Horse racing tips: Sandown, York and Chester – Templegate’s betting preview for ITV4’s racing TODAY
YORK
1.50
TIM EASTERBY teamed up with his daughter Emily to win the Queen Mother’s Cup two years ago and they’ve got another cracking chance with MUKHAYYAM.
He was successful over today’s rack and trip last July and he went on to follow up at Ripon.
A string of lesser efforts saw him slip down the weights and he bounced back to form when runner-up at Chester last month. That should have set him up nicely for this race.
Desert Ruler won twice on the all-weather in the winter ad there was a lot to like about his return from a break at Chester.
Pacify still has stamina to prove over this distance and Rayna’s World could prefer softer ground.
I’m more worried about last year’s winner Tapis Libre. He ran better than the bare form at Musselburgh last time out and is sure to have had this as his target for some time.
LOVE JOCKEY Love Island finalist Chris Hughes excited to become a jockey for the first time
2.25
SPANISH CITY should make the bookies mad-rid.
He has the profile of an improving horse. He returned this season with an all-weather win and ran a belter when sixth in the Victoria Cup despite coming from further back than ideal.
His Doncaster win two weeks ago was another step forward and he still looks well treated.
Golden Apollo is the one I fear most. He won a big-field sprint handicap at this meeting 12 months ago and he ran well when fourth over today’s course and distance last month.
Get Knotted was just in front of him that day. He’s got plenty of track form and he’s not badly weighted so has to be another in with a shout.
I’ve never been much of a fan of Squats and being drawn out on the wing is not going to help him.
3.00
WEEKENDER should be a Saturday success in the Sky Bet Grand Cup.
He looked a good staying prospect last season when beating smart Raheen House in an Ascot Listed race in October. The stewards took that race off him but there’s no doubting his potential.
It was a surprise to see him ridden so aggressively when upped to 2m in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown last month especially as he had stamina to prove.
With prominent racers Time To Study – just behind my fancy in fourth at Sandown – and Marmelo in the field I’m expecting him to track the pacesetters this time.
Marmelo does most of his racing in France these days and he ran top stayer Vazirabad close last time. That might flatter him and he was helped by being fresh that day.
This could fall right for Melodic Motion if she’s ready to go on her return to action.
She was placed in Group races last season after rattling up a hat-trick of handicaps wins on fast ground. The fast pace she likes looks guaranteed.
Templegate's TV tips
1.50 York - Mukhayyam: 'Already a course and distance winner and has a cracking chance'
2.05 Sandown - Haddaf: 'Should be able to get a good position in this race'
2.25 York - Spanish City: 'Has the profile of an improving horse'
2.40 Chester - Berkshire Royal: 'Can forgive his Newbury run'
3.00 York - Weekender: 'Looks a good staying prospect and can improve'
3.15 Sandown - Almoreb: 'Saves his best for this track'
3.35 York - Gabrial The Saint: 'Made rapid progress since switching to handicaps'
3.35
GABRIAL THE SAINT is a good bet in this hot sprint.
He’s made rapid progress since switching to handicaps. His smooth Leicester success last month was most impressive and there’s every chance he’ll be running in Group races soon.
Foxtrot Lady is another young sprinter going places. She has notched up easy wins at Chester and Carlilse and the hat-trick is far from impossible.
Bashaayir fluffed the start and then pulled too hard when disappointing over 7f at Musselburgh two weeks ago. It would be foolish to think she had her limitations exposed that day.
Citron Major bolted up five lengths at Ripon last month. That blew his handicap rating but there’s no doubt he’s got plenty of talent.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Snazzy Jazzy run well.
He lost his unbeaten record in the European Free Handicap at Newmarket’s Craven Meeting but he did get worked up in the stalls and has been given a nice break since.
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SANDOWN
2.05
GET Had up in the Randox Health Scurry Stakes.
HADDAF had Spoof a couple of lengths back in third when winning over today’s track and trip in April. He wasn’t as good at York last month but it’s not the first time he’s disappointed at that course.
With no obvious frontrunner in the field he should be able to get a handy position under James Doyle.
The potential lack of early pace is against Koditime. Adam Kirby will probably have to decide to switch to prominent tactics from his poor draw or drop him into the rear. Neither will be ideal.
Mokaatil went close in a moderate Group 3 last season. He could go close if he needed last month’s comeback run.
Sound And Silence was a smart two-year-old. He won the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot and he went on to land a French Group 3 in a busy campaign.
His form this season has not been great and it’s likely he hasn’t improved much over the winter.
3.15
MAKE Al your punting Pal. ALMOREB likes this place. He won over course and distance last summer and he’s twice run well on other visits.
He’s taken time to find his form this season but he wasn’t beaten far over 7f a couple of weeks ago and the return to a mile is certainly in his favour.
Chiefofchiefs is another track winner having struck here last month. A 4lbs rise isn’t enough to rule him out but he’ll need a bit of luck to get a decent position from a wide draw.
Salt Whistle Bay was progressive last season and he’s returned in good form. He beat useful Ripp Orf at Yarmouth before going down by a short-head at the same track.
It’s hard to see why he won’t run well.
Templegate's TV tips
1.50 York - Mukhayyam: 'Already a course and distance winner and has a cracking chance'
2.05 Sandown - Haddaf: 'Should be able to get a good position in this race'
2.25 York - Spanish City: 'Has the profile of an improving horse'
2.40 Chester - Berkshire Royal: 'Can forgive his Newbury run'
3.00 York - Weekender: 'Looks a good staying prospect and can improve'
3.15 Sandown - Almoreb: 'Saves his best for this track'
3.35 York - Gabrial The Saint: 'Made rapid progress since switching to handicaps'
CHESTER
2.40
BERKSHIRE ROYAL should be king of Chester.
He won twice on the all-weather in April and was a little unlucky to go down by half a length to Austrian School over today’s course and distance last month.
My fancy is a couple of pounds better off today I’m not getting carried away with his below-par Newbury as it probably came too soon.
Andrew Balding was also struggling for winners a month ago and he’s in much better form now.
Austrian School stays really well and would be dangerous if gifted an easy lead.
Istanbul Sultan and Shuhood step up to 1m4f for the first time but both of them have tended to pull in the early stages of their races. They need to learn to settle.
Neverbeen To Paris is another likely to need a decent pace to show his best.
BATH
1.45 Thahab Ifraj
2.20 Howardian Hills
2.55 Be Be King
3.30 Happy Harmony
4.10 Monaadhil
4.45 Aqua Libre
5.20 Captain Ryan
5.55 Spot Lite
CHESTER
2.10 Dark Thunder
2.40 Berkshire Royal
3.10 Finale
3.45 Fool For You (nb)
4.20 Mikmak
4.55 Casterbridge
5.30 Roar
FONTWELL
5.50 Howlongisafoot
6.25 Mercian King
6.55 Mill Green
7.25 Guerrilla Tactics
7.55 The Black Squirrel
8.25 Ballycoe
8.55 Rebel Yeats
HEXHAM
2.15 Indian Voyage
2.45 High Jinx
3.20 Jacks Last Hope
3.55 Silver Concorde
4.30 The Jam Man
5.05 Follow The Swallow
5.40 Cherry Princess
LEICESTER
6.10 Chaleur
6.40 Rita’s Man
7.10 Sergio Leone
7.40 Lashabeeh
8.10 King Crimson
8.40 Gravity Wave
9.10 Danehill Desert
SANDOWN
2.05 Haddaf
2.35 Madame Bounty
3.15 Almoreb
3.50 Flavius Titus
4.25 Deyaarna
5.00 Marechal Ney
5.35 Splash Around
YORK
1.50 Mukhayyam
2.25 Spanish City (treble)
3.00 Weekender (nap)
3.35 Gabrial The Saint
4.05 Dark Intention
4.40 Jfoul
5.15 Hee Haw
