Templegate’s Royal Ascot day one NAP fancied to bolt up for underrated trainer

TEMPLEGATE tackles day one of Royal Ascot confident of kicking off the biggest week of Flat racing all year in style.

Read on for all his tips and big-race verdicts – and back a horse at the best price simply by clicking their odds.

BIG EVS (3.45 Royal Ascot, nap)

Was a brilliant two-year-old who landed his first major victory in the Windsor Castle Stakes at the Royal meeting. He went from strength to strength, finishing with a memorable Breeders’ Cup win in the States. Any worries about him not training on were put to bed as he clocked a good time in winning a Listed contest at York last month. He gets a handy weight allowance from the older horses and his underrated trainer Mick Appleby will have him spot on for this challenge.

CHARYN (2.30 Royal Ascot, nb)

Took his form to a new level when second to runaway winner Audience in the Lockinge and can land a deserved Group 1 success for Roger Varian. He has progressed beautifully this season, kicking off with an impressive soft-ground Listed win at Doncaster before stepping up to take the Group 2 Sandown Mile in April. He proved that he doesn’t need it testing when running out clear second-best in a Lockinge that was expertly pinched from the front by Rab Havlin on Audience.

FOX JOURNEY (6.15 Royal Ascot, treble)

Was an excellent third in the Melrose Handicap at York the last time he tackled this trip and was stunning on comeback at Newmarket when winning by 11 lengths. The handicapper has shunted him up 9lb for that convincing success but nobody improves a four-year-old better than Sir Michael Stoute who has been in good form. The booking of Ryan Moore is the cherry on the cake and he looks hard to beat.

Templegate’s complete Ascot race-by-race verdicts

2.30

CHARYN took his form to a new level when second to runaway winner Audience in the Lockinge and can land a deserved Group 1 success for Roger Varian.

He has progressed beautifully this season, kicking off with an impressive soft-ground Listed win at Doncaster before stepping up to take the Group 2 Sandown Mile in April.

He proved that he doesn’t need it testing when running out clear second-best in a Lockinge that was expertly pinched from the front by Rab Havlin on Audience.

He won’t get things his way out in front this time and Ascot’s stiff finish will bring out the best in my fancy.

Two French raiders could be dangerous – especially if rain falls or they over-water the ground.

Big Rock was breathtaking when winning the QEII Stakes here by six lengths on soft in October and may have been short of a run when sixth in the Lockinge on comeback.

He was second in the French Derby and has lots of class. Experienced Christophe Soumillon takes over in the saddle today and that could prove to be a key booking.

Facteur Cheval was second in that QEII and was last seen running a brilliant race to win the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March.

A repeat of that would take him close. Maljoom is interesting for William Haggas.

He has had training problems but was a brilliant fourth in the St James’s Palace Stakes in 2022 and that would bring him into the place picture.

Dolayli looks progressive too while Docklands has a good Ascot record and is another with place claims with Sunracing’s own Hayley Turner in the saddle.

3.05

FRANCISCO’S PIECE could be the answer to this wide open Coventry.

He kicked off with a game win at Pontefract before going close at York’s Dante meeting.

He ran another belter when scoring in France last time where he finished strongly to suggest this extra furlong will be ideal. He can run another big race.

Al Qudra was impressive when scoring on the all-weather at Lingfield last time when tackling this trip. He drew well clear and has more to come.

Andesite battled to score at York on debut latest when he needed every yard of this trip. He is sure to show more with that under his belt.

Cowardofthecounty got the better of Camille Pissarro when they met at The Curragh last month. There won’t be a lot between them again and both a massively respected.

Catalyse looks the pick of the Wathnan Racing team with No1 rider James Doyle on board.

He was impressive when winning on debut at Hamilton over this trip and could be a major improver.

He is proven on fast ground and connections will be desperate to get a winner on the board this week.

The Actor wasn’t stopping when winning over five furlongs at Newmarket on debut and has place claims.

3.45

BIG EVS was a brilliant two-year-old who landed his first major victory in the Windsor Castle Stakes at the Royal meeting.

He went from strength to strength, finishing with a memorable Breeders’ Cup win in the States.

Any worries about him not training on were put to bed as he clocked a good time in winning a Listed contest at York last month.

He gets a handy weight allowance from the older horses and his under-rated trainer Mick Appleby will have him spot on for this challenge.

It was rattling fast when he scored at Santa Anita wo the ground shouldn’t be an issue.

Believing enjoyed the drop back to this trip when scorching home to score at Haydock last time.

He enjoyed the quick ground there and will be a big threat if they don’t put too much water on.

Regional is another formidable foe who finished last season winning the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup.

He has plenty of decent form at this trip too and was just pipped in a hot contest at The Curragh on comeback.

Aussie hope Asfoora didn’t fire in the Temple Stakes but that was her first taste of UK racing and this is her target.

Putting Oisin Murphy on board looks a wise move and she should show her true colours here.

Kerdos was fair dinkum ahead of the Aussie last time. He needs another big run to confirm that form but is smart enough to hit the frame.

4.25

NOTABLE SPEECH looked a well above average 2,000 Guineas winner when storming to victory at Newmarket last time.

He tanked along there and showed a sharp turn of foot to score. He can take a step up from that effort and looks hard to beat.

Guineas second Rosallion went on to frank the form by winning the Irish version but he will need to find another gear to turn the form around.

He has scored on fast and soft ground so that’s not a bother.

Aidan O’Brien has been making positive noises about Henry Longfellow who was a tad disappointing when eighth in the French Guineas.

He’s bred for a longer trip than this and has a few questions to answer now.

Almaqam is one of my 12 to follow for the season and it was good to see him land the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown so easily last time.

That earned him a crack at this contest where he could hit the places at a big price if one of the big three form chances falters.

Metropolitan looks a big price considering he won the French Guineas last time. He will need rain as his best efforts have come with some cut in the ground.

Darlinghurst is another coming from France where he was an easy Group 3 winner at Chantilly last month. He’ll have to improve plenty to figure here.

Unquestionable looked rusty when fourth in the Irish Guineas and could be here to ensure there’s a good pace to help stablement Henry Longfellow.

Alyanaabi wasn’t disgraced when fifth in the Guineas where he pulled too hard early on. He was second in the Dewhurst last season so has some quality but needs to find his very best form.

5.05

ZANNDABAD was beaten less than a length in the Chester Cup last time where he came home with plenty left in the tank.

He wasn’t helped by taking a wide route at that tight track and Ascot will give him a bit more time to hit top gear.

The booking of William Buick takes the eye – he has won two of the past three runnings of this – and we know this stamina test will be right up his street.

Any time you see Willie Mullins with a runner on the Flat you have to take notice and the peerless Ryan Moore gets on board his My Lyka.

He was beaten in a photo over hurdles last month on his debut for the yard and he won a couple of all-weather contests on the Flat in France.

He shouldn’t quite be favourite on form but connections are respected.

Divine Comedy was a brilliant winner over two miles on soft at Haydock last time and he’s a contender again despite a slightly harsh 9lb rise in the weights.

He has gone on fast ground but some rain would boost his each-way chances at a big price.

Pied Piper was sixth in this two years ago and was a good third in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham on his latest hurdles run.

He’s got a big weight but has every chance of making the frame.

Pledgeofallegiance showed good staying power when scoring at Goodwood last month and can figure for Sir Mark Prescott.

Berkshire Rocco is down the weights and has an each-way shout.

5.40

ISRAR takes a fair drop in class here and his best form would be enough to score.

He was a Group 2 winner last summer and went close in that grade at Chester last time.

He was just a length behind Passenger on the Roodee and he is fancied for Group 1 contests here this week so the form looks solid.

Jim Crowley’s mount goes on any ground and his class should see him score.

It’s another John Gosden runner who looks the main danger – Torito.

He didn’t run again last season after finishing fourth in the Hampton Court at this meeting.

He came back from 11 months off to go close in a hot handicap at Newmarket last month and he could well improve on that effort.

Botanical was an impressive handicap winner at York last time and deserves this hike in grade.

He showed a high cruising speed there and is on the upgrade for Roger Varian and William Buick.

Ancient Rome landed a big handicap at Glorious Goodwood before holding his own at Group level. He may need this run but his best form would take him close.

Astro King won last year’s Cambridgeshire and didn’t seem to stay 1m4f at Newmarket last time. Dropping in trip gives him every chance.

Mujtaba went close in a Goodwood Listed contest last month.

Crowley has chosen to ride Israr but Tom Marquand isn’t a bad substitute on the William Haggas hopeful who is best over this distance.

Christophe Soumillon rides Haunted Dream who went well at Epsom and could nick a place.

6.15

FOX JOURNEY was an excellent third in the Melrose Handicap at York the last time he tackled this trip and was stunning on comeback at Newmarket when winning by 11 lengths.

The handicapper has shunted him up 9lb for that convincing success but nobody improves a four-year-old better than Sir Michael Stoute who has been in good form.

The booking of Ryan Moore is the cherry on the cake and he looks hard to beat.

Willie Mullins teams up with William Buick on Belloccio who was an impressive hurdles winner last month.

He was a Listed winner for David Menuisier in 2022 and should have no issues with stamina.

A Piece Of Heaven charged to victory over 1m4f at Leopardstown on comeback and has no issues with this longer trip.

He’s another who has shot up the weights but should still be competitive.

Intinso came back to form moving up to this distance when a close-up third at Newmarket last time. He has an each-way shout for the Gosdens.

We last saw My Mate Mozzie over fences at Cheltenham but he was a decent fifth in the Irish Cesarewitch on his last Flat outing so can’t be discounted for canny Gavin Cromwell.

Alsakib has plenty of weight but has been holding his own in Group races including when third in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester last time.

He shapes as though his stamina will get him home and he’s no forlorn each-way hope.

Naqeeb didn’t go a yard in the Yorkshire Cup last time but won a decent handicap over this trip at Haydock last season and is only 3lb higher today with cheekpieces on for the first time.

Templegate’s tips

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