3 latest.

Quicker ground here would bring him right into the each-way picture under William Buick.

3.40

AL NAFIR looked like more than a handicapper when finishing last season with a good victory at Newmarket.

He enjoyed himself over this distance and gives the impression that there’s a lot more in the locker.

He has gone up the weights but looks the one to beat under William Buick.

Godolphin have a strong hand in the race and also run Live Your Dream who came back from a long break to finish second at Haydock 13 days ago.

He should improve for that fitness-wise and is a live contender.

Nagano is another who has been off the track for a long time.

He was rising through the ranks in 2021 and showed his best over this distance.

He should be fit enough to do himself justice and has an each-way shout.

Teumessias Fox has won both starts this season. He had almost five lengths in hand on the all-weather at Kempton before improving again at Newmarket.

He went close here last summer on quick ground and is another to consider.

Aimeric showed the benefit of a wind op when winning by a neck at Doncaster on comeback earlier this month.

A 4lb rise for that gives this son of Frankel every chance of stepping forward again.

White Wolf ran better than tenth place suggests on comeback at York and was beaten in a head-bobber at Chelmsford last time.

This is tougher but trainer Saeed Bin Suroor is in decent form.

Haunted Dream is another coming from the all-weather and likes this trip.

He needs to improve but looks on a fair mark and can’t be dismissed. Ajero was second in this last year but hasn’t shown much since.

4.10

TAHIYRA was just beaten by Mawj in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket but soon got her name on the Classic roll of honour by winning the Irish version at The Curragh.

She didn’t have to hit top gear when seeing off Meditate by more than a length and it’s hard to see anything in this field improving enough to stop her scoring again for training legend Dermot Weld.

Meditate didn’t do a lot wrong at The Curragh and boxed on well once headed.

She won at the Breeders’ Cup on rattling fast ground so will like conditions and looks booked for the forecast spot.

You always pay attention when Jim Bolger sends one across the Irish Sea and his Comhra came from a mile back to grab third in the Irish Guineas.

William Buick gets on today and may have her a bit closer to the pace now they know she has Group 1 quality.

That gives her a chance of reversing form with Meditate but there’s still a big gap to the tip.

Sounds Of Heaven shaped well when winning a head-bobber for a York Listed contest last time.

Jessica Harrington’s horses have been in good form this week and she could improve enough to figure.

Queen For You was second in that Knavesmire contest and can take a big step forward for the Gosdens.

Remarquee was not unfancied for the 1,000 Guineas but ran no sort of race on the day. She’s been given a break since then by in-form Ralph Beckett.

5.00

COPPICE is bred to be a lot more than a handicapper and has been given time by the Gosdens after her disappointing comeback in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket in April.

She was being talked about as a Group 1 filly before that and was given a quiet comeback at Newcastle where she scored last time.

She makes her handicap debut from a fair mark and can get back on the front foot.

The Gosdens have another good chance with Marksman Queen who was just pipped by a useful type at Kempton.

She will improve on just her fourth run.

Johnny Murtagh won this a couple of years ago and has a solid chance with Clounmacon who went close in good company at The Curragh last month.

Dream Of Love was third in the German 1,000 Guineas after finishing midfield in the Newmarket version.

This is a fair drop in class for the Charlie Appleby runner.

Chelsea Green had a bit up her sleeve when winning at Newmarket and likes this trip on fast ground.

A 3lb rise in the weights looks fair.

Choisya battled well to score at Haydock 13 days ago and has a good 3lb claimer on board which could make the difference in such a tight race.

We haven’t seen the best of Ma Belle Artiste who scored at Killarney for Joseph O’Brien last time.

5.35

ARTISTIC STAR had no luck in the Derby and can take a step forward from that Epsom effort.

He met plenty of trouble in running before finishing off strongly into seventh.

That was just the third run of his career and there should be a lot more to come.

Trainer Ralph Beckett has his horses in excellent form.

King Of Steel is a short price after his fantastic second in the Derby last time.

It looked as though the 66-1 was going to win the Classic when shooting clear and it took a mighty effort by Auguste Rodin to reel him in.

Jockey Kevin Stott blames himself for going too soon but it was a superb effort and it would be be no surprise to see him repeat that.

Arrest was more than 11 lengths behind him in the Derby with Dubai Mile ninth.

Aidan O’Brien pins his hopes on Continuous who was only midfield in the French Derby last time.

Moving up to this distance may help and he was a decent third in the Dante at York before heading to Chantilly. His form still looks a bit short of this level though.

6.10

FRANKNESS was impressive when winning hard held at Goodwood last time and deserves this hike in class.

She quickened really smartly and her stamina for six furlongs will be an asset up this stiffish finish.

This is a lot tougher but she’s on the upgrade and her rider takes off a valuable 3lb.

Her high draw should be ideal too.

Conquistador was visually impressive at Lingfield when getting up right on the line.

There’s clearly a lot more to come from what looks a fair handicap mark.

Tatterstall kept finding more to win the three-year-old Dash at Epsom on Derby day.

He has gone up 7lb but will enjoy conditions and has more improvement to come.

Radio Goo Goo is a sprinter in form and he made it four wins on the spin at York.

They have all come over six furlongs but he no shortage of pace so is on the shortlist.

Hispanic was nearly knocked over coming out of the gates at The Curragh latest and can make his presence felt.

Jer Batt ran another good race at Chester last time. He’s gone up the weights but appears to hold his form well and could run into a place if handling this quicker ground.