TEMPLEGATE takes on the biggest day of Flat racing all year confident of helping you bash the bookies – after landing a monster 44-1 double on Oaks day.
Read on for his Derby tip and 1-2-3 prediction as well as a tip in every race at Epsom and beyond on Saturday.
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ANCIENT WISDOM (4.30 Epsom, nap)
He ran a cracker when second to Economics in the Dante at York. Yard happy with progress and any juice in the ground will help. Will improve for the trip and can score.
RUNNING LION (2.00 Epsom, nb)
She set herself up for a good season with a promising comeback effort in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket last time. She tanked along there only to be caught late. She’ll be fitter for that experience and this slightly shorter trip won’t do any harm either.
GRANDLAD (3.10 Epsom, treble)
He blasted off from the front when winning at Goodwood last time and behind able to handle that track bodes well for Epsom. That was his handicap debut and a 3lb rise in the weights gives him every chance.
Templegate’s Epsom verdicts
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1.25
PERSICA seemed to enjoy stepping up to this trip when fourth in good company at Newbury last time. He has few miles on the clock and can take another step forward.
Blake wasn’t stopping when winning over a mile at Sandown and is another with scope for plenty of improvement and can go close.
Portsmouth is proven on this tricky track from a win in April and he followed up with a fine second at Goodwood latest.
He was in front a long way out and kept going so will have no problem with this trip.
Bubbles Wonky has shown promise in maidens over shorter distances and is interesting going up in trip for this handicap debut. Watch for a market move around Tim Easterby’s likely improver.
2.00
RUNNING LION set herself up for a good season with a promising comeback effort in the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket last time.
She tanked along there only to be caught late. She’ll be fitter for that experience and this slightly shorter trip won’t do any harm either.
Sparks Fly could do with it softer but she showed her class with a couple of big wins on testing ground last season.
She keeps it simple from the front and would be a major player if Epsom cops a shower or two.
Breege went down in a head-bobber for a Goodwood Listed contest on comeback last month. She should be fitter for that and looks capable of making the frame.
Sea Of Thieves is another who would prefer soft ground and there was nothing wrong with her Listed success at Longchamp last time. That was over 7f but she should last out.
2.35
HIGHLAND AVENUE signed off last season with an impressive Group 3 win at Newmarket over this trip.
He had a quiet time in hot races in Dubai this winter and will be happy back at this level.
Regal Reality doesn’t know how to run a bad race and was a solid third in the Huxley at Chester on comeback three weeks ago. He won this race 12 months ago and can show up well again at the age of nine.
Embesto scored in this class at Salisbury in August before a good effort in France.
He disappointing on return at Newmarket but could be woken up by the first-time hood he sports here. Quick ground is his favourite.
Epictetus was too bad to be true on comeback in an Ascot Listed race and has won at this level. The Gosden runners are in fine fettle so he could show his true colours.
Royal Dubai has decent form in Meydan but this is a tricky UK debut for Marco Botti.
Royal Scotsman was third in last year’s Guineas but hasn’t shown that quality since.
3.10
GRANDLAD blasted off from the front when winning at Goodwood last time and behind able to handle that track bodes well for Epsom.
That was his handicap debut and a 3lb rise in the weights gives him every chance.
Split The Profit was forced out wide on turf at Lingfield last time and did well to finish second. He looks on a fair mark.
Mashadi didn’t quite last home over 6f at Ascot and did well to hold on for second.
This drop in trip should help. Due For Luck likes to go from the front and was unlucky at Chester last time. His stall 19 draw could be handy.
Knicks was ahead of him on the Knavesmire and he’s another who likes to force the pace.
Sturlasson comes over from Ireland on the back of an easy Navan win. This is tougher but the booking of Oisin Murphy is a plus.
3.45
DREAM COMPOSER came right back to form with a tight second at Goodwood last time.
He’s 7lb below his last winning mark even before his rider’s claim. He goes on any ground and should handle the track.
Clarendon House came from behind to win going away at York 16 days ago. He won’t want to give them too much rope over this flying five but he’ll be dangerous if getting a bit of luck.
Looking For Lynda was second in that Knavesmire contest and was a good second on his last run here in April. He goes from the front and could hold on.
Rain would bring The Bell Conductor into the reckoning as he’s best with give in the ground. He is in fine form with two good runs this season.
Lethal Nymph went close at York latest and could hit the frame at tasty odds with a repeat.
Silky Wilkie could be helped by first-time cheekpieces after fair runs at Bath and Musselburgh this season.
4.30
ANCIENT WISDOM looks a clever bet in the £1,500,000 Derby.
He ran a big race in the Dante last time and trainer Charlie Appleby is adamant he’s improved a bundle since.
It’s not a vintage Derby and he can come out on top.
Leopardstown Trial winner Los Angeles looks a better bet than Aidan O’Brien stablemate City Of Troy and I fancy a big run from Macduff.
Here’s my guide to the Derby field with a rating out of five stars for each horse:
AMBIENTE FRIENDLY 4
FRIENDLY a pal. Impressive Lingfield Trial winner is proven over the trip and has more to come. Slower ground a slight worry but he’s right in the mix.
ANCIENT WISDOM 5
BIG bad Dom. Ran a cracker when second to Economics in the Dante at York. Yard happy with progress and any juice in the ground will help. Will improve for the trip and can score.
BELLUM JUSTUM 3
BELL tolls. Liked the track when winning a Listed race in April and should stay. Needs to improve but place shout in such an open year.
CITY OF TROY 3
TROY under siege. Top juvenile last year but flopped in the Guineas and many shrewdies think he hasn’t trained on. If anyone can get him to fire it’s Aidan O’Brien but he’s far too short.
DALLAS STAR 2
TWO Star. Won the Ballysax in the mud last time and is guaranteed to stay. Didn’t beat much and needs rain.
DANCING GEMINI 3
GEMINI a sign. Cracking second in the French Guineas when finishing strongly in a good time. Trainer not sure he’ll get the Derby trip but he should on breeding and can go well.
DEIRA MILE 2
MILE away. Fair fourth in the Futurity and won his maiden at Windsor last time. Should stay for under-rated Owen Burrows but this is a big hike in class.
EUPHORIC 2
EU and cry. Cost £1.9m and just a length behind Los Angeles last time. Not a certain stayer and needs more.
GOD’S WINDOW 2
WINDOW shut. Led for a long way before fading tamely in the Dante. Trainer respected but needs to leave that form way behind.
KAMBOO 1
KAM off it. Won an egg-and-spoon race on the sand over a mile last time. Bred to stay but this is a huge hike in grade and big price looks right.
LOS ANGELES 4
LOS can boss. Powered home to win the Leopardstown Derby Trial and this trip looks perfect. Won a Group 1 last year and looks the pick of the O’Brien team.
MACDUFF 4
NOT Duff. Good run behind now injured Arabian Crown in Sandown Classic Trial and longer trip should help. Ralph Beckett is in fine form and there’s more to come from this Sea The Stars colt. Lively outsider.
MR HAMPSTEAD 1
HAMP dread. Held in a modest Chester maiden last time over this trip and looks well short of Classic standard.
SAYEDATY SADATY 1
SAYE no. Showed more promise stepped up to 1m2f in a Newmarket Listed contest but still looked short of this standard. Needs a lot more.
TABLETALK 1
ALL Talk. Won a maiden on the sand at Chelmsford but needs a miracle in this company.
VOYAGE 2
AGE concern. Looked classy when winning on debut at Newbury without breaking sweat. Bred to relish this longer trip but will have to find a lot of improvement.
5.15
ZIGGY hit the crossbar here last time and should be fitter for that comeback run.
He finished strongly so this extra quarter-mile should be ideal. He’s lightly raced for his age and looks on a fair handicap mark.
If Not Now stayed on well at Lingfield latest and is another who will appreciate this stamina test.
Asgard’s Captain ran well in hot company at York last time. He held on well for fifth in a big field and has each-way prospects again.
Kotari enjoyed stepping up to this distance when making it three wins in a row at Ascot last time. He takes a step up in class here from a higher mark but could pull out more.
Dream Harder ran well at Chester when fourth and looks dangerous from a falling handicap mark.
5.50
ALEEZDANCER had plenty left in the tank when scoring at York last time.
He tanked along off the pace and came with a strong winning run. He’s been hiked 6lb for that but the blinkers brought improvement and can do the trick again.
Mr Wagyu won this race in 2022 and was third 12 months ago. He is on a long losing run but ran well at York latest and is 10lb below his last victory.
Apollo One has cracking form in a big field and was just a length off the pace at Newmarket on comeback last month.
He’s 5lb higher than when second in this race last year but should be competitive again.
Mums Tipple didn’t get the run of the race at HQ latest and has had a nudge down the weights. He has a solid each-way shout.
Templegate’s tips
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