TEMPLEGATE tipped up Tuesday NAP Carmers at 6-1 and watched him storm home in the Queen’s Vase at 9-2… let’s aim for more of that on day three.
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DETAIN (5.35, nap)
He was just denied in the French Derby earlier this month and will enjoy this drop in grade. He can give Colin Keane another big-race success as he continues to impress in his new role as No1 jockey for Juddmonte.
ILLINOIS (4.20, nb)
Trainer Aidan O’Brien thought he would be saddling reigning champ Kyprios for this 2m4f epic but he was forced to retire after picking up an injury just three weeks ago. For most yards, that would end their Gold Cup dreams but Ballydoyle have a supersub in this four-year-old who is crying out for a real marathon. We saw this son of supersire Galileo’s quality last season when he won the Queen’s Vase at this meeting. He then ran big races at Longchamp and York before going down to stablemate Jan Breughel in a head-bobber for the St Leger. He finished the season with a smooth success across the Channel over a staying trip at the Arc meeting. Chester’s Ormonde Stakes was chosen for his comeback run and he didn’t disappoint under Ryan Moore. He’s bred to relish this trip and has much more to offer as a four-year-old.
SERENITY PRAYER (3.40, treble)
She was a cracking second in the Musidora at York and has much more to come on just her third start.
Templegate’s verdicts
2.30
CHARLES DARWIN has evolved into a high-class colt and can take the Norfolk Stakes.
This strapping son of No Nay Never was impressive at Naas last time and already looks well up to this standard.
He’s proven over the trip and has a lot more to come.
Afjan has the potential for huge improvement after a smooth success on debut at Chantilly just 18 days ago. He came through traffic problems to win going away.
Naval Light was very green on debut at Beverley last month and took a long time to hit top gear.
He rattled home only for the line to come too soon and will improve.
Norfolk Stakes trends
- FRENCH raider GRAFT can make light work of the Norfolk Stakes.
- Stick with horses that won on their last start and it’s a slight plus if that win was over this 5f trip.
- Horses that have run at Ascot before have a poor record. Your fancy should have run within the past four weeks. Most winners of this have been on the track no more than four times and we haven’t had a favourite win since back in 2008 which is bad for Charles Darwin.
- The trends wipe out most of the fancied runners and leave us with an each-way bet on GRAFT who comes over from France.
Sandal’s Song flew home on quick ground to win on debut in the States last time.
He will enjoy conditions and is right in the place picture under James McDonald.
Don’t rule out big-priced French raider Graft, a strong finisher who impressed in Listed company at Chantilly last time.
This will be the quickest ground he’s faced but he’s bred to like it.
3.05
SING US A SONG hit full voice when winning on handicap debut at Sandown last time.
This son of Camelot went from the front and fought off allcomers to win with plenty in hand.
He will relish this extra quarter-mile and trainer Ralph Beckett has won two of the past four runnings of this.
Merchant looks a big threat having proved himself over this trip when winning at York last time.
He had the race put to bed a long way out and even an 8lb rise in the weights doesn’t look harsh.
He likes quick ground and can go close for William Haggas.
Gunship got the job done nicely on the all-weather at Newcastle last time.
He wasn’t stopping at the line and could easily repeat his third behind the tip from that Sandown race.
Serious Contender can live up to his name under Ryan Moore.
He came back from a break to win on handicap debut at Leopardstown. He’s had a little break since then and should appreciate this stiffer test.
Masai Moon makes his handicap debut for Charlie Appleby and is another with scope for more as he tackles this longer distance.
Omni Man looks the pick of the big prices after a good Roscommon success.
3.40
PUT your hands together for SERENITY PRAYER on this wise step up in distance.
She caught the eye when winning at Newbury on debut and then chased home Oaks runner-up Whirl in the Group 3 Musidora at York, sticking on gamely for second.
This longer trip promises to bring out more from this well-bred filly.
She’s got a serious engine and looks tailor-made for this test.
Catalina Delcarpio demands respect after chasing home Oaks fourth Lava Stream at Navan.
Ribblesdale Stakes trends
- GARDEN OF EDEN is rosy for the Ribblesdale Stakes.
- Most winners are above 94 in the official ratings and most winners of this have been on the track at least three times.
- All scorers in living memory had won at least one of their past five and it’s best to have run within the past 50 days.It’s a big plus to have won this season too.
- That sees us left with a shortlist of Caspi Star, Catalina Delcarpo, Garden Of Eden and Serenity Prayer.
- Given Aidan O’Brien is going for his third win in a row GARDEN OF EDEN looks the one to beat.
She’s lightly raced and bred to improve at 1m4f so looks the danger.
Caspi Star was a more than decent third in the Cheshire Oaks last time and should appreciate this stiffer stamina test.
Go Go Boots wasn’t herself in the Oaks where the track didn’t suit but had shaped well before that behind Serenity Prayer.
First-time blinkers may help if that Epsom effort hasn’t left a mark.
Garden Of Eden took a big step forward when landing a Listed event at Naas and Ryan Moore sides with her over two Ballydoyle stablemates.
4.20
DEFENDING champ Kyprios may be missing but Aidan O’Brien can still strike gold with ILLINOIS who looks ideal for this stamina test.
He showed his liking for Ascot by winning last year’s Queen’s Vase before going close in the St Leger when just edged out by stablemate Jan Breughel in a head-bobber.
Ryan Moore on his Thursday rides
The world's No1 jockey speaks in association with World Pool...
LOGICALLY speaking, this racing game is a biological sport — it’s all down to breeding.
And CHARLES DARWIN (2.30) is bred to be one of the elite.
He’s a son of brilliant sprinter No Nay Never and a brother to Blackbeard, who was fourth in the Coventry as a two-year-old and won the Group 1 Middle Park at three.
Charles Darwin has three runs under his belt, which is a big help coming to a stage like Royal Ascot.
He won his last two starts pretty comfortably and sets the standard for this five-furlong dash.
I had the choice of SERIOUS CONTENDER (3.05), Propose and Light As Air in the King Charles Stakes.
They are all nice sorts but I decided on Serious Contender who has been put away since winning at Leopardstown on his reappearance this season. He’s in good shape.
Light Of Air was probably unlucky not to beat Serious Contender the last time at Leopardstown and the step up in trip will suit him.
In the Ribblesdale, I’m on GARDEN OF EDEN (3.40) who won a Listed race at Naas and is a tough filly who will be suited by the step up in trip.
She found plenty for pressure and showed a good attitude, so I’m looking forward to getting back on her.
Stablemate Ecstatic is a likeable filly too. She’s got lots of ability and we’re yet to see the best of her.
Hopefully, ILLINOIS (4.20) can prove to be a good replacement for Kyprios in the Gold Cup.
Illinois has never gone this far but I’ve won it on a couple of four-year-olds who came into the race with the same profile.
He won the Queen’s Vase here last year, is a winner of the St Leger, won well at Longchamp on his final start last season and then made a winning return at Chester this year.
He gives every impression he’ll stay and likes quick ground.
Candelaria is another four-year-old who is open to improvement, while Trawlerman has been here and got the T-shirt so is a solid challenger.
It’s not quite as hot as it can get in the SERENGETI (5.00) but he takes his chance in the Ascot Stakes. He made the running in the French Guineas but faded.
This is a drop in class but it’s hard to know his level.
TRINITY COLLEGE (5.35) comes into this meeting off the back of a very good fourth in the French Derby and has every chance of winning this on all known form.
Detain finished just ahead of him in that, so is a worthy favourite. Reyenzi is an outsider to look out for.
I’m riding ROI DE FRANCE (6.10) for John Gosden in the last.
He’s got to carry plenty of weight but has run well in some very hot handicaps. He is capable of making the frame.
He’s a resolute galloper who’s looked a thorough stayer every time he’s been asked to go up in distance.
French raider Candelari looks a live threat. He’s lightly raced for a four-year-old and won four of five starts.
He took a Longchamp Group 1 in style last month, powering home over an extended 1m7f.
Gold Cup trends
- ILLINOIS can hand Aidan O’Brien an incredible tenth Ascot Gold Cup win.
- No horse older than the great Yeats in 2009 has won this beyond the age of six in decades. That cuts out three of today’s hopefuls in Trawlerman, Coltrane and Dubai Future who is nine and would be the oldest winner since Beeswing in 1842!
- We lose Sweet William because you need to have won one of your past two starts. You generally have to be in the teens when it comes to the official ratings too which is bad news for Wonder Legend and Yashin.
- So it’s Candelari v Illinois when it comes to the trends.
- Given you have to go back 20 years for the last French winner, we’ll go with ILLINOIS who comes from Aidan O’Brien who is the most successful trainer in the race’s long and decorated history.
That win came on firmer ground than official going suggested, and he’s improving fast.
This test could be right up his street too with classy Mickael Barzalona in the saddle.
Old warrior Trawlerman ran a blinder in this last year when chasing home Kyprios and returned to winning ways at Sandown last time.
He’ll likely be up there pressing Illinois from the outset.
You have to go back a century for the last seven-year-old winning their first Gold Cup.
Sweet William is quirky but tough and ran third in this 12 months ago.
He’s sure to stay and shouldn’t be far away again after a decent comeback third at York last time.
5.00
RAAFEDD straight to the payout queue with this William Haggas improver.
He cost £370,000 as a yearling and had a couple of quiet runs before winning impressively at Newbury last month.
He showed a sharp turn of foot and hit the line hard over 7f.
This extra furlong should suit and his opening handicap mark of 92 looks more than fair.
Teroomm brings some sharp form, having landed the always-competitive Silver Bowl at Haydock to complete a hat-trick.
He has a 6lb rise to contend with but looks a tough colt for Roger Varian who won this in 2020.
Britannia Stakes trends
- TEROOMM can zoom home to win another fiendishly tricky Britannia Stakes.
- The draw has played a big part in this with only winner from single figures in the past 12 runnings. So Seagolazo, Hawksbill, Consolidation, Hott Shott, Chaplin, Afentiko, Defence Minister, Shameful and Fifth Column may struggle from their stalls.
- Looking at official ratings, Wolf Of Badenoch, La Botte, Supido and Arabian Story are a little high.
- It’s best to have finished first or second last time which can’t be said of Dividend, The Fingal Raven, Brise Noir, Serengeti, Linwood, Shout, Tribal Nation and The Lost King so they have to be crossed out.
- God Of War, Parole D’Oro and Brave Mission have yet to win this season.
- We’ve managed to cut them down to six – Teroomm, Thunder Wonder, Fearnot, Iceford, Raafedd and Arctic Grey.
- That’s not a bad shortlist from the original 30 runners!
- For a single bet, Roger Varian has won this race before and that has to be a positive for his TEROOMM who comes here on the back of three wins.
Brave Mission improved again when second over 7f on handicap debut here, shaping as though today’s extra furlong would suit.
Fearnot was a wide-margin course-and-distance winner in May and must be respected despite a 10lb hike.
Fifth Column has hit form since being gelded and landed a Sandown handicap with something in hand.
The addition of cheekpieces could unlock more.
Consolidation impressed on handicap debut at Goodwood and this extra furlong will suit.
La Botte is another with plenty going for him.
5.35
DETAIN can make his Classic class pay dropping back to Group 3 level for the Gosdens.
He ended last season with a solid Futurity Stakes run on ground that was much too soft and, after a scoot around Chelmsford in April, left that form behind when a close-up sixth in the French 2,000 Guineas.
He improved again when upped to this trip in the French Derby where he was beaten less than a length.
That’s high-class form and there’s more to come.
His main danger was a nose behind him at Chantilly – Trinity College for Aidan O’Brien.
He went from the front in France and faded in the dying strides.
He was the second string last time but has Ryan Moore in the saddle today.
Jackknife is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Defoe and made a promising debut at Epsom.
He shaped nicely when third in a Listed race at Sandown latest and should improve for stepping beyond a mile for the first time.
High Stock has had just two runs, winning the Wood Ditton and then narrowly going down in the Dee Stakes.
He’s open to improvement and is dangerous.
Tornado Alert must be right in the hunt too after his sixth in the Derby when he didn’t get home.
6.10
AKKADIAN THUNDER can make a big noise in this red-hot handicap.
He was a tidy winner for David O’Meara at Doncaster just 12 days ago, comfortably seeing off Billyjoh — last year’s second who is a contender again — and he’s only 6lb higher after that excellent effort.
He’s run well before over this specialists’ trip and comes here in flying form for a yard that knows how to land big pots.
English Oak has been quiet for a while but is just 1lb higher than when blitzing this 12 months ago — and now gets first-time cheekpieces.
He’s been popular with ante-post punters.
Gleneagle Bay is another with standout recent form, finishing a head third in last month’s Victoria Cup despite being away from the main action.
He’s joined Amo Racing since and goes up just 3lb.
Never So Brave was unlucky not to get past Myal at Chester last time, having been hampered late.
That followed a good season for Sir Michael Stoute and a midfield run in the Jersey Stakes here.
He’s unexposed and should run a nice race.
Roi De France was one-paced in the Victoria Cup and needs more off just 1lb lower, but he changed hands this week for £380,000 and cheekpieces go on for the first time.
Templegate’s tips
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