Horse racing tips: Templegate’s 10-1 NAP relishes big-field handicaps and can zip home under Saffie Osborne

TEMPLEGATE tackles Saturday’s racing confident of banging in some winners on another huge day of action.

There are Classic clues aplenty on offer at Lingfield, Ascot throws up lots of quality action as well and a Cheltenham Festival winner makes an intriguing return at Haydock.

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HICKORY (2.40 Ascot, nap)

Can smoke his rivals in the Victoria Cup. James Fanshawe’s flyer has a good record in these big-field handicaps and was on the podium in two hot contests over course and distance last season. The drying ground is a real plus for Saffie Osborne’s mount who warmed up for this with a close second at Kempton on comeback last month. The handicapper has left his mark alone and the visor going back on should help too.

DEFIANCE (3.00 Lingfield, nb)

Can book his place at Epsom by winning the Derby Trial. He landed a battling win on debut at Sandown in August before being thrown into the deep end of the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket in late September. That came a bit too soon but he made an encouraging start to this season when going down in a tight finish for an Epsom Listed race last time. This slightly longer trip should be ideal and there’s more to come from Roger Varian’s colt.

RARE MIDDLETON (3.15 Haydock, treble)

He was unlucky to be beaten a neck at Cheltenham last month when his chances weren’t helped by his young rider dropping the whip jumping the last. This speedier track will be right up his street and Harry Cobden takes over today which is never a negative.

Templegate’s TV verdicts

LINGFIELD

1.50

AIMERIC looked useful when signing off last season with a smooth win at Beverley.

This son of Frankel relished every yard of this trip and has gone well fresh before. He’s hard to fault.

Flash Bardot was impressive on comeback when scoring by almost three lengths at Doncaster. An 8lb rise for that means she needs to find more but that’s possible.

More rain would help as soft ground brings out her best.

True Legend ran some nice races last season and was a bit unlucky at Newmarket when last seen. He won first time out last season and Sir Mark Prescott has been in good form.

If Not Now was fifth in a German Group 1 last season and looks the type to improve as a four-year-old. This trip holds no fears and he could hit the frame.

2.25

DANIELLE won as she liked at Wetherby last month and was so impressive that she’s second favourite for the Oaks.

She is bred to improve for this longer trip and should be helped by the better ground too. She can cement her place as a leading Epsom fancy for the Gosdens here.

Molten Rock ran well in a French Group 3 on comeback despite bottomless ground. She will be suited by this stamina test and has more to come.

Rubies Are Red is bred to be a superstar but was a little disappointing when only second at Leopardstown last time.

The Aidan O’Brien horses have been flying this week and she should go closer here.

The King has a runner in Treasure who was a good debut winner last season and can show more along with You Got To Me who will improve for this trip.

3.00

DEFIANCE was a big eyecatcher on just his third career start at Epsom last time.

He was a mile out the back under James Doyle for most of the race before coming with a real rattle to be beaten less than a length into second.

Lingfield is not unlike the Derby venue and he should improve with that comeback run under his belt. Hopefully he can lay up closer to the pace here.

Illinois was a cracking third in a French Group 1 as a two-year-old so it was a little disappointing he was beaten when odds-on at Leopardstown on return last month.

The bottomless ground may have been to blame and he is bred to improve for this longer trip.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien also runs The Euphrates who finished a place ahead of Illinois in the Ballysax last time.

He’s another who will appreciate this trip but you’d expect the form to be reversed here.

Arabic Legend looks the pick of the Karl Burke pair. He was fourth behind Defiance at Epsom last time and is another who should improve with that under his belt.

Ambiente Friendly didn’t get the run of the race at Newmarket latest but needs more.

3.35

REMARQUEE spent last season running well in Group 1s so should have far too much class for these rivals.

She was second in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Falmouth at Newmarket which is high-class form.

The only possible worry is the ground as she enjoys it quick but her quality can see her home.

Great Generation clocked a personal best in a French Group 3 last month when this trip suited. She has more to come and can fill the forecast spot.

Cell Sa Beela ended last season with a battling Listed win over this trip at Ascot. She could make the podium if ready to go after six months off.

Born To Rock wasn’t disgraced in the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket and could improve with just three runs under her belt.

ASCOT

1.30

THINK FIRST was a revelation back on the Flat when a good second at Epsom last time.

He enjoyed himself over this trip and should improve fitness-wise for that first run in five months. He’s dropped in the handicap and the first-time hood may help.

Kotari has won two lesser races very nicely including by ten lengths at Salisbury last time.

He has yet to win over this trip but is a two-mile hurdler so should have no stamina issues for the Moore team.

Obsidian Knight got up on the line over 1m2f at Chelmsford latest despite traffic problems. He has no issues with the extra quarter-mile and has place claims.

Way Of Life keeps hitting the frame and was beaten just a neck at Windsor last time. He’s creeping up the weights without winning but should go well.

King Of The Plains was last seen winning on the all-weather at Newcastle.

He may need this after 225 days off but is worth a look on debut for trainer James Horton with Oisin Murphy on board.

2.05

MOTHER MARY did well last season and was far from disgraced in a Kempton Listed contest on comeback last month.

She is already proven over this mile trip and went close off this handicap mark at Pontefract in September. She looks capable of better under Saffie Osborne.

Bellarchi went down in a head-bobber at Beverley last time on the back of a good all-weather win at Southwell.

She shapes as though this mile will suit and has little weight for this hike in class. She looks overpriced.

Zouzanna is only 3lb higher than her course-and-distance win in September. She doesn’t want it any softer but has potential to improve for in-form trainer Harry Charlton.

Flying Finn would like some rain as she was impressive in the mud at Doncaster 15 days ago. The handicapper has shunted her up 14lb so she’ll need more.

My Margie has won her past two on the sand and likes this trip. She is only three and should be capable of improvement.

2.40

HICKORY was placed in two big-field handicaps over course and distance last summer.

He warmed up with a good second at Kempton last time and the handicapper has left his mark alone. He should be right on the premises again.

Popmaster is best over this trip so it was good to see him run well over 6f in a Group 3 on comeback at Newmarket.

He went close in two hot handicaps here last season and will be right there again on ground that suits.

Ropey Guest finished last season with a second in the Balmoral here over a mile but he’s equally at home tackling this shorter trip. He’s only 2lb higher and can run well.

Arabian Storm has improvement to come this season and will be much fitter for his run at Kempton in March after 11 months off.

He went close in a Newmarket Listed contest over this trip and Andrew Balding is going well.

Mostabshir is fit from a close third at Kempton and has few miles on the clock. He’s had a little nudge down the handicap and won’t be far away.

HAYDOCK

3.15

RARE MIDDLETON ran a cracker when beaten a neck in hot company at Cheltenham last time.

His rider didn’t help by dropping his whip after jumping the last and Harry Cobden takes over today.

He likes good ground and Haydock’s speedier track should be right up his street.

Tintintin beat him that day and won’t be far away again.

Lark In The Mornin was such an impressive winner of the Fred Winter at Cheltenham and this should be right up his street despite an 8lb rise.

The only worry would be the ground as it was very testing when he scored at the Festival and will be a lot quicker here.

Nicholls has another fair chance with Afadil who ran well when fourth in the Scottish Champion Hurdle latest and is back from the same mark.

Gin Coco didn’t get the run of the race at Punchestown latest and is only 2lb higher than his November Ascot win.

He has solid place claims on ground that will suit.

Ballee was a good second at Aintree last time and has an each-way shout.

Templegate’s tips

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