Horse racing tips: Ascot, Lingfield and Haydock – Templegate’s betting preview for ITV’s racing TODAY

ASCOT

2.15

MACHINE LEARNER should teach his rivals a lesson. He won a Sandown handicap on his first run of last season when making his debut for in-form trainer Joe Tuite.

His head second behind Laws Of Spin at Leopardstown in September was another good effort before his form tailed off on soft ground. He’s still nicely treated and he looks to have solid claims.

Thundering Blue couldn’t get into his last race at Epsom but should sharpen up for the run. If he stays the longer trip he will go close.

Exceeding Power is in top form after a couple of wins over shorter on the all-weather. He goes well on decent ground on turf and this first try at a mile and a half should suit.

Koeman won in this grade at Lingfield last time. The form has been franked and he is only up 2lb. Humble Hero and Great Sound are others with the potential to be competitive in races like this.

2.50

GET the drinks in on the Bar. BARSANTI has been beaten in all five previous tries at Listed level but it’s inevitable he’ll win one.

He ran smart Idaho to half a length when runner-up in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer. That’s good form and it makes him the clear pick today.

Mirage Dancer always looked likely to come into his own this year. He was placed in Group races behind Cracksman and Benbatl – both Group 1 winners since – last season.

I expect him to have a good summer but it’s not hard to imagine he’ll improve quite a bit for the run.

God Given rattled up a hat-trick of victories last year but those wins came on soft ground. She’s another for later in the season.

GET ON TREND Who will win the Victoria Cup at Ascot this Saturday?

3.25

THE Time is right. QUEEN OF TIME wasn’t out of it when finding trouble and unseating her jockey at Goodwood last weekend. Her form last season was really good.

After a couple of wins at Goodwood she finished fourth in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot and went on to take the runner-up spot in a Sandown Listed contest.

There’s every chance she’ll be even better this season. The big danger is Dynamic. William Haggas’ filly is another likely to do well this season after winning twice from three starts last year.

4.00

THE Key fits the Victoria Cup. KEYSER SOZE ran a belter from a poor draw when third in the Spring Cup at Newbury last time.

Given that was his run since last June I’m expecting him to improve for that run and he wouldn’t have  to show much more to take this race.

Both his wins last season came over today’s seven-furlong trip and Jamie Spencer is a master at riding Ascot’s straight course.

Kynren also made a promising comeback when third in the Spring Mile – the consolation race for horse who missed the cut for the Lincoln. He’s still unexposed.

Spanish City won like a well-weighted horse at Newcastle last time. He’s another with solid claims in a typically competitive race.

Gilgamesh will appreciate the conditions. He bombed out on soft ground in the Spring Cup but he’s in with a shout on last season’s decent form.

Escobar and Louie De Palma are two interesting runners worth keeping an eye on.

LINGFIELD

1.55

HAYDOCK

3.10

SILVER STREAK should strike gold in the Pertemps Network Swinton Hurdle.

He won at Chepstow in October and backed it up with a cracking second in the valuable Racing Welfare Hurdle at Ascot.

Testing ground was no good to him in the Imperial Cup but he still ran well to finish sixth. Now the sun has started to shine he’ll get much more favourable conditions and I reckon he’ll take advantage.

John Constable took the field apart when winning this race 12 months ago. He’s 22lbs higher this time and hasn’t had a chance to show what he can do as he’s been running against Champion Hurdler Buveur D’Air recently.

Chesterfield only failed by a couple of lengths to retain his Scottish Champion Hurdle crown. He looks sure to go well again but the handicapper knows where he is with Seamus Mullins’ hope.

I’m more worried about Act Of Valour. He found the softened ground taxing him in the closing stages at Sandown last time. There’s no doubt he’s got a race like this in him.

ASCOT

2.15 Machine Learner (treble)

2.50 Barsanti

3.25 Queen Of Time

4.00 Keyser Soze

4.35 Dark Shadow

5.10 Moonraker

HAYDOCK

2.00 Carlos Du Fruitier

2.35 Melinoe

3.10 Silver Streak

3.45 Tommy Taylor

4.20 Mubtasim

4.55 Breath Caught (nb)

5.25 Rocklander

5.55 Poker School

HEXHAM

1.45 Birch Vale

2.20 Peculiar Places

2.55 Civil Unrest

3.30 Rising Marienbard

4.05 Well Smitten

4.40 Iskabeg Lane

5.15 Influential Lady

LINGFIELD

1.55 Perfect Clarity

2.30 Kew Gardens

3.05 Miss Inga Sock

3.40 One Master (nap)

4.15 Mancini

4.50 Ashazuri

5.20 Warsaw Road

5.50 Island Of Life

NOTTINGHAM

2.05 Tabdeed

2.40 Jabbarockie

3.15 Hallstatt

3.50 Pretty Baby

4.25 Stubytuesday

5.00 Antagonist

5.35 Jungle Room

6.05 African Trader

THIRSK

5.45 Who Told Jo Jo

6.15 Rozy Boys

6.45 Stonific

7.15 Enzo’s Lad

7.45 Dundunah

8.15 Martineo

8.45 Melaniemillie

WARWICK

5.30 Clondaw Anchor

6.00 Deyrann De Carjac

6.30 Barbrook Star

7.00 Poppy Kay

7.30 Red Tornado

8.00 Roll The Dough

8.30 Commander Miller