Horse racing tips: Templegate’s NAP to take a big step forward for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore

TEMPLEGATE tackles the final day of Royal Ascot confident of smashing in a few winners.

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RIVER TIBER (4.25 Royal Ascot, nap)

He can give Ryan Moore yet another Royal Ascot winner. He was on board when this Wootton Bassett colt won the Coventry Stakes here 12 months ago and he has since more than held his own in some of the hottest races around. He has been third in three Group 1 contests including the Irish 2,000 Guineas last time when trainer Aidan O’Brien said he’d need the run. It was a good effort to be just over a length off the pace and he’ll take a big step forward with that under his belt.

SHARTASH (3.45 Royal Ascot, nb)

He has taken his form to a new level since joining Archie Watson and he looked capable of performing in this company when bounding home to score at Haydock last time. The drop back to a stiff six furlongs should be ideal on his favoured fast ground and there’s more to come.

CONTINUOUS (3.05 Royal Ascot, treble)

He looks hard to beat as he starts his four-year-old career. He got better as last season went on. After a good second to King Of Steel at this meeting, he took the Great Voltigeur at York in style before landing an easy victory in the St Leger. ‘The Lads’ then supplemented him for the Arc just two weeks later where he was beaten just three lengths into fifth. Given the way he improved through the campaign you would expect him to make a pretty special four-year-old. He handles any ground and should have too much class for these rivals.

Templegate’s Ascot verdicts

2.30

BEDTIME STORY can maintain the excellent record of Aidan O’Brien in this race.

He’s won four of the past eight runnings and this Frankel filly gets a handy 5lb from most rivals here.

She looked classy when winning on debut at Leopardstown earlier this month. She clocked a good time without her rider going for everything. There’s a lot more to come.

Age Of Gold looks the main danger after cruising to victory first time out at Yarmouth.

He showed plenty of the Frankel class there and should appreciate this extra furlong and quicker conditions.

Pentle Bay is another coming here on the back of good win, this time at Leicester 18 days ago. He showed lots of late pace and is will also relish this hike in trip.

Karl Burke has lots of success with two-year-olds and his Motawahij looked promising when second on debut at Hamilton.

He is bred for quick ground and will have learned plenty from that experience.

Expensive Rose saw out this trip well when winning at stamina-sapping Carlisle last time. This is clearly a lot tougher but the booking of Oisin Murphy is a plus.

Duke Of Monroth is an interesting newcomer after connections forked out around £250,000 for him. He is bred to be speedy and like fast ground so can’t be ignored.

3.05

CONTINUOUS looks hard to beat as he starts his four-year-old career. He got better as last season went on.

After a good second to King Of Steel at this meeting, he took the Great Voltigeur at York in style before landing an easy victory in the St Leger.

‘The Lads’ then supplemented him for the Arc just two weeks later where he was beaten just three lengths into fifth.

Given the way he improved through the campaign you would expect him to make a pretty special four-year-old.

He handles any ground and should have too much class for these rivals.

Middle Earth looks his main foe after his battling comeback win at Newbury last month.

He was brought along slowly by John Gosden last season and bounced back from a poor Leger run to win a Listed race here.

He has few miles on the clock and should give the tip plenty to think about.

Missed The Cut has some decent form in America where he got close to Silver Knott in a Keeneland Group 2 contest last time out in April.

He likes fast ground over this trip and looks solid each-way.

The King’s Desert Hero has shown his best over this trip and won a handicap at this meeting 12 months ago.

This is clearly tougher but this will have been the target for William Haggas and it wouldn’t be shock if he made the places, while Isle Of Jura is improving and deserves this hike in class.

3.45

SHARTASH has taken his form to a new level since joining Archie Watson and he looked capable of performing in this company when bounding home to score at Haydock last time.

The drop back to a stiff six furlongs should be ideal on his favoured fast ground and there’s more to come.

Believing finished strongly when a good fourth in the King’s Stand Stakes over the minimum trip here on Tuesday.

He will appreciate this extra furlong and will be competitive again.

Kinross enjoys this course and distance and is proven at Group 1 level.

Fast ground suits him best and he’ll have every chance provided he’s fit enough as he’s tended to need his first run each season.

Mill Stream is an improving sprinter who came from off the pace to score right on the line at York.

He should get the strong gallop he needs to aim at here and has every chance of following up.

Mitbaahy ran his best race for a long time when winning at The Curragh thanks to a perfect Jamie Spencer weaving ride.

He will need luck in running but will try to pick his way through again and could make his presence felt again.

Art Power won the Group 1 Champions Sprint here on soft ground in October and was less than a length away at The Curragh last time.

The quicker conditions are a worry but he should run another decent race.

4.25

RIVER TIBER can give Ryan Moore yet another Royal Ascot winner.

He was on board when this Wootton Bassett colt won the Coventry Stakes here 12 months ago and he has since more than held his own in some of the hottest races around.

He has been third in three Group 1 contests including the Irish 2,000 Guineas last time when trainer Aidan O’Brien said he’d need the run.

It was a good effort to be just over a length off the pace and he’ll take a big step forward with that under his belt.

Haatem is the main danger after two cracking efforts in the Newmarket and Curragh 2,000 Guineas.

It’s interesting to see him dropped back to this shorter trip as he led in both Classics and this may yet to prove his best trip.

It would be a surprise if one of the big two don’t oblige but Native American could be best of the rest.

He ran well over this trip in a French Group 1 last season and clocked a personal best when second at Epsom last time.

He should have learned from that. Never So Brave is taking a fair hike in class for Sir Michael Stoute but he had plenty in hand when winning a Chester handicap last month.

That was just his fourth run so there should be more to come.

Night Raider looked inexperienced in the Guineas and pulled his chance away but trainer Karl Burke is adamant he’s worthy of this level, while Eben Shaddad went well in the French Guineas and is another to consider each-way.

5.05

RUMSTAR could be the answer to a typically tough renewal of the Wokingham.

He showed his true colours back in a handicap over this trip at Newbury last time.

He enjoyed the fast ground and finished well just behind Lethal Levi – who has solid place claims in this race too.

He spent much of last season in Group races so could be ahead of the handicapper and can give Trevor Whelan a good spin from stall 25.

The way Wathnan Racing have been going in sprints this week you can’t ignore the claims of their Dark Trooper who cost £500,000 after winning over this trip in France last time.

He ran well over course and distance in October and should handle the ground.

Apollo One looks to have a solid each-way shout given he rarely finished out of the first three.

He is 5lb higher than his second in this last season but ran well at Epsom last time and won’t be far away.

Saint Lawrence won this 12 months ago and is only 3lb lower thanks to some in and out form since.

He has his ideal conditions here and could show his true colours again.

Albasheer hated the soft ground when held in France last time and was in fine form on the sand earlier this year.

He was only midfield in this last year but can make his presence felt.

Orazio was a good sixth in this 12 months ago and his last run at Newmarket should be ignored as he stumbled out of the stalls.

The ground may be a little quick but he could figure in the extra places.

Unequal Love kicked off this season with a Listed win over this trip at Newmarket.

He was a solid two lengths off the pace at Group 2 level in Ireland last time and should find this a bit easier.

Cover Up comes from powerful connections with William Buick riding for John Gosden.

He has spent most of his career so far on the all-weather where he’s a regular winner.

If he was able to repeat that form on turf he could run well despite being 13lb higher than his last success at Newcastle.

Strike Red was second the only time he tackled this course and distance and he wasn’t beaten far at Epsom last time.

He likes this trip and prefers to come from off a strong pace which is guaranteed here.

He won a 20-runner contest at The Curragh last season and is only 2lb higher here. He looks interesting for Richard Fahey at huge odds.

5.40

HAND OF GOD looked to be crying out for this trip when winning over a mile at Sandown back in April.

Trainer Harry Charlton identified this race then as his target and he should be open to lots of improvement with just four runs on his CV.

He ended last season winning on fast ground at Newmarket so these conditions should be fine.

Primo Lara scooted in over this trip at York last month and can improve past a 9lb rise in the weights.

He kept pulling out more when needed and should take another step forward here.

Palace Green didn’t quite get home over 1m4f on the Knavesmire after winning a Kempton maiden at this trip.

Dropping back should help and he looks on a fair enough mark.

Aidan O’Brien runs Old Faithful who overcame a tardy start to win on handicap debut over this trip at Navan 14 days ago.

A 4lb rise looks lenient and he should make his presence felt.

Approval has his first crack at a handicap for William Haggas on the back for a smooth novice win over this trip at Windsor earlier this month. He should be open to plenty of improvement.

Portsmouth scored at Epsom on comeback and has gone close twice since including back at the Classic track on Derby day.

He sees out this trip well and handles quick ground. He has an each-way shout under Hayley Turner.

Cambridge is another Ballydoyle runner who has his sights lowered after some solid efforts in Group contests.

His opening mark of 100 isn’t the easiest but he was last seen in the Dante so connections obviously think a lot of him.

6.15

QUEENSTOWN was beaten just a length by double Gold Cup hero Kyprios when they met over 1m6f at Leopardstown last month.

He kept going once headed by his illustrious stablemate so there’s every chance he’ll stay this marathon trip.

He should be fine with the ground and Ryan Moore gets on board today which can’t hurt.

Dawn Rising won this race last season and was fifth behind the tip last time out.

We know there are no stamina worries about William Buick’s mount who likes quick ground and will be right there again.

Trueshan landed the Group 1 Cadran the only time he tackled fast ground like this but he was taken out of the Gold Cup because of the going on Thursday.

He can be forgiven for being a little past his best but could figure if given his chance.

Tashkhan is another who would prefer softer conditions but he has some smart form including when winning a hot handicap at Chester over 2m3f in September.

Postileo was no match for Kyprios when they met at Navan in April.

He will be happier with this longer distance and has gone on quick ground before. He needs a personal best to win but could run into the places.

Run For Oscar hasn’t won since the 2022 Cesarewitch but was less than three lengths away in third in this race last year so is respected again.

Uxmal is unexposed in these marathons and wasn’t stopping when winning over 1m6f at Killarney last month.

This is hotter company but he shapes as though he could stay which brings him into the place picture.

Templegate’s tips

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