Horse racing tips: ‘Royal Ascot effort hinted there is loads more in her locker’ – Templegate’s Saturday NAP

TEMPLEGATE takes on a huge Saturday of action hellbent on making it one to remember for Sun Racing readers. Follow him in and back any of his tips simply by clicking their odds below. DARK ISSUE (1.45 Ascot, nap) She caught the eye at Royal Ascot when fourth of 25 in the Albany over this trip after having to pick her way through traffic before staying on strongly. That effort hinted there’s plenty more in the locker and she’ll enjoy this drop in grade. Another strongly-run 6f in quick conditions should suit her down to the ground. CALANDAGAN (3.35 Ascot, nb) This global superstar won this race 12 months ago and ran close to his best when taking another Group 1 at St-Cloud last time out. That proved his foolish Coronation Cup run in the Epsom mud hasn’t left a mark and he can show his true colours again here. TOULEEN (2.20 Ascot, treble) She advertised her class with a cracking second in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes over this distance at Royal Ascot. She had to switch for room before finishing strongly behind Precise and now drops into Group 3 company with William Buick back in the saddle. She has already shown she handles good to firm ground and sets the standard for Owen Burrows. Templegate’s TV verdicts YORK Most read in Horse Racing 1.30 MON NA SLIEVE has copped what should be a good low draw over a trip and track where he’s tasted success in the past. He didn’t enjoy himself at Beverley last time but went close at Hamilton earlier on fast ground and should be right in the mix. Lethal Nymph ran a cracker to be beaten a neck at Pontefract after coming from a bad draw. He likes this trip and a 2lb rise is more than fair. Emerald Harmony was a close-up third here in a big field last time and likes this trip and ground. He looks a contender along with Kodiac Thriller who did well to be beaten less than two lengths at Ripon after stumbling out of the stalls. Sports Coach is coming down the weights and went close on the sand at Newcastle latest. He ran well here in May from 4lb higher. Cayman Tai is another who has dropped in the handicap and Richard Hannon is in decent form. 2.00 AIR FORCE ONE won on this card 12 months ago and comes here and a win and two narrow defeats this season. He finished like a train into fifth here in May and a repeat of that off the same mark could well be good enough. Pocklington has a chance despite top weight. He went close at Newcastle latest and ran well in this race last season. Stratusnine was just pipped at Chester last time from a wide draw and his last York contest saw him pipped by a neck over 5f in May. He’s in the frame along with Red Spells Danger who was second here two runs ago and went close at Newmarket latest. Addison Grey was unlucky at Salisbury last time. 2.35 DAMYSUS will enjoy dropping back to Group 2 level after some decent performances in the highest grade this season. He held his own in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot last season and the Gosdens are in fine form. Royal Champion won this race 12 months ago and has held plenty of success in the Middle East since. He acquitted himself well in Hong Kong last time out and will be a big threat if fully wound up after three months off. Item got stuck in the mud in the Derby but was an impressive Dante winner and getting back over that trip and track could see him back to form. The quicker conditions will help too. Pride Of Arras won the Dante and Great Voltigeur here last season and that track form makes him dangerous despite modest recent form. Dancing Gemini is up to this level but over a mile in slower conditions. ASCOT 1.45 DARK ISSUE caught the eye at Royal Ascot when fourth of 25 in the Albany over this trip after having to pick her way through traffic before staying on strongly. That effort hinted there’s plenty more in the locker and she’ll enjoy this drop in grade. Another strongly-run 6f in quick conditions should suit her down to the ground. Alta Regina is an obvious danger after a good sixth in the Queen Mary. She should enjoy this longer distance. Moonrise advertised her talent when narrowly denied in the Listed Windsor Castle over this track and trip. There should be more to come with Andrew Balding in form. Velozee also finished with plenty of purpose in the Queen Mary despite being left with lots to do. Glorious Game arrives on the back of a Listed dead-heat at Newmarket and will have to show more. Debut winners Miss Kodi and Nuit D’Eclair should find this a fair bit tougher. 2.20 TOULEEN advertised her class with a cracking second in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes over this distance at Royal Ascot. She had to switch for room before finishing strongly behind Precise and now drops into Group 3 company with William Buick back in the saddle. She has already shown she handles good to firm ground and sets the standard for Owen Burrows. Kon Tiki rates the biggest threat. Jane Chapple-Hyam’s lightly raced filly has taken a step forward on both starts this season, finishing second in a Goodwood Listed before running a solid fourth behind Blue Bolt in the Duke of Cambridge here despite meeting traffic in the straight. Arisaig is capable of getting involved if things fall her way. She finished strongly into third in a Pontefract Listed last time after being dropped in from a poor draw and can be competitive at this level. Sukanya got the better of Touleen in the Fred Darling earlier in the season but was behind her in the Coronation. 2.55 AMAZING JOURNEY can continue his rapid rise after powering home over 6f here earlier this month. Jamie Osborne’s three-year-old met trouble before producing a sharp turn of foot, and a return to 7f looks a plus. He’s 5lb well in under his penalty and can strike again. Extremely Zain made it three from three with an impressive York handicap win. William Haggas clearly has a smart prospect and improvement is expected but this is another big step up in class. Great Acclaim is hard to ignore around Ascot. He has already finished second in the Victoria Cup and third in the Buckingham Palace over C&D this season. Ignore his Bunbury Cup run. Mezcala also commands plenty of respect after weaving through to win the Buckingham Palace here last time. 3.35 ANSWER the Cal in the £2,000,000 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. CALANDAGAN won this race 12 months ago and ran close to his best when taking another Group 1 at St-Cloud last time out. That proved his foolish Coronation Cup run in the Epsom mud hasn’t left a mark and his class can shine again. Japanese hope Masquerade Ball is a serious player after pushing Hong Kong giant Romantic Warrior all the way at Sha Tin last time. He likes this trip on firm. Benvenuto Cellini looks the pick of the Ballydoyle team after his impressive Irish Derby win last time but this is tougher. 1 Calandagan2 Masquerade Ball3 Benvenuto Cellini 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. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here. Comment now