Today’s Royal Ascot tips: Templegate’s betting preview for all ITV races on Saturday
The final day of Royal Ascot comes under the spotlight as Templegate looks to find a host of winners at the Royal meeting
ROYAL ASCOT SATURDAY
2.30
IT wouldn’t be madness to take one step Beyond in the Chesham Stakes.
BEYOND REASON couldn’t keep tabs on New Winds on her debut but she stepped on that Newmarket effort to get off the mark on Kempton’s all-weather track by four lengths.
It’s not easy to get a handle on that form but I’m confident she’ll improve a good bit for the step up to 7f.
New Winds was bitterly disappointing on her second start when last of five but that can only be down to the soft ground. She bounced back to make all the running at Haydock 10 days ago.
She’s another who is sure to like today’s extra furlong but trainer Mark Johnston looks to have an even better chance with Natalie’s Joy.
She made a stunning debut when charging clear to win by a whopping six lengths. If she’s in that sort of form she should go close.
Aidan O’Brien is going for a hat-trick of wins in this race. He won it with subsequent 2000 Guineas hero Churchill in 2016 and top filly September 12 months ago.
It’s a surprise to see him rely on Cardini this time as he has been well held in both of his races. He certainly lacks the quality of O’Brien’s previous winners.
I’m more worried about Haydock debut winner Arthur Kitt.
3.05
THE Hardwicke Stakes is Crystal clear. Only six runners have turned up and CRYSTAL OCEAN looks head and shoulders above the rest.
He was smart last year. Sir Michael Stoute’s ace landed the Gordon Stakes and hit the frame in Royal Ascot’s King Edward VII Stakes and the St Leger but he was always going to be better this summer.
His Sandown win over an inadequate 1m2f was a cracking start to this season and he followed it with an effortless six-length Group 3 win at Newbury.
He should complete the hat-trick today and he’ll deserve his place in next month’s King George.
Barsanti took six attempts to break his duck at Listed level when beating Mirage Dancer a neck over today’s track and trip last month.
He was runner-up behind Idaho in this race 12 months ago but the smaller field is no good to him.
Idaho is probably the best forecast bet. After winning this race last year he finished third behind Enable in the King George. He gets his ground but he’ll do well to topple Crystal Ocean.
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3.40
KESSAAR is a good bet to be king of the Windsor Castle. John Gosden has only run 13 two-year-olds at Royal Ascot in the last ten years and five of them have won.
He took this race two years ago with once-raced Ardad. Kessaar also comes here after running well on his debut.
He was Gosden’s first juvenile winner of the season when beaten half a length at York last month.
That was over 6f but he didn’t look short of pace and he should have improved a good bit over the last month.
Aidan O’Brien fields three runners and Van Beethoven is clearly the best. He won easily at Naas before chasing home smart stablemate Fairyland in a Curragh Listed contest.
The return to five furlongs with a strong pace guaranteed is likely to suit him.
Wesley Ward’s Moonlight Romance was runner-up to stablemate Shang Shang Shang – winner of Thursday’s Norfolk Stakes – in April.
She’s since bolted up at Belmont and she has to be on the shortlist.
Queen Of Bermuda has come up with impressive wins at Thirsk and Windsor. She is another sharp filly.
The 6f contest Mutawaffer landed at Goodwood has thrown up a few winners. The drop in trip will not be a problem for him.
Sabre’s Sandown second to Vintage Brut took a knock when the winner only beat one home in the Norfolk Stakes here two days ago.
4.20
HARRY ANGEL is a heavenly bet in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
Incredibly, Clive Cox’s crack sprinter has been beaten on all four visits to this track. To make it even more astonishing those are his only four defeats from nine races.
That hardly inspires confidence but I’m sure it’s mere coincidence when you consider he couldn't have gone much closer to winning on his debut and he was giving King’s Stand hero Blue Point 4lbs when beaten by him on his return last month.
Last year’s Commonwealth Cup second – when he split Caravaggio and Blue Point – was a super effort.
He might well have gone off too fast that day and I’m sure he’s matured since then.
Last month’s York Group 2 win didn’t tell us much. At least that will have helped to put the edge on him for today.
Aidan O’Brien’s trio are sure to try to get Harry Angel beaten. Intelligence Cross is in there to make the pace for Aussie import Merchant Navy.
He made a pleasing Irish debut when too good for stablemate Spirit Of Valour at the Curragh last time but he faces a stiffer test today.
Last year’s winner The Tin Man had a nice prep race at Windsor. He loves this track but is sure to find this race tougher than 12 months ago.
I like Librisa Breeze – successful in the big sprint on Champions Day – but he might find 6f on fast ground a little on the sharp side.
Templegate's Royal Ascot tips
2.30 Ascot - Beyond Reason: 'She looked as if she would relish the step up to seven furlongs today'
3.05 Ascot - Crystal Ocean: 'Looks to be in a different league to his rivals here'
3.40 Ascot - Kessaar: 'Ran well on his debut and is one who is bound to improve plenty with that under his belt'
4.20 Ascot - Harry Angel: 'Harsh to judge him on his Ascot defeats and he is a top class sprinter'
5.00 Ascot - Tis Marvellous: 'He still looks well weighted and looks a value bet with Dreamfield so short'
5.35 Ascot - Count Octave: 'Just a neck behind Stradivarius at Ascot last year and he will love this trip'
5.00
THERE’S a Marvellous bet in the Wokingham.
TIS MARVELLOUS was a Group 2 winner as a juvenile and he wasn’t disgraced behind the likes of top sprinters Harry Angel, Blue Point and Caravaggio at times last season.
His fifth behind Gifted Master at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting was a promising effort considering he struggled to get a position from a poor draw in a race dominated from the front.
There’s plenty of reason to think he’s well weighted.
Dreamfield has obvious claims and he may well win. John Gosden’s unbeaten Godolphin ace is bred to be better than a handicapper and that looks the way he’s heading.
He had little trouble winning a course-and-distance handicap last month and runner-up Silent Echo has twice gone in since. I just can’t get excited about such a short price in a race like this.
Godolphin also run Brian The Snail. He lost his way last season but bounced back to form when winning at Doncaster last weekend.
His trainer Richard Fahey knows how to win these big sprints.
Gilgamesh has been doing his winning over further but he does have a neat turn of foot. This could set for him with conditions in his favour.
Victory Angel ran a decent race when fourth behind Gifted Master at Newmarket on his comeback. He didn’t progress from a winning return to action last season and he might just be best when fresh.
Danzeno was fifth in this race last year before going on to win over 5f at this track the following month.
He ran well when third behind impressive George Bowen at York last time and this course plays more to his strengths.
I liked the way Ice Age made all the running to win at Newbury last month. If he’s not taken on too much on the stands’ side he would have to have a chance.
Out Do hasn’t won since landing this race 12 months ago. He’s only a pound higher in the weights so couldn’t be ruled out despite his advancing years.
5.35
MAKE the final race of Royal Ascot Count. The Queen Alexandra Stakes is the longest race of the meeting and that should suit COUNT OCTAVE just fine.
He ran Stradivarius to a neck in the Queen’s Vase at last year’s Royal Ascot and he was beaten less than six lengths in the St Leger.
It wasn’t a surprise he lacked the pace to trouble Thursday’s Gold Cup hero in the Yorkshire Cup last month and he’s been waiting for this step up in distance.
I think he’ll stay and, if he does, he should win. He’s owned by Qatar Racing and I reckon their second string could be the biggest danger.
Pallastor was a class stayer a few years ago. He was good enough to win the 2015 Doncaster Cup and he’s been rejuvenated by Gordon Elliott over hurdles.
Thomas Hobson deserves his place at the top of the market but there are reasons to take him on. He was a bit keen early on when runner-up in this race 12 months ago and he paid for that over this stamina-sapping marathon distance.
Willie Mullins’ hope is likely to be fresher this time as he’s running for the first time since finishing sixth in the Melbourne. He could easily get outslugged in the closing stages again.
Mullins also runs useful hurdler Meri Devie. She made no impression from the rear in Tuesday’s Ascot Stakes but she could easily do better today.
Stablemate Renneti hasn’t beaten a horse in top races this year and he needs softer ground.
Fun Mac bumped into a good ‘un when runner-up behind impressive Magic Circle in the Chester. Everything looked in place for him that day so I’m not convinced he will repeat that form.
Uber Cool is progressing well but he has plenty to find at the weights with some of his rivals.
Ascot
2.30 Beyond Reason
3.05 Crystal Ocean
3.40 Kessaar
4.20 Harry Angel (treble)
5.00 Tis Marvellous (nap)
5.35 Count Octave (nb)
Ayr
1.45 Chuck Willis
2.20 Byron’s Choice
2.55 Mordin
3.30 Nicholas T
4.10 Sandra’s Secret
4.50 Star Of The East
5.25 Equitant
Haydock
6.15 Long Socks
6.45 Island Of Life
7.15 More Than This
7.45 Mosalim
8.15 Lamloom
8.45 History Writer
Lingfield
6.00 Brexitmeansbrexit
6.30 Chorus Of Lies
7.00 Attain
7.30 Fast Landing
8.00 Critical Data
8.30 La Isla Bonita
9.00 Soumei
Newmarket
2.10 Neverland Rock
2.45 Really Super
3.20 Dolcissimo
4.00 Red Starlight
4.40 Embour
5.20 Left Alone
5.55 Beachwalk
Perth
2.00 Mac Tottie
2.35 Zolfo
3.10 Make It Happen
3.45 Always On The Run
4.25 Impulsive American
5.05 Mighty Leader
5.40 Triolet
6.10 Johnny Pedlar
Redcar
1.35 Liberation Day
2.05 Sunrize
2.40 Tan Arabiq
3.15 Horsted Keynes
3.50 Eeh Bah Gum
4.35 God Willing
5.15 Boundary Lane
5.50 Me Before You