Templegate NAP looks electric and Frankie Dettori to start with a bang on Royal Ascot day one and tips for Wexford
OUR MAN Templegate takes on day one of Royal Ascot confident of smashing those bookies and giving you some winners.
Scroll down for his best bets and good luck!
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Wexford
Eamonn Hames
1.40 Changing The Rules
2.12 Lieutenant Highway
2.47 Finnians Row
3.22 Tax For Max
4.00 Clever Currency
4.37 Gateau De Miel (NAP)
5.17 Rule Of June (nb)
Tom Pepper
1.40 Inclusion
2.12 Saldier
2.47 Room To Roam
3.22 Tax For Max
4.00 Name Me Famous
4.37 Outside The Door
5.17 Legacy Of Dreams
MODERN GAMES (2.30 Royal Ascot, nap)
He did very little wrong last season with three Group 1 wins including over this trip at the Breeders’ Cup. He kicked off this season back at Keeneland where he had traffic problems in finishing second. He put that behind him with an excellent victory in the Lockinge at Newbury which has teed him up nicely for this.
CHALDEAN (4.20 Royal Ascot, nb)
He came out on top at Newmarket in May with almost two lengths in hand. He enjoyed the testing ground there but has a Group 1 win on his CV in quicker conditions too from his victory in the Dewhurst Stakes at Doncaster as a youngster. His Guineas win was the first time he’d tackled this mile and he clearly loved it and can pull out more for in-form trainer Andrew Balding with Frankie on top.
RIVER TIBER (3.05 Royal Ascot, treble)
He looks a potential superstar after a couple of easy wins in Ireland for Aidan O’Brien. Ryan Moore didn’t have to get serious to land a 10-length win on debut that he matched at Navan last time. He can take another massive step forward.
Templegate's Royal Ascot day one race-by-race guide
2.30
MODERN GAMES can get Charlie Appleby and William Buick off to a flying start. He did very little wrong last season with three Group 1 wins including over this trip at the Breeders’ Cup.
He kicked off this season back at Keneland where he had traffic problems in finishing second.
He put that behind him with an excellent victory in the Lockinge at Newbury which has teed him up nicely for this.
Fast ground is best but he was second in the QEII on soft so rain wouldn’t be a major issue.
Inspiral looks a big threat despite being off since getting stuck in the mud here in October.
She showed her class when taking the Coronation Stakes at last year’s Royal meeting over this trip and the Gosdens should have her ready to go.
Hats will be orf if Frankie Dettori kicks off his last Royal Ascot with a winner.
Godolphin and Appleby have another chance with Native Trail who blew away the cobwebs behind Mutasaabeq at Newmarket last month.
He can reverse that form if producing anything like the level of his Irish 2,000 Guineas victory although his form did dip in the second half of the campaign.
Cash is capable of better and found 1m2f a bit far in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown latest. He clearly needs to improve but could run into the frame.
Berkshire Shadow is another with place claims at a price. His Lockinge third was decent form and he deserves a crack at this for Favourite columnist Andrew Balding.
Chindit is another heading here on the back of a good effort at Newbury. He looks just short of this level but has every chance of making the frame.
3.05
RIVER TIBER looks a potential superstar after a couple of easy wins in Ireland for Aidan O’Brien.
Ryan Moore didn’t have to get serious to land a 10-length win on maiden that he matched at Navan last time. He can take another massive forward.
Asadna couldn’t have been more impressive when winning on debut at Ripon last month.
George Boughey’s hope had a real turbo when William Buick asked him to pick up.
He pulled 12 lengths clear and crossed the line in a sparkling time.
Clearly he will have to back that up but we know this distance is ideal.
Givemethebeatboys can’t be dismissed after winning the Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes at The Curragh just over three weeks ago.
He sees out six furlongs strongly and won’t be far away.
New Zealand jockey James McDonald does well at Ascot and his booking for Chief Mankato takes the eye.
He scored on debut at Windsor and will improve for that experience.
Fandom comes from American trainer Wesley Ward who has had plenty of success at this meeting.
He looked wound up when winning by seven lengths on debut at Keeneland and is respected although this is tougher.
Bucanero Fuerte liked the heavy ground when winning at The Curragh on debut in March.
We haven’t seen him since but he’ll come on for this longer trip and has a chance if the rain comes.
Army Ethos looked decent when winning his Ayr debut 27 days ago. He quickened nicely and could hit the frame under Hollie Doyle.
Bobsleigh won nicely at Epsom and is another on the place shortlist for an under-rated trainer.
3.40
DRAMATISED was the decisive winner of the Queen Mary Stakes at last year’s Royal Ascot and can follow up for in-form Karl Burke.
Her season ended with an excellent second at the Breeders’ Cup in the States where she was just nailed on the line.
The three-year-old came back from a break to land the Temple Stakes nicely at Haydock last time and should be well drawn in stall 18.
She is at her best on fast ground so needs the rain to stay away.
Highfield Princess tanks along and went close in good company at York on return.
She won a handicap at this meeting two years ago and was a solid sixth in the Platinum Jubilee over an extra furlong last year. Her very best has come at this trip and she’s a big danger.
The Aussies take their sprinting seriously and raider Coolangatta has to be respected.
She won their prestigious Lightning Stakes at Flemington last time over this distance.
A bit of juice in the ground would be ideal but she is a multiple winner at this level and James McDonald rides Ascot well.
Cannonball is another Aussie raider who went close in a Group 1 last time. He needs more to beat his countryman.
Vadream would love a little ease in the ground but has some smart form so would be a contender if the rain hits.
Frankie rides Manaccan who landed a decent handicap here last season and has since proved himself in stronger company.
He went close in a good race at Newmarket last month and will be fitter for it.
Twilight Gleaming looked sharp when scoring at Keeneland last time for Wesley Ward. She needs more in this company but can’t be dismissed.
Equilateral will qualify for his bus pass soon but has been in decent form with a couple of seconds at Haydock and the booking of William Buick catches the eye.
Chipstead had a fair bit in hand when winning a York handicap last month and he relishes this trip on any ground. He deserves a crack at this.
4.20
CHALDEAN can edge out Paddington in the battle of the 2,000 Guineas winners.
The tip came out on top at Newmarket in May with almost two lengths in hand.
He enjoyed the testing ground there but has a Group 1 win on his CV in quicker conditions too from his victory in the Dewhurst Stakes at Doncaster as a youngster.
His Guineas win was the first time he’d tackled this mile and he clearly loved it and can pull out more for in-form trainer Andrew Balding with Frankie on top.
Paddington has to be the major danger given the easy way he won the Irish 2,000 Guineas at The Curragh.
He never had a moment’s worry under Ryan Moore and won going away in the end.
He hasn’t tackled quick ground before either but his class can count for plenty.
Isaac Shelby is a serious contender too.
He cashed in when Chaldean dumped Frankie on the ground in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on comeback in April and proved that was no fluke by going down in a photo for the French Guineas at Longchamp last month.
He goes on any ground and could be hard to peg back from the front.
Cicero’s Gift is taking a massive hike in class after winning three maidens but he looks potentially high-class and sees out this trip well.
Improvement is needed but he can’t be written off.
Mostasbhir quickened well to win a York maiden last month and is another open to plenty of improvement for the Gosdens.
Royal Scotsman was an excellent third in the Newmarket Guineas before a total flop at The Curragh last time.
That leaves him with questions to answer but he clearly has talent and could bounce back and run into the places.
5.00
AHORSEWITHNONAME was backed off the boards for the Cesarewitch on his last Flat run and she was a solid fifth in that Newmarket stampede from today’s handicap mark.
William Buick gets on board today and champion jumps trainer Nicky Henderson has won this prize before. She can run another big race.
Last year’s second Bring On The Night hasn’t run since his agonising defeat to Coltrane who has definitely franked the form.
Ryan Moore will be doing the steering again for Irish jumps legend Willie Mullins and they will go close but aren’t much of a price.
Pleasant Man comes from another jumps star in Paul Nicholls and he shaped well in his warm-up race at Musselburgh.
He is stepping up in trip today which should help.
Zoffee went close in the Chester Cup last time and has no shortage of staying power.
He had a hard race in the mud on the Roodee but can figure if over those exertions.
Zinc White and Novel Legend are two more who ran good races at Chester’s May meeting and are right in the each-way picture.
The former has won all three starts on the level and looked to have plenty in the tank crossing the line.
He’s gone up 8lb but could improve past that mark.
Calling The Wind is a proper stayer and excellent apprentice Billy Loughnane takes off a valuable 3lb.
He was third in the Queen Alexandra Stakes 12 months ago and runs well at Ascot.
He had no luck in running when sixth in Chester Cup last time and has solid each-way claims.
5.35
BOLSHOI BALLET went mighty close in a strong contest at Newbury last time and will be right there again.
He is best over this distance and has Group 1 honours on his CV.
Cadillac was second in this 12 months ago and looked better than ever when scoring at Epsom last time.
He has the capable James McDonald taking over on board and can go close again.
Saga can run well for the King after an agonising second at Newmarket. He was running on over 1m1f there so should relish this slightly longer distance.
King Of Conquest is in flying form for Godolphin after making it four wins on the spin in a Goodwood Listed contest last time.
He got the better of a battle royale with Francesco Clemente who is another for the shortlist today.
The Charlie Appleby runner has to give weight away to most of today’s rivals but should be right there again in this form.
That Goodwood second was just the fourth time Francesco Clemente had seen a racecourse after three good wins. There should be more to come.
It’s early days too for Poker Face who wasn’t disgraced in the Group 2 Huxley Stakes at Chester last month.
He’s eased in class here and should be in the mix.
Old boy Solid Stone warmed up for this with a decent third at Sandown on comeback. He’s unlikely to improve at his age but can be relied on to go well and may sneak into the places.
Notre Belle Bete was just behind King Of Conquest last time and will appreciate this extra furlong.
6.10
POSTILEO came back from almost two years off to win with plenty in hand at Hamilton last time.
Trainer Roger Varian has wisely given him a few weeks off and this son of Galileo should relish this move up in distance.
He ran well in the 2021 Ascot Stakes when that extreme trip was a bit stretching but this should be ideal.
Vauban is the obvious one on his return to the level. He was a Listed winner in France and has since won multiple Grade 1s over hurdles.
Master trainer Willie Mullins will have him spot-on for this and Ryan Moore is doing the steering.
Ruling Dynasty has shown lots of promise with two novice wins including an impressive effort at Haydock earlier this month.
He makes his handicap debut from a fair mark with a lot more to come.
Chillingham has landed a couple of nice wins at Thirsk and looks a big price to make the frame with this longer trip likely to be in his favour.
Point King went down in a head-bobber for a Group 3 at Leopardstown over this trip last time and is dangerous again.
He’s a thorough stayer for Joseph O’Brien.
Willie Mullins has booked Frankie for Absurde who had some fair form in France.
He is fit from winning over hurdles and can’t be written off.
Sam Cooke went well again at York last time and is another who relishes this trip.
Templegate's tips
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