TEMPLEGATE tackles Friday’s racing confident of banging in some winners.
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INVOLVEMENT (1.50 Newmarket, nap)
He can make his presence felt for Simon and Ed Crisford. He was third in his group in the big-field Britannia at Royal Ascot last time on the back of a close second at Haydock. That came with give in the ground and he finished strongly in both races over a mile. This longer trip and the booking of Oisin Murphy are both major pluses today.
PORTA FORTUNA (3.35 Newmarket, nb)
She was brilliant when winning the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. She showed great pace to overhaul useful rival Opera Singer after it looked as though she’d got away. She was beaten just a neck in the 1,000 Guineas before that and can make the most of the weight she gets from her elders.
HEAVENS GATE (2.25 Newmarket, treble)
She was beaten just a length in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and looks the one to beat. It was pretty quick last time but she showed her liking for softer conditions when winning a Curragh maiden in second gear. She doesn’t need much improvement to take this.
Templegate’s TV verdicts
NEWMARKET
1.50
INVOLVEMENT can make his presence felt for Simon and Ed Crisford.
He was third in his group in the big-field Britannia at Royal Ascot last time on the back of a close second at Haydock.
That came with give in the ground and he finished strongly in both races over a mile.
This longer trip and the booking of Oisin Murphy are both major pluses today.
Royal Power came back from a long break with a promising third in a Goodwood Listed contest. This Frankel colt is a proven stayer who can make his mark in this handicap.
Rebaatt is rising through the ranks and battled to score over course and distance latest. An 8lb rise means he needs more but he is clearly capable of better.
Travolta has won his past two well and should take a step forward, while Chantilly wasn’t disgraced over 1m4f at Royal Ascot and may prefer this distance.
2.25
HEAVENS GATE was beaten just a length in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and looks the one to beat.
It was pretty quick last time but she showed her liking for softer conditions when winning a Curragh maiden in second gear. She doesn’t need much improvement to take this.
Mighty Eriu looked to be crying out for this longer trip when a cracking second in the Queen Mary.
She was first home on the stands’ side and powered right through the line. She is the main danger.
Maw Lam didn’t get the best of runs when third in that race and was full of running at the winning post. She won’t be far away again if liking the easier ground.
Mountain Breeze was fancied for the Albany and was slightly disappointing in fourth.
Charlie Appleby’s horses are in better form now and she can figure.
Liberalised was withdrawn from the Albany after trouble in the stalls and could figure if not repeating those antics.
3.00
BAGUE D’OR was not happy dropped back to 1m4f at Royal Ascot and will be much happier over this favourite course and distance.
He was an impressive winner here two starts ago and has every chance again for trainer James Ferguson who is in decent form.
Fairbanks looks open to improvement over staying trips and is another who wasn’t suited by 1m4f in the Duke Of Edinburgh last time.
He went close at Hamilton before that and the first-time blinkers may help.
Fox Journey is creeping up the weights and ran no races at Ascot latest.
He landed an 11-length win on the Rowley course on comeback in May and returning here may pay dividends.
Tides Of War got up right on the line at Goodwood on comeback. We haven’t seen him since that May run but he should be in the mix again.
Zoffee won the Chester Cup before a messy run in the Northumberland Plate.
Vino Victrix went close at Goodwood latest and is another to note.
3.35
PORTA FORTUNA was brilliant when winning the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last time.
She showed great pace to overhaul useful rival Opera Singer after it looked as though she’d got away.
She was beaten just a neck in the 1,000 Guineas before that and can make the most of the weight she gets from her elders.
Running Lion is hard to predict but everything went to plan when she took the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot.
She had plenty in hand and Oisin Murphy can get another good tune out of her.
A Lilac Rolla has shown plenty in her four starts. She kicked off this season with a Group 3 win in the mud at Leopardstown before a good second in the Irish Guineas.
She’s had a break since then and has more to come.
Rogue Millennium was no match for Running Lion last time and there’s no obvious reason why she’ll turn that around.
Jabaara was an impressive Listed winner at Carlisle but will find this tougher.
YORK
2.05
QUEST FOR FUN was a little unlucky not to beat Tolstoy when they met over course and distance last time.
The latter got first run while my fancy had to wait for a gap which came too late. It was still a good effort to be beaten just half a length and he can turn the tables today.
Billyb is in excellent form and followed a Beverley win with a close second at Carlisle last time.
His best has come on quick ground but he is still fairly handicapped and won’t be far away.
Silver Samurai enjoyed this trip when striking at Doncaster last month. He goes on any ground and comes into the place picture.
Zip likes a bit of juice underfoot and is better than we saw on the sand at Newcastle last time. He is capable of making the frame.
Riot battled to the line when scoring at Doncaster but is in deeper waters here so needs more.
Yanifer has had joy here before and was less than three lengths away over this trip on his last visit from a higher mark. He is another with an each-way shout.
2.40
UNEQUAL LOVE saw off 24 rivals to win the Woking-ham at Royal Ascot and went close in a Curragh Group 2 earlier this season.
She relishes this trip and handles fast and slow ground. William Haggas continues in excellent form and can bag another nice prize.
Adaay In Devon went from the front to score at Sandown last time. That was over the minimum trip but she stays strongly and likes a bit of cut in the ground.
Flora Of Bermuda was second in that contest and has an each-way squeak again.
Raqiya is on the upgrade as she showed when battling to a Listed success at Salisbury last time. Her excellent trainer Owen Burrows can conjure more improvement from her.
Funny Story chased her home last time and there won’t be a lot between them again.
Great Generation proved herself in this grade when winning on turf at Lingfield last time.
She handles any ground and is another with more to offer despite this drop in distance.
Marine Wave looks a big price after winning a Ripon handicap in a fair time. This is a clearly tougher assignment but she could outrun her odds over a trip that really suits.
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