TEMPLEGATE has been in red-hot form this week and tackles Friday’s Royal Ascot action confident of winners.
Read on for his tips in every race and must-see verdicts.
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ETHICAL DIAMOND (4.25 Royal Ascot, nap)
He can give champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins another Royal Ascot winner. He ran in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and came back to the level for a head-bobbing second at Leopardstown. The winner of that race has scored again and the combination of this longer trip and Ryan Moore getting on board can do the trick.
FAIRY GODMOTHER (2.30 Royal Ascot, nb)
She came home first in the Group 3 sprint at Naas that has provided the past two winners of this. She showed lots of pace to get up despite having to switch at a crucial stage and she enjoyed the fast ground.
OPERA SINGER (3.45 Royal Ascot, treble)
She will be tuned up to win this Coronation Stakes after needing the run when third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas last time. She was all class as a juvenile, winning the Flame Of Tara at The Curragh before ending the campaign by bolting up in the Group 1 Marcel Boussac at Longchamp. Aidan O’Brien’s star filly will be fitter for her Classic effort and the quicker ground is in her favour too.
Templegate’s Ascot verdicts
2.30
FAIRY GODMOTHER came home first in the Group 3 sprint at Naas that has provided the past two winners of this.
She showed lots of pace to get up despite having to switch at a crucial stage and she enjoyed the fast ground.
Mountain Breeze looks a big danger after two convincing victories at Newmarket.
She clocked a good time when scoring over this trip last time and there’s a lot more to come.
California Dreamer wasn’t far behind the tip last time and has solid place claims.
Heavens Gate didn’t have to hit top gear when getting off the mark at The Curragh last time. She takes a sharp hike in class here but has scope for improvement.
Simmering absolutely tanked along for most of her debut at York 27 days ago before just fading in the closing stages.
She should have learned a lot from that experience and has place claims.
Burning Pine comes over from America for Wesley Ward. She blasted off from the front when scoring on debut at Keeneland in April.
There’s no doubting her pace but this trip may stretch her a little.
3.05
ELITE STATUS did well as a two-year-old but took his form to a new level when winning a Newbury Listed contest on comeback last month.
He cruised along there before picking up strongly to win going away.
That was over this trip on fast ground and he has more to come. The tip’s owners also have Inisherin with every chance.
They paid to supplement him for this after his runaway win in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock last time.
This is clearly his trip after he failed to stay in the 2,000 Guineas and he’ll have a big say if handling the quicker ground.
He likes to front-run and has lots of pace. Starlust was very impressive when winning a red-hot handicap over five furlongs at York last time.
He takes a fair hike in grade here but can figure if getting home and that’s where the first-time blinkers can help.
Jasour was a speedy Group 3 winner over course and distance last time. This is clearly tougher but he’ll like the ground and has an each-way shout.
Evade drops in distance after a game win at Epsom last time. He has plenty of pace and can improve on just his second run for Archie Watson.
Givemethebeatboys held his own at Group 1 level last season and enjoyed the fast ground when second at Naas on comeback. He could nick a place if finding more.
3.45
OPERA SINGER will be tuned up to win this Coronation Stakes after needing the run when third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas last time.
She was all class as a juvenile, winning the Flame Of Tara at The Currragh before ending the campaign by bolting up in the Group 1 Marcel Boussac at Longchamp.
Aidan O’Brien’s star filly will be fitter for her Classic effort and the quicker ground is in her favour too.
Elmalka was a surprise winner of the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket but she took it fair and square so will be on the premises again.
The only concern would be if she starts slowly again because front runners have been showing up well this week so track position could be vital.
Porta Fortuna came from off the breakneck pace to finish a neck behind Elmalka at HQ last time.
She won the Albany Stakes at last year’s Royal meeting as well as the Group 1 Cheveley Park so has plenty of class. She has to be on the shortlist.
As does Ramatuelle who went for home too early at Newmarket and couldn’t hold on.
Oisin Murphy has been in brilliant form this week and is a big upgrade in the saddle from his French jockey and they can’t be dismissed.
This is a cracking race and Rouhiya has strong place claims after her thrilling French 1,000 Guineas win.
She had to sit and suffer until the gap appeared late and she had enough quality to whizz through. The bookies may have under-estimated her a little.
See The Fire has more to offer for Andrew Balding but it is significant her regular rider Murphy has rejected her. She still looks to be a work in progress.
4.25
ETHICAL DIAMOND can give champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins another Royal Ascot winner.
He ran in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and came back to the level for a head-bobbing second at Leopardstown.
The winner of that race has scored again and the combination of this longer trip and Ryan Moore getting on board can do the trick.
Crystal Black got the better of Deakin at The Curragh last time but there was only a neck between them.
They are both creeping up the weights but it would be no shock to see them in the frame.
Shadow Dance has been off for 252 days but was last seen going close at Newmarket. He can improve this season and Roger Varian should have him fit enough to do himself justice.
Fairbanks won on the all-weather before going close at Hamilton last time. He’s creeping up the weights but likes this trip and has a place shout.
Sea King was a smooth winner at Ripon last time and must be respected for Sir Mark Prescott who won with a similar type here on Tuesday.
Of the rest, Marhaba The Champ has some smart form on quick ground and his profile suggests he can bounce back from a poor run.
5.05
FAIR ANGELLICA showed a blistering turn of pace when winning at Kempton last time.
She kept it simple from the front and found a lot more when challenged. This is hotter company but Richard Hughes’ filly deserves her place here.
Indelible created a good impression when landing her first turf win at Doncaster three weeks ago.
Her opening mark of 91 looks fair and there’s more to come for in-form Ralph Beckett.
Arisaig wasn’t stopping at the end of an extended seven furlongs when winning on turf at Lingfield last time.
She has lots of pace and will enjoy quick conditions.
Asian Daze won a Curragh handicap before more than holding her own when second in Listed company at Navan last time.
Johnny Murtagh is always dangerous in these big handicaps and she won’t be far away.
Everlasting was a place ahead of her in that race and a visor goes on for the first time here.
She was thought good enough to run in the Irish 1,000 Guineas by Aidan O’Brien so even a hefty handicap mark of 102 may not stop her.
The King has a shout with Hard To Resist who ran well in a Group 3 in France last time and this will be her first run on quick ground.
Zaynab is a very interesting runner for Gordon Elliott. She dug deep to win a smart handicap at The Curragh last time and a 6lb rise is unlikely to be a problem.
Kitty Rose has plenty of weight to carry but she’s earned it with some decent efforts in Group company.
The booking of Oisin Murphy could be an inspired decision.
John and Thady Gosden won this last year with Coppice and they saddle four this time with perhaps Cat Ninja their best chance.
5.40
SPACE LEGEND was more than a little unlucky at Goodwood last time when the door was slammed shut in his face several times inside the final quarter-mile.
He finished strongly once in the clear and can gain compensation on this debut for Wathnan Racing.
War Rooms looks overpriced after his solid third in the Dante at York last time.
He’s been given time to develop after that promising run and this step up in distance should help.
Macduff is another at huge odds who can run well. He simply hated Epsom when down the Derby field after running well in the Sandown Trial.
The first-time cheekpieces can help him deliver and he could make the frame.
Diego Velazquez was a Group 2 winner at Leopardstown last season and was less than a length away in the French Guineas on comeback this season.
He shapes like a stayer but didn’t enjoy this trip when struggling in the French Derby and has a few questions to answer now.
Stablemate Chief Little Rock was a game Group 3 winner at The Curragh over 1m2f last month and should see out this trip. He needs more but could deliver.
Calandagan has won a couple of Group 3s at Longchamp and doesn’t look out of place in this.
6.15
VANTHEMAN had to make his own pace and was just collared in a red-hot handicap at York last time.
The handicapper has been fair with a 2lb rise in the weights while this trip on decent ground are ideal. He looks a big price to hit the frame.
Jubilee Walk finished a place ahead of the tip on the Knavesmire and has strong claims again with Oisin Murphy staying on board.
He has 7lb more to contend with but is clearly on the upgrade.
Mukaafah looked classy when winning on his handicap debut at Doncaster last month. He’s a son of crack sprinter Blue Point and he enjoyed this trip on firm ground.
There’s more on his plate here but he should progress past an 8lb rise in the weights.
Pilgrim took his form to a new level when winning by more than five lengths at Musselburgh last time.
That was over this trip and he showed enough pace to figure here.
Dyrholaey is interesting on his turf debut after making it three from three on the all-weather at Newcastle. He looks on a fair mark and could figure.
Dorney Lake didn’t have a lot to beat at Lingfield last time but he did it nicely and has enough pace to cope with this sharper trip.
He can show more on this handicap debut for the Gosdens with William Buick on board.
