Horse racing tips: ‘He’s taken off over marathon trips’ – Red-hot Templegate’s Glorious Goodwood NAP

TEMPLEGATE tackles Saturday’s racing confident of keeping the good times going after a whole host of winners at Goodwood. Follow our man in and back a horse by clicking their odds below. VALEDICTORY (1.50 Goodwood, nap) Has really taken off since stepping up to this marathon trip in cheekpieces. He won over this course and distance before following up in a stronger Newmarket handicap, showing plenty of guts in a race that wasn’t run to suit. Another 3lb rise still looks manageable and a stronger pace here could bring out even more improvement. WAARDAH (3.00 Goodwood, nb) Last year’s winner returns looking the one to beat after an good comeback second behind subsequent Group 1 winner Estrange at Carlisle, a run that came over an inadequate 1m3f. She won twice at this tricky track last summer, including this race, and the return to 1m6f looks a major plus. Still lightly raced for a four-year-old, she’s proven under these conditions and can successfully defend her crown. CREST OF FIRE (5.20 Goodwood, treble) Can gain compensation for a string of near misses and looks ready for a big win. Jack Channon’s three-year-old has improved every run since being gelded, bolting up in a Southwell maiden before producing excellent efforts in competitive handicaps at Carlisle and Ascot. His latest second at Ascot was particularly taking, pulling clear with Ciarrai Abu who bolted up here on Thursday. A strongly run race should suit his style despite a wider draw. Templegate’s TV verdicts GOODWOOD Most read in Horse Racing 1.50 VALEDICTORY has really taken off since stepping up to this marathon trip in cheekpieces. He won over this course and distance before following up in a stronger Newmarket handicap, showing plenty of guts in a race that wasn’t run to suit. Another 3lb rise still looks manageable and a stronger pace here could bring out even more improvement. TOP HORSE RACING TRAVEL DEALS GET closer to the action with these top travel deals. Our travel partners have a range of trips for all budgets to see the world’s best horse racing. Check out these amazing deals – 🍺 Cheltenham Festival — Race tickets and night at one of the local hotels for 2027 — From £159 pp 🐴 Grand National — Ticket to next year’s action plus stay in a leading local hotel — From £189 pp 🏆Epsom Derby — Race ticket plus stay in 4-star hotel — From £179pp 👑 Royal Ascot — 1 night in a local hotel plus ticket to the races and celeb preview — From £159 pp 🏇 Glorious Goodwood — Ticket to the races and luxury hotel for 2027 festival — From £159 pp ⭐ PLUS Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe from £579pp and Dubai World Cup from £1,795pp *If you click on a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue. Sing Us A Song rates the chief danger after another excellent fifth in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot, where he was unlucky not to finish even closer after meeting trouble late. He’s still lightly raced over staying trips and there should be some juice in his handicap mark. Aeronautic has a rock-solid profile in these valuable handicaps, finishing third in this race last year before another strong-finishing fourth at Royal Ascot. He looks sure to be involved again if things fall right. Hopewell Rock can’t be ruled out. His Newmarket reappearance has worked out well and he travelled into contention at Royal Ascot before failing to see it out. The step up in trip is the question but his ability is not. Align The Stars won this race in 2024 and arrives on the back of a Northumberland Plate success. He’s only 2lb higher than his win here and clearly relishes marathon handicaps. Small Fry caught the eye staying on from the rear in the Ascot Stakes and there are no worries about his staying power for in-form Joseph O’Brien while Tarriance has the class if rediscovering the level that saw him win last year’s Melrose over this trip at York. 2.25 OPPORTUNITY knocks for William Haggas who has won four of the past six runnings. This lightly raced four-year-old has looked a different proposition since being gelded, winning readily at Carlisle before producing a polished display in the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot. He travelled strongly, quickened decisively and was well on top at the line, suggesting this step into Group 3 company is well within reach. Al Aasy has won the past two runnings and should go well. The nine-year-old showed plenty of his old sparkle landing a Listed at Beverley and his record here demands utmost respect despite his age. In My Teens is a fascinating runner after cruising to a big-field Curragh handicap by seven lengths. That was her first attempt at this sort of trip on the Flat and she looked a filly with plenty in hand, making her a serious threat if backing up that performance. Ghostwriter was entitled to need his first run for a year in the Wolferton and has Group 1 form from last season that puts him right in the mix. Enfjaar needs to improve for this step up in distance as does King’s Gambit who has ability but probably wants it softer. 3.00 WAARDAH can defend her Lillie Langtry crown. Classy trainer Owen Burrows has given her a rest since a promising comeback at Carlisle in May and we know this trip and track are ideal. She won twice at this tricky track last summer, including this race, and the return to 1m6f looks a major plus. Still lightly raced for a four-year-old, she’s proven under these conditions and can successfully defend her crown. Last year’s second Danielle looks the biggest threat again if handling fast ground. She chased home Waardah in this race 12 months ago before ending last season with a commanding Listed success and returning with a polished Group 3 victory at York. Tough, genuine and consistent, she rarely runs a bad race at this level. The only slight concern is that she’s been comfortably beaten on her only previous start on good to firm ground but another bold bid looks like likely. Pretty much the whole field will be in the battle for third and that includes Melbourne Cup runner-up Goodie Two Shoes. 3.35 SOLDIER’S TREE can branch out by winning the Stewards’ Cup. He was a cracking Wokingham third before going close at Newbury. He likes it fast and the crazy pace will be ideal. The pick still looks ahead of his mark, should relish this big-field test and has a handy 5lb claimer up. His trainer James Owen has another massive chance with Far Away Dream. He is three from three over C&D and was an excellent fourth in the Wokingham. He has a good rails draw and has more to come. Big player. Sondad, Stratusnine and Dark Thirty complete my shortlist. 4.10 WE’RE GOOSERS is worth another chance after a Royal Ascot run that was simply too bad to be true. He looked a rapidly improving handicapper when demolishing a Newmarket field by nine and a half lengths over this trip, travelling powerfully before quickening right away. Gelded since that disappointing Britannia effort, he returns from a handy low draw and can bounce back. Marengo Storm made it two wins from just four starts at Newmarket. He’s still learning his job but has gone up just 1lb and the first-time cheekpieces could unlock even more improvement. Ghost Mode has plenty of ability but has made life difficult for himself by being headstrong. Even so, his latest sixth in a strong Newmarket handicap was much more encouraging and he’s run well at Goodwood before and quirky horses often like it here. Egoli has improved with each run this season and got off the mark in handicaps at Doncaster over this trip. First-time cheekpieces may help him find the more he needs, while Proud Nation was desperately unlucky not to score at Newmarket when beaten only a short head but has a dodgy draw. Naval Light has won his past two at lower levels and could show more, while Startled was a good second on his last run over C&D. 4.45 MARKET LEADER looks the type to improve a bundle for stepping up in trip after a promising debut at Windsor last time. That track’s not a bad prep for Goodwood’s undulations and he is entered in some big races later this season. He goes on fast ground and is the pick of No1 Wathnan rider James Doyle. Al Wathba looked a nice prospect when second on debut at Newmarket three weeks ago. He’s another with Group 1 entries and will take a step forward for Appleby and Buick. Speakers Corner comes from Aidan O’Brien and can be expected to find a lot more after his Curragh debut 14 days ago. The yard won this race 12 months ago and, while stall 14 isn’t ideal, most of the fancied horses are in a wide berth today. O’Brien runners often take a big step forward and there’s a lot more to come. Charted Course didn’t get the run of the race in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot and should enjoy moving up in distance although he has some improving to do. Joseph O’Brien is always respected and his Leadlight showed some promise when fourth on debut at Leopardstown last month. 5.20 CREST OF FIRE can gain compensation for a string of near misses and looks ready for a big win. Jack Channon’s three-year-old has improved every run since being gelded, bolting up in a Southwell maiden before producing excellent efforts in competitive handicaps at Carlisle and Ascot. His latest second at Ascot was particularly taking, pulling clear with Ciarrai Abu who bolted up here on Thursday. A strongly run race should suit his style despite a wider draw. Blue Courvoisier is a huge danger. He was snookered by the draw in the Britannia and his easy Carlisle success was impressive. A low draw and his natural early speed could see him in an ideal position. Spell Master is another with solid claims after shaping well in the John Smith’s Cup at York. This slightly shorter trip looks a good fit and he remains capable of better for his new yard. Thunder Wonder caught the eye finishing strongly into third at Musselburgh after conceding first run and is still on a workable mark, while El Matador has been remarkably consistent all season and another prominent showing would come as no surprise. Boyfriend is also respected after two strong Sandown efforts and has a good record here. THIRSK 2.08 MR SWIVELL can land this hot handicap after returning to best with an excellent second at York. Kevin Philippart de Foy’s gelding tanked along before keeping on behind a progressive younger rival. A strongly run race over this trip looks ideal, especially with several front-runners likely to ensure a searching gallop and he is still well treated on the pick of last season’s form. Northern Express rates the biggest threat. The admirable veteran snapped a losing run with another determined success at York. That victory showed his usual tenacity, and even off a 2lb higher mark he can run well. Jeddaal is an interesting contender on his first start against older horses. The lightly raced three-year-old has won twice this season and looked a steadily improving handicapper when scoring at Chester. Mirsky cannot be dismissed either, having dropped back to the same mark he won the Thirsk Hunt Cup off earlier this season. NEWMARKET 1.33 ROMANTIC SYMPHONY went close in this Listed class in France last time and can go one better here. Charlie Appleby’s Dubawi filly had looked highly promising when winning her first two starts before failing to fire in the Lingfield Oaks Trial but she bounced back at Chantilly. With confidence restored, she can take another step forward and her pedigree suggests there is plenty more to come over this trip. Gone By made it back-to-back victories with a determined success on her handicap debut at Salisbury. Ralph Beckett’s filly takes a deserved crack at Listed company. Sunshine Star is another lightly raced three-year-old with potential. She was unlucky not to make a winning handicap debut at Windsor after meeting trouble and remains open to plenty of improvement for the Gosdens. Orionis also commands respect after staying on well for third over this course and distance last time. Templegate’s tips FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 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