Templegate with his 16 money-spinning horses for your Flat season trackers
THE flat season kicked off in earnest with Newmarket’s Craven Meeting earlier this week and our top tipster Templegate has been busy scouting around.
He’s conjured up 16 horses who could be money spinners for the Flat season and they must be included in any tracker.
From last year’s St Leger winner, to unexposed handicappers who could run up a sequence, Templegate has all avenues covered.
AL NAFIR
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Age: 4
Form: 21/2561-
I like a couple of horses from the Old Rowley Cup run at Newmarket in October – this son of Dubawi and runner-up stablemate Wild Crusade.
The former didn’t quite last 1m6f in York’s Melrose and was much happier over a quarter-mile shorter here. He was always near the pace and kept pulling out more when challenged by the other Charlie Appleby runner.
His full brother Ghaiyyath was a multiple Group 1 winner over this trip and 1m2f and he can step out of handicap company this season. Wild Crusade needs to go the other way trip wise and has a bright future in staying contests.
AUDIENCE
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Age: 4
Form: 1/220331-
I followed this Team Gosden runner over a few cliffs last season but he finally came good when winning a hot contest at Leicester in October.
He was an easy winner on just his second run at handicap level and he clearly liked this specialist trip.
He was gelded before this much-improved effort and that can hold the key to him fulfilling his potential this season. Good and slighter quicker ground suits well.
AZURE BLUE
Trainer: Michael Dods
Age: 4
Form: 3221/51241411-
It’s nice to see a horse improve through their three-year-old campaign and this speedy filly definitely did that.
She kicked off winning a Hamilton handicap before winning a hot handicap at Newmarket before returning to the Rowley Mile to take the Listed Boadicea Stakes in October.
Six furlongs on decent ground suits and she looks more than capable of landing Group honours this summer.
COPPICE
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Age: 3
Form: 1-0
We only saw this Kingman filly once last season but she created a good impression when winning a Kempton novice contest over seven furlongs.
She missed the break but was soon travelling sweetly under Rab Havlin and had plenty left crossing the line, while she was also ahead of some nicely bred types.
Her full brother Calyx was a Group 2 winner at Royal Ascot and it would be no surprise to see her bounce back from a below-par run on return earlier this week.
ELDAR ELDAROV
Trainer: Roger Varian
Age: 4
Form: 1/11417-
Not the darkest of horses having won the St Leger in fine style but he could be underestimated this term because he finished with a poor run at Ascot.
He was clearly feeling the exertions of Doncaster there at the end of a busy season.
He looks capable of improving as a four-year-old and will be a fixture in the top staying contests. He is no Kyprios but there will be plenty of chances to avoid that superstar.
FINN’S CHARM
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Age: 3
Form: 31459-1
Moving up to a mile paid dividends as he clocked a fantastic time when winning at Musselburgh on good to soft earlier this month.
He is a strong-looking colt who has a lot more to come and is likely to stay a bit further.
FONTEYN
Trainer: Kevin Ryan
Age: 4
Form: 32/21441-
Kevin Ryan’s filly signed off the season by winning the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket in October.
She was a big price at HQ but it didn’t look like a fluke as she hit the front a long way out and kept finding more.
She’s had just six runs so there’s every chance she can take another step forward this season.
MAJESTIC
Trainer: Jack Channon
Age: 5
Form: 43212261-4
It’s not often you would say the winner of the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket is unexposed but Jack Channon’s star was having just his fourth run in a handicap and he was a convincing winner.
He has the capacity to win more handicaps from a mile to 1m2f and is capable of winning more nice prizes.
MAJESTIC PRIDE
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Age: 3
Form: 21-1
He ended last season with a maiden win at Chelmsford and left that behind with a smooth success in Newmarket’s first race of the season.
William Buick always looked to be getting there despite tacky ground and the wind blowing them about.
He can step up from this effort over 7f and has a bright future around a mile.
OLD HARROVIAN
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Age: 4
Form: 7-11
This Sea The Stars colt is late to the party having run just three times but he was impressive when scoring by ten lengths at Wolverhampton earlier this month.
He didn’t come out of first gear in clearing right away over the 1m4f trip and there’s a lot more to come. We’re talking more than a handicapper.
POKER FACE
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford
Age: 4
Form: 111-2
He didn’t race as a two-year-old and wasn’t seen until September when he made an instant impact with a Pontefract maiden win.
He then had little trouble scoring on the all-weather at Newcastle before returning to Ponte for an impressive success on handicap debut.
He wasn’t ahead of world-beaters but scooted right away from them with the minimum of fuss.
He will come on for his comeback at Newmarket earlier this week and looks up to winning a Group contest.
SAVVY VICTORY
Trainer: Sean Woods
Age: 4
Form: 4232/13362153-5
His finest hour came with a big handicap win at Goodwood in August before running well when fifth in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket.
He didn’t get much luck in running when third back on the Rowley Mile in late October.
He can take a step forward this season especially when the ground is testing. Trips around 1m2f bring out the best in him.
SIRONA
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Age: 3
Form: 1218
She did well to finish second in a hot fillies’ contest at Goodwood before taking a Listed prize at Cologne in Germany.
The ground was softer than ideal on both occasions there and much too testing when she was beaten at Pontefract in October.
She is capable of holding her own in good company over a mile or so when she gets a better surface to run on.
TOSHIZOU
Trainer: Roger Fell
Age: 5
Form: 315/440/25-03
Roger Fell is certain to conjure up a win with this new arrival from Joseph O’Brien in Ireland.
He needed his comeback in the Lincoln and went close in good company at Newmarket earlier this week.
He raced on the worst part of the track up the middle for much of the way before running on into third. He has few miles on the clock.
VADREAM
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes
Age: 5
Form: 1/36327415/60020063-92616
She loves soft ground and took full advantage to win the Cammidge Trophy over six furlongs at Doncaster’s opening meeting.
She has gone well in Group 1 company when the mud’s flying and is worth keeping in mind should conditions come up wet at any of the big meetings. She’s likely to be underestimated.
FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org