Horse racing tips: Newmarket and Hamilton – Templegate’s betting preview for ITV’s racing TODAY
Newmarket and Hamilton come under the spotlight as Templegate gives you his best bets for QIPCO 1000 Guineas day
HAPPILY should put a smile on our faces in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas.
Aidan O’Brien is going for a hat-trick and his fifth victory in total in the fillies’ Classic. She’s bred to do the job and her brace of Group 1 wins last autumn shows she’s got plenty of the family class.
1.50 NEWMARKET: UAE PRINCE is ready to rule.
Both his previous wins came following long breaks so first time up looks the best time to catch him.
He was a close fourth in the John Smith’s Cup at York last summer but I’ve always thought he had the potential be suited by the return to 1m4f.
Adamant and The Grand Visir head the list of dangers.
2.05 HAMILTON: Big Ben looks set to chime.
BENGALI BOYS was progressive last year. He was only beaten a length when fourth behind Sound And Silence in a York Listed race having blasted clear to win the Super Sprint at Newbury.
CLASSIC DREAM Karl Burke dreaming of Guineas glory with Laurens on Sunday
He should love the return to 5f having twice run over further this season. Thirsk handicap winner Savalas looks the best bet to chase him home.
2.20 NEWMARKET: The drop in class will make WUHEIDA hard to beat in the Dahlia Stakes.
She has only run in Group 1 contests since winning a Newmarket maiden on her debut. Her two top-level wins from six attempts came in France and at last season’s Breeders’ Cup.
There’s every chance she’ll add to that tally later in the season.
Irish raider Elegant Pose and French hope Golden Legend head the challengers but they both need to take a big step forward to worry my fancy.
2.35 HAMILTON: Make a Wish for this staying handicap.
SEBASTIAN’S WISH improved rapidly after joining Keith Dalgleish. He won four of his first five starts for the Scottish trainer and his only disappointing run came on testing going.
The drying ground will suit him and he’s twice won when returning from a break. Dalgleish has another four of the runners.
Starplex would have to have a decent chance if he could back-up his shock win at Thirsk last month. Bolder Bob was only ninth that day but he should improve with that run behind him.
2.55 NEWMARKET: EKHTIYAAR looks a good bet to step up on his comeback run.
He was only fifth behind Aeolus over today’s track and trip last month but he looked sure to improve for that return at a time when Roger Varian’s horses were needing their first run.
He won on both Newmarket courses last season and he still looks fairly weighted. Magical Memory steps into a handicap for the first time since winning the Stewards Cup two years ago.
He wasn’t far off the top sprinters in his pomp and this easier grade gives him a great chance.
Gifted Master is another quality sprinter. He needs to bounce back from a below-par run on the all-weather but he has got the gears to do that.
Templegate's TV tips
1.50 Newmarket - UAE Prince: 'First time up is best time to catch him'
2.05 Hamilton - Bengali Boys: 'Progressive last year and should relish the return to this trip'
2.20 Newmarket - Wuheida: 'Drops in class and will be very hard to beat'
2.35 Hamilton - Sebastian's Wish: 'The drying ground will really suit him'
2.55 Newmarket - Ekhtiyaar: 'Should improve on his last tun and looks fairly weighted'
3.35 Newmarket - Happily: 'Can easily forgive her Breeders' Cup run and she's all class'
3.35 NEWMARKET: HAPPILY looks a Classic cracker in the 1000 Guineas.
She won Group 1 races in Ireland and France before bombing out in the Breeders’ Cup. It’s easy to forgive that American effort on lightening-fast ground when she found trouble.
Her brother Gleneagles won the 2000 Guineas three years ago and I fancy her to uphold the family honour.
Soliloquy made all the running to win the Nell Gwyn at this track last month. She’ll have no problem with the return to a mile but needs to improve on the bare form.
Godolphin stablemate Wild Illusion could have done without the ground drying out. She will end up over further. Fillies’ Mile winner Laurens could end up being the biggest danger.
HAMILTON
1.30 Amazing Grazing
2.05 Bengali Boys
2.35 Sebastian’s Wish
3.10 Tewafeedj
3.45 Dirchill
4.20 Valentino Dancer
4.55 Fleetfoot Jack
NEWMARKET
1.50 UAE Prince
2.20 Wuheida
2.55 Ekhtiyaar (nb)
3.35 Happily
4.10 Fly The Nest
4.45 Lah Ti Dar (nap)
5.20 Dukhan
TOWCESTER
1.00 French Crusader
1.35 Midnight Magic
2.10 Linenhall
2.40 The Sweeney (treble)
3.15 Doux Pretender
3.50 Soupy Soups
4.25 Mill Green